The First Conference for the Kurdish Youth of North America

February 10th 2007 - The Kurdish American Youth Organization will be holding its first official conference at Vanderbilt University followed by a celebration at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Conference Purpose

The conference will be primarily focused on the role of the youth in Kurdish societies and importance of helping improve the situation for the Kurdish people worldwide. The conference will highlight the organization's strong commitment to preserving the Kurdish culture and the need to increase awareness among Kurds and non-Kurds of the culture and history, and problems facing the Kurdish people in Kurdistan and around the world.

The conference organizers anticipate a gathering of young Kurds from all over the United States, and particularly in Nashville, to attend our conference, as well as Americans interested in learning more about the Kurdish people and about Kurdistan. All are welcome to attend and many accomplished Kurds, Kurdish-Americans and Americans representing a variety of organizations will be sharing their views for the Kurdish youth in North America at the conference.

Academics, Scholars and Activists from different backgrounds will be speaking on a number of topics and issues. The conference will primarily focus on the following:

- Kurdistan: Personal experiences and realities facing the Kurdish people back home,
- Importance of Education
- Kurdish Youth and their role in societies and their communities,
- Women and Kurdish Society

(To view the conference schedule, please visit http://www.kurdyouth.org/firstconference.htm
Note: We have been having trouble with our website. If you cannot access our site and would still like to see the conference schedule, send us an email at kurdyouth@gmail.com )

Background: Kurdish American Youth Organization (KAYO)
The Kurdish American Youth Organization (KAYO) is an independent non-profit and non-political organization dedicated to promoting the Kurdish culture and aims to provide the Kurdish youth with a platform to create stronger alliances and better communication among the youth nation-wide. KAYO sets goals to provide assistance to young Kurds in North America seeking support from the organization in the fields of education, social services, community development, cultural expression through workshops and other activities, while also coordinating programs to help the people back in Kurdistan.

KAYO also aims to spread awareness of the Kurdish people and introduce the Kurdistan to the American public, and to develop relationships with other similar organizations and communities to develop stronger bonds between Kurds and non-Kurds.

KAYO's purpose is to represent and serve the interests of the Kurdish youth in North America. Through the conference, KAYO aims to fulfill several of its objectives. It is important to encourage Kurdish youth to be more involved in their communities and to create discussion among the youth addressing the issues facing the Kurdish people on many different levels.

Important Information
The conference will take place on February 10th at 9:00am to 5:00pm at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

The conference will be followed by a celebration featuring famous Kurdish singer, Dler. The celebration will begin at 7PM at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee.

*For more information, visit: www.kurdyouth.org/firstconference.htm Note : We have been having trouble with our website. If you cannot access our site and would like more information such as location, maps, hotels, conference schedule, party information or anything else, please send us an email at kurdyouth@gmail.com )

Kurdish American Youth Organization: e-mail: kurdyouth@gmail.com