YURI’S NIGHT SHOULD START FIRST WITH YURI’S DAY!
It is an ideal to mark the day of the first man in space Yuri Gagarin as he paved the way for the space exploration with human mission. Space exploration began with the Robotic mission but Yuri opened the doors for the space exploration by human being.
Yuri’s Night has been celebrated in different ways in more that 50 countries across the globe. But the best way that we can use to mark this very day is to have some programs during the day, programs such as Outreach programs, space education in schools, sports and games, space activities such as Rockets launching particularly water rockets as JAXA can provide that if you want them, and much more depending on the time you have and during the night you might have/organize a space film show whereby I believe if you want any space DVD NASA and even JAXA can give it to you. The films will give opportunity to members of Space Generation to see how space has/can be explored as that will encourage them to get involved more in space activities, whereby at the end of the show you can brainstorm on some interest parts of that film.
I think this will have great impact compared with the act of having party, dancing and bouncing, but you might have that after the film or any other space activities during that night as the way of ending that celebration.
i agree with what you're saying, however, I see one problem:
Through the informational activities during the day as well as space films, you usually attract a crowd of people that have been interested in space already and are eager to learn more. While this is great, I think we also need the second part of having a party with dancing and drinks to attract a young crowd that possibly has never cared about space before. Within the frame of the party it might then be possible to gain their interest through displays, raffles, etc. and thus to increase the supporters for space exploration!
Due to that reason, i have always aimed at combining the two: exhibition and talks during the day, party at night!
I think the idea of having a Yuri's day is a great idea, I am part of the group who organised South Australia's celebration and we always end up having a casual pub night, with more drinking than learning so such an idea would really help us. I think the idea of doing both is fantastic ad should be advertised more.
Its good idea and I think we should talk more on programmes during the day. Since 2006, I have been part of Yuri’s night celebration in Nigeria. What we usually do is to have presentations starting from like 6pm and by the time we have two presentations it’s already night and the party starts. If we are saying day and night, are we going to use the whole day from like 10am? If that, then we can organize something like rally which is still a form of publicity for the whole programme between 10am and 2pm and the presentations/party starts from like 6pm.
I think we should consider also non space mambers participation in remembrance of Yuri as a way to attract more to join our association.I agree with suggestions of Kanmi and Juergen our focus should be more on making space known to all rather than targeting space members only.
Tumaini.
Dear Young space enthusiasts!
Pleassure is mine to have your ideas on Yuri's night, infact all ideas are great and useful, it is good to have some space activities during the day and have party during the night just as what Juergen has suggested, the doors are still open, let us keep on discussing this so that next year we can improve the celebration of Yuri's Night and make it more viable.
Yuri's night is one of the great events to attract space science professionals and non professionals. When we organized the yuri's night 2008, we made it in two parts. On the day of april 12, students, professionals and representatives of youth clubs and high schools gathered at Addis Ababa University. I can tell you a great deal of change was recorded. Many students and young professionals showed interest in space and space generation. film shows were made and we used planeterium to even impress the participants more.
on the other hand, on the night of april 12, it was time for fun. we had a variety of choices. music, dance, film shows, telescopes and posters displayed. The audience had a number of choices to enjoy. But the objective is always clear. It is the day of the first step to buil our confidence in space exploration.
Dear Bekele!
I have been touched with the activities that you put in place during Yuri's Night in Ethiopia, infact to me that is what Yuri's night should be celebrated it it is important to celebrate it as it has a great impact to the space generation. No Nation, no one has to take Yuri's Night celebration into granted.
Let us all keep it up and try our level best to make it stronger and stronger every year.
I love the idea to have both informative sessions for those who want to learn more about space as well as a party. I think the party should be used to stir up peoples interest, as Juergen suggested, but what about having the talks after the party so that people who have had their interest in space stirred up at the party can follow that interest through with learning about space soon after the party.
Of course this idea means that Yuri's 'night' would be spread over at least two dates... but it's another possibilty.
Phoebe
Dear Phoebe!
It is possible to have talks after the party so that to trap those who attended that party so that they can also get involved in space issues, though it might be difficulty because they might get tired with bouncing and dancing, maybe before dancing and other bussiness, during dinner you might do that, so that when it comes to party, people should be free to dance as much as they can hopping that there will not be any other business after the party night.
I dont know if that respond to your concern...
Thanks Castory,
I believe the yuri's night in Tanzania was great too. I haven't participated in any SGAC activities before 2007. But I believe 2008 was a year of great activities especially when it comes to yuri's night. New african countries became part of the event. Links were created. Remember the usstream.com broadcast opportunity? we were able to hear each other's voice because of yuri's night. Let's work together to make YN 2009 even greater.
Dear Bekele!
I have every reason to be happy with you, because real you have been the engine to many things as far as space is concern, infact I have been touched with your challenging ideas which are of great value to our missions.
Tegether we can make a big different, nad I am happy that I got the NPoCs who are willing to act and eager for changes.
Let us let this flame from burning high never let it went off.
Let us all join our forces and efforts to make sure that Yuri's night is going to be great next year, but also we need not to forget that there is also World Space Week, in which if we dont have a National Coordinator for it in Ethiopia I would like for you to apply for it.
Dear castory,
We actually are going to celebrate WSW too. In fact I am the National coordinator for Ethiopia. The first reason I chose my project to be YN & WSW is because I hope to meet organizers from around the world in glasgow and share their experience.
Dear Bekele!
Pleasure is mine to hear that, and even me I am in that project, purposely because of that, and I am the National Coordinator for WSW as well, so I will be greatful to see you in glasgow, and also I will be glad to get to hear from and being in the same group with you, I know that we have a lot that we shall put in place.
You are so active and I like your challenge and I would like for both of us to bring great changes in Africa as far as space generation is concern.
Here in Houston, we ran a full day of Yuri's Night activities in conjunction with Space Center Houston (for all intents and purposes, the Johnson Space Center visitor's center), NASA, and several sponsors. There was an education fair for elementary school students, presentations on various aspects of the US space program, and outdoor NASA displays. You can definitely make Yuri's Night into a Yuri's Day. :)
Dear Jwkugler!
I do appreciate with your supporting comments on the fact that Yuri's Night can start during the day, and also I would like to tell you that to me Yuri's night is just as a bridge, which bridge the gap among the young space enthusiasts, and that is why it is always encouraged for all the nations to organized it.
Let us share the experience so that we can improve this celebration in the future to come.
Dear All,
I’m Hector Salvador, the President of a Spanish student association called “LEEM – Laboratory for Space and Microgravity Research”. This is the first time I'm writing on the Forum, but we have been organizing Yuri's Night and World Space Week in Madrid, Spain, for the last two years.
On YN2007 we played some Space related movies during the day and have some special lectures at university. We even contacted Pedro Duque, the Spanish Astronaut, to commemorate this day with us, but he already had other commitments :S. For YN2008 we also held an event at University, called media and for the first time, invited representatives of Space industries in Madrid’s area (and of course, great party at night!)
Our objective is not only to organize a party, or a day event focussed to some students, but also to get people from all ages realizing that 12th April is the anniversary of the Dawn of a new era for Mankind. In a couple of years, we are trying to organize a Space fair in a public square of Madrid, inviting Space industry and institutions to give information about their activities, organizing special lectures, launching a Vostok replica and any other event that may attract general public, non specially students or Space enthusiasts, to celebrate this day as an international memorial day.
The main problem we are having here in Spain to get financial support to initiate these activities is that most of the references to Yuri’s Night worldwide talk mostly about the night party. Maybe we should include more references or even recompile on a report the day activities/cultural events organized in other countries to help in this kind of initiatives.
Really looking forward to meeting you all in Glasgow!
Kindly,
Héctor
Dear Salvador!
I am so delighted with your comments, infact you gave us the importants details that will help us in organizing the Yuri's Night in our Individual countries, and I would like to ensure you that if god wishes we shall meet in Glasgow.
Castory Ntullu
SGAC Regional Coordinator for Africa
WSW National Coordinator for Tanzania
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