Bukoto-Kisaasi Road, Sunrise Mobile: +256-783965764
Supermarket Close +256703551648 P.O. BOX 34625, Kampala (U)
+256787481119 E-mail: [email protected]
General introduction
This is an annual students’ Dialogue festival for students. Students can be a great resource in preparing for a better society. Given the social challenges like corruption, immorality, irreligiosity, to mention but a few, students meet to discuss the fate of their communities in respect to these. This is also a moment of socialization as students meet colleagues from all walks of life; different cultures, and beliefs. Here, learning, fellowshipping, sharing, and exposure of cultures are enhanced. In this case, NASF seeks to ensure that all young people are empowered to develop the skills and confidence to fully participate as active citizens in an inclusive society. It is an annual one week event that exposes the various participants to the major challenges in life as they have an opportunity to tour around the place where the event has been organized, which in this case is the case study, representative of the world at large. Their opinions, views and experiences are published and distributed to all institutions of learning and other relevant communities including the Media. This helps in awakening other peoples in one way or the other in an effort to realize a brighter tomorrow. Participants are grouped into different groups (workshops) as per the interest of the participant. This national students’ festival brings together students from all over the country under the slogan "creating opportunities for a brighter tomorrow". It comprises interesting workshops, discussions, cultural events and of course people with different backgrounds. Communication and Consultation
Besides extending the opportunity to all students in Uganda to participate in the Festival, efforts are made to ensure that the planning process leading up to the founding meeting is transparent and inclusive. Board members ensure that participating students at their institutions are aware of the NASF updates and interested students are always solicited to apply and participate in the Annual Festival. Students may communicate at any time with the NASF team via an email address that has been created for this purpose ([email protected]). The NASF team also maintains a current listing of all former participants in association with the improvement of NASF. A first e-mail was sent to some people and student leaders to inform them of the intension to form this forum as well as to encourage them to participate and offer feedback. Other social networks like Facebook and twitter have been employed and plans are underway to design a website for this annual festival. The primary vehicle for NASF communications during the preparations for these festivals, are e-mail, social networks like Facebook, posters, and use of media houses. A NASF Website is also being created in an effort to improve accessibility with other organizations and Institutions of learning. During the period leading up to the Festivals, this website and other pages are updated with information from the previous festival which information serves as the “bulletin” of NASF. Besides providing notices and updates respecting NASF planning activities, draft organizational material (e.g. are posted there for the purpose of soliciting feedback. Other information and web-links of specific interest to deserving candidates for participation and other students are also presented there. Some other proposed content for future development include:
• A periodic feature on NASF researcher and their students
• A web forum for participating members and the wider audience regarding discussion topics such as governance, religion, terrorism, educational challenges, development issues and climate change.
• Website (already in process)
• Regular Fundraising meetings and events
• 4 buses to facilitate transportation at NASF, covering the four regions of Uganda.
• A television to aide communication and awareness
• A radio station
• A periodic Magazine
• A public library to facilitate research for better informed business at NASF.
• A school to lay ground for younger people to enable NASF mould them into model citizens
• Corporate NASF attire.
• A Newspaper.
• A Multi - billion NASF center to house NASF business. Vision statement
NASF’s vision is one where youths of school going age in Uganda, Africa, and the world are empowered to discuss, debate and dialogue on issues affecting society, thereby creating opportunities for a brighter tomorrow. Mission Statement
NASF’s mission is to create opportunities for the youth to champion a new world and a brighter tomorrow. Goal
NASF‘s goal is to foster inspiration and be a starting point for international cooperation amongst the youth, such that, all participants can trade their ideas and visions for a brighter tomorrow. Specific objectives
The main objectives are behind the Foundation of the National Annual Students’ Festival are;
• To initiate and encourage collaboration between students, as well as other members of the intellectual community of Uganda;
• To foster interaction among the youths to improve their socio- economic welfare.
• To harness cross-cultural understanding among the youths of school going age.
• To enhance a value-added educational experience in specific disciplines, and exposure for a brighter tomorrow.
• To facilitate, and integrate self-generated development among the youth of school going age for better enterprise
• To facilitate capacity building programs that will strengthen the service delivery and engagement of the civil society, and government.
• To champion healthy campaigns among the youth to create more opportunities for a brighter tomorrow.
• To expand advocacy for the youth to improve on their knowledge and skills. Other Proposed annual components for NASF
Grand Contest
A 1million Uganda Shillings prize for the best student participant to be competed for at the end of the festival shall be part of the agenda. NASF Newsletter
A two-page section or enclosure for distribution of NASFIK bulletins showcasing writings and activities of student participants and fans. Students’ dialogues
Discussion and presentation sessions for students and other interested people at universities where former beneficiaries of NASF programs are present. These small gatherings initiated by the NASF team (maybe 5-7 per year) would be used to build awareness of NASF activities and contribution. These informal meetings could also help in planning NASF initiatives and soliciting feedback and ideas from the larger student body. NASF preparatory Workshops
Elaborate a plan for discipline-specific workshops for each year. These workshops (maybe 3 per year: one for each of the social, Educational and Governance) shall be a 1 day special session held at a University or a school with strong expertise in the subject area. Key personalities at host institutions (e.g., teachers, tutors lecturers, or even student leaders) would be encouraged to give seminars or lectures in their preferred areas to students. Networking with Other National Student Bodies
Ongoing contacts with student organizations such as National Youth Council (NYC), Uganda National Students’ Association (UNSA), Peer Link Uganda, and Uganda Youth Development Forum (UYDF) to explore common ground and opportunities for collaboration for opportunities for a brighter tomorrow
Our Values
NASF's work is based on the core values of equity, volunteerism, pro-activity, interdependence, quality accountability and discipline. Its work is also student-centered, whereby NASF believes that all young people (especially students) are citizens in their own right and are of equal value and therefore have their own contribution to the development of their society. NASF is committed to continually and actively appraise its work alongside its core values and principles.
1. Student youth– Centeredness
NASF believes that all students are citizens in their own right. They are of equal value, regardless of gender; marital status; family status; age; ability; race; color; ethnicity or origin; sexual orientation; socio-economic status; religious/political belief; educational level, mention it. NASF is committed to promoting the best interests, well-being, democratic rights, active involvement and need for equal outcomes for students to enable them to develop as individuals and as active citizens. Guiding Principles
• NASF will ensure that the ideas raised by students during the festival, are of paramount importance and are therefore considered.
• NASF will challenge policies and practices, which suffocate students’ rights and efforts through engagement.
• NASF will defend and maintain the good image of students.
• NASF will actively advocate and promote the participation of young people especially students in decision-making but also governance at different levels.
2. Equity
NASF is committed to the value of equity, both in terms of promoting the need for fairness of outcomes for Students, and ensuring that NASF’s policies, procedures and practices are demonstrably equitable. Guiding Principles
• In shaping public image, the NASF team seeks to challenge and discourage any forms of discrimination against student participants in the course of the Festival.
• During our activities, we seek to ensure that all its policies, procedures and practices are equitable
• In our own actions, we seek to equality-proof all future policies to ensure that no group has been unjustifiably discriminated against.
3. Volunteerism
Volunteering is viewed as a vital dimension of democratic and social life, not merely to be valued for its resource input in limited service fields. In particular, it is viewed as essential to the development of civic participation, social solidarity and individual development. Volunteering constitutes a key source of social capital. Today volunteering remains very important, and faces numerous challenges and opportunities. Guiding Principles
• We believe that human solidarity and concern for the common good are created, articulated and sustained by volunteering.
• We are committed to promoting, sustaining and developing the spirit of volunteering among the participating students and the students’ fraternity as well.
• NASF ensures that volunteers are treated fairly and facilitated to fully participate in all aspects of its activities.
4. Pro-activity
NASF seeks to encourage coherent and innovative strategies that will enhance the quality of services to young people and especially students. NASF does this by adopting a partnership approach to ensure that issues tabled, are addressed in a holistic manner and resources available are used effectively and efficiently. Guiding Principles
•NASF encourages and promotes innovation.
•We facilitate the development of partnerships, ensuring common ownership and problem-solving approach in all areas of our work.
•NASF establishes effective channels of communication with key partners.
5. Interdependence
At NASF, we value the interdependent nature of relationships and activity with other organizations. We are committed to acting in the collective good of students and young people especially with the youth sectors. Guiding Principles
•NASF looks forward to the building of trust and mutually beneficial relationships with other youth organizations and as well as other sectors.
•The staff of NASF does not compete with other youth organizations, except when the Board of NASF decides that the collective good is better served by them doing so.
• NASF seeks to encourage and promote collaboration.
• NASF facilitates the development of partnerships at a policy and strategy level, ensuring common ownership and problem-solving in all areas of its work
• NASF seeks to establish regular channels of communication with key partners and identified stakeholders.
6. Quality
NASF strives for quality in all its activities, demonstrating transparency in decision-making, responsiveness to emerging needs, an openness to challenge and ensuring that all resources are used effectively and efficiently. NASF is committed to being at the forefront of developing new ‘measurements’ in students and youth work, in championing a new Uganda. Guiding Principles
• NASF seeks to ensure that quality standards are continually improved.
• NASF is committed to demonstrate integrity and professionalism in all interactions with stakeholders and the public.
7. Representation
In fulfilling its functions as a student – centred festival, key attention is given to the effective representation of all regions and communities in Uganda and the neighborhood. Guiding Principles
• The basis of deciding who participates and the manner in which the activities are progressed by NASF is determined by the NASF Participation Act in the By- laws.
• The recruitment team, is sensitive when it comes to matters of representation.
8. ACCOUNTABILITY AND Transparence.
9. Team building
Teambuilding events are designed to fit the current needs of the youth. At NASF, we underscore the fact that some teams need time to bond, relax, and just have fun. Other teams have specific obstacles to address and overcome. For any event, we will make a teambuilding easy for youth participants. Guiding Principles;
•Ensuring High performance
•Managing team conflicts
•Inauguration of a tasks for teams
