Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Be heard - Delegate in Global Youth Forum

On 4th till 6th December 2012, over 900 youth leaders from every country will have an unprecedented opportunity to influence global policy.
You can be a fully contributing delegate to the Global Youth Forum in Bali from anywhere – your home, your office, a local internet cafĂ©. As a delegate, you will receive a special login so that you can participate virtually in all Global Youth Forum activities.
So, don´t waste time and complete form to receive your delegate login password!

Source: Global Youth Forum

Take action for a better world!

Small actions can have a big impact! Join other people like you in taking action for a better world, by signing on to commitments that align with the issues that matter to you. Keep track of your progress and get inspired by a community of youth changemakers.
A new App allows you to compete with and encourage your friends, and engage with others around the world. Amplify your world-changing behaviours and connect with others like you through Commit2Act.
Compete with your friends to carry out the most actions and gain points for your efforts.
See how you measure up against other young changemakers around the world.
Check up on your friends’ actions to see who can make the most impact.
  • Activity Feed: Real time updates of youth taking action all around the world.
  • Discover: Get involved with the campaigns of leading youth organizations
  • Profile: Share information about the issues you care about and track your journey.
  • Actions: earch for new ways to get involved in 5 categories of world changing action.




Apply to CGI University 2013

President Clinton will host the sixth annual meeting of CGI U from April 5 – 7, 2013 at Washington University in St. Louis. The meeting will bring together student leaders, NGO representatives, topic experts, and other prominent change-makers to brainstorm ideas, share best practices, and develop their action plans for the months ahead.
Any student above the age of 18 who is enrolled in an institution of higher education at the time of the meeting is eligible to apply. The meeting is free to attend if you are accepted. Limited assistance for travel and lodging is available to students with demonstrated financial need who apply by 30th November 2012.

Before you apply, review the application checklist and application tips.
Apply for CGI U 2013 as an individual - make a commitment on your own, or as a representative of a larger organization.
Apply for CGI U 2013 as a group - make a commitment with as many as three other students.

Early descicion and travel assistance deadline: 30th November 2012
Final application deadline: 30th January 2013

Throughout the application period, Campus Representatives and Commitment Mentors will be hosting networking events and information sessions in cities around the country and across the world. Visit the Upcoming Events page to stay informed about these opportunities.

If you experience any technical difficulties or have any questions concerning the application process, please email: cgiu.applicant@clintonglobalinitiative.org or call (212) 710-4492.

Source: Clinton Global Initiative University

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Youth Employment

There are over 1.2 billion young persons in the world today. It is estimated that youth make up 18 percent of the global population and 25 percent of the total working age population. About 90 per cent of young people are born in developing countries, where around half of the total population lives in rural areas. The highest average annual population growth over the last ten years was registered in Sub-Saharan Africa (2.5 per cent), the Middle East (2.2 per cent), North Africa (1.7 per cent) and South Asia (1.7 per cent). The growth of youth population is projected to reach its peak in 2035.

Of the world's estimated 211 million unemployed people in 2009, nearly 40 per cent – or about 81 million – were between 15 to 24 years old, (ILO Global Employment Trends, January 2010). The youth unemployment rate rose drastically during the recent global economic crisis – more sharply than ever before – from 11.9 to 13.0 per cent. Unemployment is more widespread among young people living in urban areas. Unemployment is a less-affordable option for people living in rural areas, where most young workers have to accept any job in order to survive. In addition, an estimated 400 million youth worldwide – or about one third of all youth aged 15 to 24 – suffer from a deficit of decent work opportunities (Decent employment for youth is targeted in the Millennium Development Goals, Goal 1, target 1.B). The vast majority of jobs available to youth are low paid, insecure, and with few benefits or prospects for advancement.
Some 152 million young people, even if they have a job, live in households that earn less than the equivalent of USD1.25 per day (ILO Global Employment Trends for Youth, August 2010). Furthermore, in some countries there is an increase in worker discouragement among youth per capita that has led some young people to give up the job search.

In Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, up to 70 per cent of youth live in rural areas and half of the young labour force works in agriculture (IFAD, 2007). Although employment in agriculture declined during the decade 1998 – 2008, it still remains the main source of employment for more than half of people working in East Asia, South-East Asia and the Pacific, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Lack of investments, to improve decent work prospects for young people in rural areas, often results in lower living standards and de-population of rural areas. The scarce availability of decent work and decent living opportunities and the little hope of a better future are the main factors pushing youth to migrate from rural to urban areas or abroad. Often, youth migration to urban areas leads to unemployment, poverty and alienation and, in some cases, to anti-social behaviours or exploitation.

If you are interested you can read more about this topic here.

Source: Food, Agriculture & Decent Work

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Become a Development Officer!

Are you looking to broaden your fundraising experience?  Do you have the enthusiasm and drive to identify and create new opportunities to engage with Trust, Government and Corporate partners building successful partnerships?  If so, this could be the role for you.
YouthNet are looking for a Development Officer to work across our fundraising streams. This is an ideal role for someone with some experience in trusts or corporate fundraising who is looking to broaden their understanding of other fundraising areas. They’re looking for someone who has the flexibility to adapt and respond to a changing external environment and someone who is excited about a diverse role.
You’ll be responsible for achieving annual income targets by supporting the development of new and existing relationships with trust, government and corporate funders from researching potential new funders through to account management.
It’s a really exciting time to join YouthNet’s Development team. They have a unique mix of propositions for government and trusts and a successful Corporate and Events team who have recently been awarded their first ‘Charity of the Year’ and secured a new multi-year strategic partnership. In 2013, YouthNet will also be the official charity partners for the Virgin London Marathon in partnership with Age UK.
Joining this small, dynamic team will give you the opportunity to take on a diverse role and see how your work has a direct and significant impact on the organisation and the young people they support. You’ll be part of an organisation that fosters creativity, encourages staff to take responsibility and ownership and champions personal development.

For more information, read the job description for the Development Officer.
To apply, you’ll send your CV and a supporting statement to workforus@youthnet.org.  The statement should outline your relevant skills and experience for the role, as well as why you would like to work for YouthNet.

Deadline: Wednesday 14th November

Source: YouthNet

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Speak out!

Engaging youth in planing education for social transformation. Speak out! Join the debates now!
Share your views, experiences, and resources on youth engagement in planning education! Go to the discussion forum now and see what youth, policy-makers, academics and practitioners from around the world are saying!

For more information, please click here.

Source: UNESCO

logo

Investing in the future of our Youth

Twenty years ago there were 183 million illiterate adults in China; 183 million people missing out on the chance to best support themselves and their families, and improve their lives. Today that figure has dropped by 66% – an achievement to be proud of. No wonder countries in Africa now look to China and other East Asian economies to learn how to help their young people lacking the most basic of skills.

As today’s Education for All Global Monitoring Report, published by UNESCO reveals, weak education systems are leaving one in five young people in developing countries without the skills that completing primary school offers.

Apart from producing the skilled workforce that our businesses need, as UNESCO has been advocating since its conception, a solid education also confers dignity and the potential for self-realization. China recognized this in the 1970s. By not only upgrading skills for industrialization, but also focusing on productivity for smallholder farmers and non-farm self-employment, the number of those living below the poverty line fell dramatically. The reward of this investment was strong and sustained economic growth.

This investment also benefits young people through better earnings. In rural China, wages are significantly higher for those involved in non-farm work who have at least some post-primary education. This has global implications too: the Education for All Global Monitoring Report calculates that for every $1 a country spends on a child’s education, it will yield $10-$15 in economic growth over that person’s working lifetime.

Once in school, teaching our children to prepare themselves for work also goes beyond learning to read and write as well, vital as those skills are. China – the host of an international congress on technical and vocational education and training convened by UNESCO in May – has set a target of 50% technical and vocational enrolments in secondary schools by 2020, which will mean young adults are practically equipped for a wide range of jobs. China also recognizes the need to teach people transferable skills – not those taught from a textbook, but the ability to solve problems, take initiative and communicate with others well. Problem solving is now a key feature of the school curriculum.

For the full article, please click here.

Source: Chinadaily.com

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Today: United Nations Day

Today is the Day of the United Nations. UN Day marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being.

24 October has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly recommended that the day be observed by Member States as a public holiday.

To take part of this celebration all what they wanted is to share the following video message of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:



I was confused: Where is the message? I can not hear what he is speaking.
But then I thought: Sometimes you don´t need a lot of words to explain (what at least everybody can see, knows or should know). You can read the message of Ban Ki-moon here.

Source: United Nations Blog

"Education First" - Initiative

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has launched a new initiative to increase access to, and the quality of, education for children worldwide. Called “Education First,” the initiative will focus on three priorities over the next five years: putting every child in school, improving the quality of learning and fostering global citizenship through education “Every one of us stands on the shoulders of our teachers, our communities, our families who believed in us and invested in our education,” Mr. Ban said at the launch of the initiative, on the margins of the 67th session of the General Assembly in New York on 26 September. “We are here today because we know every child everywhere deserves that same chance.”

In an op-ed article in the Huffington Post, the Secretary-General said education was not simply a moral imperative; it was the smart choice. “Every dollar invested generates $10 to $15 in returns. Yet worldwide, some 61 million children are still not in school. Our shared ideals are simple. We want all children to attend primary school and to progress to secondary school and relevant higher education. We want them to acquire the literacy, numeracy and critical-thinking skills that will help them to succeed in life and live as engaged and productive global citizens,” the Secretary-General said.

"Education First” has already attracted commitments totalling $1.5 billion. Among the countries that pledged to intensify their support for Education First are Australia, Bangladesh, South Africa, Timor-Leste and Denmark. From the private sector, the Western Union Foundation and the MasterCard Foundation pledged to give grants for economically disadvantaged students from the African continent so they can complete their education.

Source: Youth - Social Policy and Development Division

Youth Banner

Have your say!

As the International Year of Cooperatives is coming to an end, an International Cooperatives Youth Statement will outline how cooperatives can empower young people and inform international policy dialogues.

Please provide your insights, ideas and input to the development of the statement through  this survey by Wednesday, 24 October 2012.

For more information on the UN's work on cooperatives and the International Year of Cooperatives please visit the page here.

Source: Youth - Social Policy and Development Division

Youth Banner

UN Action Plan on Youth (SWAP)

The UN published a Summary Report on the United Nations System-wide Action Plan on Youth (SWAP) Survey. Amongst the three actions outlined by the Secretary-General for youth development is the preparation of a United Nations system wide action plan on youth to deepen the youth focus of existing United Nations system programmes. To seek inputs from youth and other relevant stakeholders for the development of the System-wide Action Plan on Youth, The Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development conducted an on-line survey in July-August 2012.
In total, 13,500 people have participated in the survey, of these 69% used the English version; 6% used the French version; 11% used the Spanish version; 3% used the Arabic version; 9% used the Chinese version and 2% used the Russian version. In total 53% of the contributors were female whereas 46% were male (other 1%). About two-thirds of the respondents were under 30. (1.2% was under 15; 11.3% were between 15 and 18; 37.4% were between 19 and 24; 26.3% were between 25 and 29; 12.2% were between 30 and 35; 11.7% were older than 36).

The main points of the survey and summery are following:
  •  Entrepreneurship
  • Employment
  • Education
  • Citizenship
  • Protection of Rights
If you are interested you can read the whole report here.

Source: Youth - Social Policy and Development Division

Youth Banner

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

YouthXchange

Planet Earth is facing a severe global crisis. Inefficient consumption and production patterns are putting an unbearable strain on our planet. youthxchange is designed to help trainers and individuals to understand and communicate on sustainable lifestyles:
  • taking care of our bodies
  • looking for a place where you can feel save and protected
  • social belongings f.e. to get informed about your rights
  • packaging yourself
  • carrying the torch
  • pay the right price
  • awakening and feeding your soul
  • clean up your fun: entertainment and leisure activities and
  • looking ahead
Get more information here.

youthXchange - towards sustainable lifestyles

We can find our way!

Just as an inspiration for this week:

"Calling all dreamers and optimistic fools
Don't let go of your dream, make it now, make it all come true
If you believe in a brighter day
I know we can find our way
To this island, in a starry ocean
Poetry in motion, this island earth
A beautiful oasis for all human races
The only home that we know, this island earth."


Thursday, October 18, 2012

Love.Youth.Future.

Last week I was traveling and I met a 71 years old men from Pennsylvania. He was telling me a lot of stories about his experiences from all over the world because he was traveling a lot, too. Then I told him my story, that I am a volunteer abroad in Greece. He was really proud to hear that there are still some young people who do this kind of projects and who wants to see the world. He was worried about that the Youth of this time is getting lost.
So, what about you? Are you worried about your future? Do you think Europe should invest more in young people? You can share your ideas and experiences with others who believe young people can change the present for a happy future.
Go to this board and share your stories!
This platform calls volunteers, activists, young people and future's lovers to action .
There is no alternative. We must mobilise to ask institutions, governments, business (and ourselves) to invest more in youth.

Source: Love.Youth.Future.

Love Youth Future

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Young people strive for the Rights

Today, young people are one of the main victims of the ongoing economic crisis. Not only are they more vulnerable to unemployment and poverty, they also find themselves excluded from many forms of participation. Aware that many young people are impeded in achieving their full potential due to unequal access, the Network of Universities on Youth and Global Citizenship decided to work in 2012 around the theme of ‘youth rights’. The mother university of the network, the University on Youth and Development, took place on 13th - 22nd September in Mollina, Spain. Young people from the four corners of the globe gathered to discuss the often mismatch between rights and duties.
The result was a declaration on behalf of all participants and partners of the Network of Universities on Youth and Global Citizenship. The document is addressed to governments and institutions and demands respect for all human rights. Likewise, young people should be ensured information about their rights and access to global education. Young people after all are a specific vulnerable group, which needs to be protected through adequate law enforcement mechanisms. Some regional instruments are already in existence though. They were heavily discussed during a roundtable between representatives of the European Youth Forum, the Iberoamerican Youth Organisation and African Youth Union.
The European Youth Forum holds great importance in the global cooperation for global youth rights. The rights based approach on youth issues is as such one of the main methods the Forum has set out to reach the strategic priorities for the next 6 years cycle of 2013 – 2018. The Forum believes that young people, like all other human beings are entitled to human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Source: European Youth Forum

European Youth Forum - Youth Policy Watch

International Human Rights Summit 2012

Youth Delegates from 30 countries joined officials, human rights representatives, human rights NGOs, leaders and civil society at the 9th Annual Youth for Human Rights International Human Rights Summit on September 7th to 9th, 2012. United Nations estimated $7 billion dollars is generated by human trafficking annually, with 700,000 to 4 million women and children sold into forced prostitution, labor and other forms of exploitation each year. Education is key. Learning what human rights are is the first step. The previous Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Mr. Hammarberg, explained in his October 6, 2008 Report:

"My experience is that a number of governments have not given sufficient priority to human rights education in schools. The emphasis has been on preparing the pupils for the labour market rather than developing life skills which would incorporate human rights values. More worryingly, it seems that some governments fear that a human rights approach in the schools could breed unwanted criticism and even undermine government policies. This is an undemocratic and short-sighted attitude. Educating citizens in their human rights creates an informed society which in turn strengthens democracy. For the Council of Europe, therefore, human rights education is crucially important."

Attendees packed the International Auditorium in the heart of Brussels with the purpose to teach youth about human rights, specifically the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and inspire them to become advocates for tolerance and peace. Youth for Human Rights International joined Jongeren voor Mensenrechten Belgium in hosting the 9th annual International Human Rights Summit 2012. Co-sponsors included Village Suisse ONG, The Ariel Foundation International, Grain de Sable ASBL, Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology International and Des Jeunes pour les droits de l'homme Genève. Flags were carried high on September 7th, as Youth Delegates from around the world paraded in with their flags side-by-side during the opening ceremony of the 3-day summit which included Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America and the Vietnamese community. During the Official Youth Ambassador Presentation, the delegates shared PowerPoint presentations and accounts of their Human Rights Education work in their local communities. Accounts included how the Youth Delegates used their skills such as art, performing, filmmaking, networking, translations, presentations at schools, workshops in the communities, organizing and carrying out international walks for human rights and the list goes on. This year's 30 youth delegates were selected from the nearly 1,000 applicants. The application process includes human rights essays with photographic evidence of their work to promote human rights in their local communities. Mistress of Ceremonies Dr. Mary Shuttleworth, President of Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI), welcomed the honored guests including UN country mission representatives, human rights and religious leaders, NGOs, local community activists and the community at large. Distinguished speakers flew in from such countries as Cameroon, Ethiopia, Mexico, Morocco and the United States of America.Distinguished speakers from the legal profession included Belgium, Denmark, Morocco, Switzerland and the United States of America. A highlight of the event was the presentation of four Human Rights Hero Awards for work to promote Human Rights Education. The International Human Rights Summit 2012 closing session was held on Sunday, September 9th, when religious leaders including Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs, among other faiths, gathered at the Hotel Carrefour de l'Europe for the Inter-Religious Conference for Peace. In closing, Dr. Mary Shuttleworth said: "Thank you again for traveling long miles, overcoming difficult obstacles and following our shared dreams of building a better world inspired by Human Rights Education. It has been a great honor to be here with you. Humbled by your greatness, your work, your passion and inspired to continue the next step in the long journey still ahead of us around the world.

Source: Youth for Human Rights  


Wednesday, October 3, 2012

European Commission: European Education Systems

On 18th September, the European Commission launched the high-level expert group on the modernisation of higher education. The group, consisting of eight members from diverse backgrounds, have a mandate until 2015. During this period the expert group will work towards more relevant higher education in which the needs of students and future employers alike will be better addressed. Moreover, the aim is also to increase the number of students attending higher education. Former Irish President Mary McAleese, who chairs the expert group, stated that she will work towards ensuring young people receive the best possible education that leads to improved employment prospects.
The expert group is part of the higher education modernisation agenda, which was endorsed at the Education Council meeting in 2011, in order to support reforms in EU Member States and to contribute to the goals of Europe 2020. The latter, is an overall strategy that aims to reduce school dropout rates to sub-10% in the European Union and to ensure that at least 40% of 30-34 olds completed third level education. As part of this broader picture, the high-level group will look into the best ways to promote excellence in education. In 2013, the focus of the group will lay on how to adapt learning to the digital age.
The European Youth Forum welcomes the new expert group and is particularly pleased to see the link between quality education and improved employability. In times of high youth unemployment, investing in education can be an important measure. The Forum therefore looks forward to the concrete actions of this group and hopes that young people and youth organisations will be adequately consulted.

Source: European Youth Forum

European Youth Forum

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Disappointment in St.Petersburg

Few weeks ago I wrote about an important youth debates in St. Petersburg. From 22nd - 25th September there was the setting for heavy debates on youth rights. This began with a youth event, which provided recommendations to the 9th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for youth. Young people’s inputs however, could not ensure a consensus at the higher political level. In youth conference’s final declaration on ‘Young People’s Access to Rights’ the inclusion of the wording ‘sexual orientation and gender identity’, proved to be a stumbling block for Ministers responsible for youth.
The youth event was co-organised by the Council of Europe’s Advisory Council on Youth, the European Youth Forum and the National Youth Council of Russia. The conclusions championed by the youth activists and representatives included the youth guarantee, the involvement of young people on all levels of decision-making and a comprehensive legal framework to ensure full protection of human rights. Keen to push the human rights agenda at the conference, youth activists marked the opening of the Conference of Ministers with a silent protest against human rights infringements across Europe, using the symbolic masks of the Russian collective Pussy Riot. Due to the failure to reach consensus, a feeling of disappointment dominated the closing of the conference. This feeling was echoed by many at the closing, including the Flemish Youth Minister, who gave an emotional appeal in favour of the inclusion of LGBTQI rights.
The European Youth Forum stands firmly behind the non-discrimination of all young people regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity, and as such shares the predominant feeling of disappointment. Fourty youth delegates, most of them from the Forum’s membership, signed a statement to express their frustration with the missed opportunity. Nevertheless, the Forum and Advisory Council on Youth engage themselves to build on the conclusions of the youth event, and will continue to push for an access to rights for all young people.

Source: European Youth Forum

European Youth Forum - Youth Policy Watch

Exploring solutions that work

Within the framework of the OPEN DAYS of the Committee of the Regions (CoR), the PES Group is organising on 10th October 2012 a workshop on youth (un)employment.
The workshop will present some solutions which have been successful at regional and local level in bringing young people into work and giving them a prospect. It will look at:
  • the need to effectively manage the school-to-work transition by better matching young people's skills with employers' demands;
  • the possibility to use EU funds, also to support innovative ideas that can boost quality job creation, including for young people with fewer opportunities;
  • the necessity to provide services which can help to develop young people's entrepreneurial potential and to actively support SMEs.
The workshop will encourage participants to share their own experience and discuss the examples presented. We are looking forward to welcoming you at our workshop and to receiving your questions, comments and contributions related to the event.

You can get more information about facts, programme, speakers and a lot of documents here.



Teach your children

Just for relaxing and a small break. Join this song and keep it in your mind:

"And you, of tender years,
Can't know the fears that your elders grew by,
And so please help them with your youth,
They seek the truth before they can die.

Can you hear and do you care and
Can't you see we must be free to
Teach your children what you believe in.
Make a world that we can live in..."


What does the UN mean to you?

Here in Greece it´s still hot, but the days get shorter. This week, in Serres, the students week for introduction has begun. So it´s a great time to think about the world and the importance of the United Nations.
What does the United Nations mean to you?
For this topic you can be a part of a great contest
First, watch this movie:


Second step: Grab your photo-, videocamera or phone and try to answer the question "What does the UN mean to you?". You can make a movie or a picture, it doesn´t matter.
But don´t forget about the deadline on the 24th October 2012.

Read more informations here.

Minority Rights 2012

Every country has national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities within its borders. Persons belonging to minorities aspire to participate in the public, social, economic, cultural and religious life of the societies in which they live, on an equal footing with the rest of the population.
Twenty years ago, UN Member States adopted unanimously the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, an acknowledgment that a gap existed in minority rights protection. This gap persists today.
The Minority Rights Declaration established that States have an obligation to acknowledge and promote the rights of minorities to enjoy their own cultures and identities, to profess and practice their own religions and use their own languages.
The Declaration ushered in a new era for minority rights. It sets essential standards for protection and offers guidance to States as they seek to realize the human rights of minorities.
You can read more information about the following topics:
  • Here you can find statements, speeches, news releases and editorial pieces on minority issues by the UN Secretary General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Independent Expert on minority issues and UN mechanisms.   
  • Here you can find publications and information material to promote the importance of the Declaration in protecting the rights of minorities.
  • Here you can find feature stories on people belonging to minorities and the work of the UN human rights system to protect their rights.
  • Here you will find information about meetings and events to mark the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Minority Rights Declaration.
Use these informations to inform all the people about their rights!

Source: United Nations

Minority Rights 2012

Monday, October 1, 2012

Annual Conference Volunteers

Want an opportunity to attend the premier event for microenterprise development practitioners and industry stakeholders for free (a $1000 value)? Want to gain practical experience in the field of international development? Want to engage with some of the most innovative development organizations in the world such as ACCION, Aga Khan Foundation, CARE and Grameen? Then apply to volunteer for the 2012 SEEP Annual Conference!
Every year SEEP offers a platform for attendees to connect, engage, and learn more about the challenges and opportunities they face in reducing poverty and strengthening the industry. In 2011, the SEEP Annual Conference welcomed over 550 participants representing 225+ organizations and 70+ countries.
The theme of the 2012 SEEP Annual Conference is Building Inclusive Markets: Impact Through Financial and Enterprise Solutions. It will focus on innovations in financial services and enterprise development that address some of the most pressing barriers to meaningful inclusion. In particular, innovations that increase scale and impact are critical for expanding access to the basic tools of economic self-determination.
 
Volunteer Details:
All volunteer assignments will be fulfilled in Arlington, Virginia during the dates of the Conference (November 4-8, 2012) or during the set-up process immediately prior to the Conference (November 2-3, 2012). Volunteers must be fluent in English and those with additional language skills (French, Spanish) will be given priority.
Volunteers are required to work a minimum of one day equal to eight hours during the Conference. When not on assignment, volunteers may attend the other activities of the Conference.
In exchange, volunteers will be entitled to a waiver of one day of Conference registration fees. All other costs (housing, meals not provided during conference activities, airfare, incidental expenses) associated with participation in the Conference are the responsibility of the volunteer. Persons who accept a Volunteer assignment will be asked to sign an agreement indicating their acceptance of the assignment(s) and a guarantee to fulfill their assigned duties.
Volunteer assignments will be made based on the needs of the Conference. A partial listing of volunteer tasks includes:
  • Registration. Volunteers will provide administrative/clerical support to the Conference registrar during the check-in of Conference participants.
  • Information. Volunteers may need to provide information to participants about local attractions, places to eat, and other relevant Conference information. They will also provide assistance to participants in locating Conference meeting rooms and other hotel facilities.
  • Conference Logistics. Volunteers will serve in a variety of capacities to support the on-site operations of the Conference. Some of these duties include stuffing and distributing Conference registration packets, distributing room signs to sessions, collecting tickets, and providing general administrative support
  • Session Room Monitors. Volunteers will provide general assistance in the various workshop rooms, reporting any audio-visual equipment that is not working properly, alerting speakers to the time limits for presentations, distributing handouts, and possibly taking notes of session presentations.
  • Local Residents: Local volunteers will provide general assistance to our international guests, including language assistance (may include attending part or all of other Conference activities to serve as a volunteer interpreter) or other assistance as needed.
Qualifications:
  • Good organizational skills and attention to detail
  • Demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks
  • Proficiency using Microsoft Office applications, especially Word and Excel
  • Strong work ethic; willing and able to perform all duties required
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills with an ability to work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders
  • Fluency in Spanish and/or French highly desirable
  • Experience for meeting and event planning: via telephone/video conference call and in-person
  • Experience in managing databases and contact lists, a plus
  • Aptitude for updating on-line content (websites) and experience with website navigation
  • Easygoing manner, energetic, upbeat personality
Application Procedures:
Volunteer applicants must submit a written statement in English including the following information to Bethany Bengfort at bengfort@seepnetwork.org. Applicants who do not include ALL requested information may not be considered.
  • Contact Information. Full name (First, Middle, Last), mailing address, day and evening phone numbers (include country/city/area codes), fax number and email address.
  • Statement of Purpose. Please describe in 250 words or less any relevant experience in event management and reasons for attending the conference.
  • Language skills. Include language and skill level in both written and oral.
  • Availability. Please state your availability and/or any special conditions (travel arrangements) that would preclude you from serving in a volunteer capacity on a particular day/time of the Conference.
  • Reference from an employer and/or professor who can support your application.
Applications will be accepted as long as volunteers are needed. Selected applicants will be notified of their acceptance on or before October 1, 2012.
 
Source: Seep

Annual Conference Image

UN DESA is answering your questions

The United Nations Departement of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) has helped countries around the world meet their economic, social and environmental challenges for more than 50 years.
In the last months there was a call on Facebook, Twitter & Co. to ask questions about empowering people.
In the following movie the expert group meeting of UN DESA answers questions like:
  • How can we make people realize that they are empowered?
  • How can we empower people if social services budget allocation in developing nations are cut?
  • How best to target mainstream and "accelerate" empowerment for the least empowered?
 Watch the full discussion with all questions and answers:


Source: UN DESA

Friday, September 28, 2012

Youth Service Institute

The Youth Service Institute is YSA´s (Youth Service America) signature national training event from 17th till 19th October in Houston (TX). Over the course of three days, participants will:
  • share their ideas with others dedicated to youth engagement
  • participate in hands-on workshops that will invigorate
  • engage in thought-provokating session that will inspire
  • get their hands dirty in community service projects in the Houston community
  • plan for Global Youth Service Day or Semester of Service
Learn more and register now here.

Source: YSA

 

Youth Changing the World

A new YSA (Youth Service America) resource, a service project toolkit for young people, helps them to take action on an issue that is important and discover their power to change the world through service.
Whether you are doing a service project with friends, family, a school group, a community organization or a faith-based youth group. This new toolkit will take you step-by-step through planning your service project.
You can download this toolkit here and also other YSA ressources (free, printed copies).

Source: YSA

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Wednesday, September 26, 2012

A better World through Human Rights?

Probably you realized that I published less entries last time. There is a big reason: I join for 5 weeks the online-seminar (webinar) "Discovering Young Leaders Programme" with 100 participants from 54 countries. We discuss a lot of topics about Youth Leadership.
This Commonwealth course is designed as an online interactive forum to inspire, empower and expose young people to views and concepts of leadership, global trends in youth empowerment and the principles of youth development across the Commonwealth.
Participants are expected to be leaders of youth organizations, undergraduate students, aspiring youth leaders, and heads and members of National Youth Councils and youth associations/clubs, and are between 15 and 29 years old.
The programme will create a platform for engaging past youth leaders and current senior officials as guest panelists on issues of governance and leadership. Past youth leaders including RYC Chairs, National Student leaders, NYC chairs, and notable youth activists will be guest panelists. The programme will also feature senior government officials including a Directors of Youth to join in the interactions with participants.
Probably I will inform you about some main discussions in this seminar.
Last time there was following question:
You know the basic rights, like right to vote, to education, to strike...
But why there are still countries without education and food for everyone?
Maybe you can find the right answer?
A better world through Human Rights - this is also a topic of the annual UN Students Conference on Human Rights from 5th till 7th December in New York City.
While the theme of the conference changes each year, the goals of this annual event remain the same: to promote awareness and learning and to prompt action among student leaders about human rights in general, as well as the specific rights issues related to the current year's theme. The conference is also an opportunity for student leaders to network and develop important leadership skills such as public speaking, team and consensus building, negotiating, and research and drafting. Finally, the conference provides participants with first-hand experience in using information technologies such as video-conferencing and web-casting.
So, get informed about your rights and opportunities.
More information here.

Source: Inter Connection 21 (IC21)

Group UNSCHR 11 indoor

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Youth and Land

The Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) is an alliance of global regional and national partners contributing to poverty alleviation through land reform, improved land management and security of tenure particularly through the development and dissemination of pro-poor and gender-sensitive land tools.
At the sixth World Urban Forum, GLTN are keen on addressing the intersection of youth, urbanization and land. One of the key sessions they facilitated during the World Urban Youth Assembly was titled: ‘Equitable access to land – Strengthening youth engagement in providing tenure security for all‘.

Powered by a scoping study, ‘TOWARDS A YOUTH AGENDA FOR THE GLOBAL LAND TOOL NETWORK’, here are some key takeouts:
Despite the increasing visibility of youth in the sustainable development and urbanisation discourse, their role within the land sector is unclear. While property rights and economic opportunities are expanding for youth, land is largely seen as an adult privilege. Part of the resistance to improving youth access to land stems from the construction of ‘youth‘ as a problematic, transitional and ill-defined category. Dominant attitudes expect youth to wait until adulthood before asserting their land rights. Alternatively, youth are expected to access land through adults or compete in the skewed land markets.

The following five questions were posed to youth (during the study):
  • Why or how is land important to youth?
  • Do youth face more obstacles (as compared to adults) in accessing land? If so what are these obstacles?
  • What must be done to strengthen land rights of young people (including young women)?
  • How can youth contribute to developing more effective land tools and strategies?
  • Are you aware of any best practices, where youth have been successful in improving their secure tenure or land rights?
You can find some answers here or you can read the whole study.
If you have a point of view that you would like to share you can comment on their site or follow the Youth and Land discussion at the World Urban Forum on twitter; follow @gltnnews as well as the #youthandland hashtag.

Source: Youth21



Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Building the Future We Want

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) and the Department of Public Information (DPI) invite you to participate in an online global forum, “Building the Future We Want” from 12th to 24th September 2012. Following up on the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) which took place in June, the United Nations is continuing its efforts to promote sustainable development and to prepare a new development agenda that will take us beyond 2015.

It takes only five simple steps to support this campaign:
  1. Get the word out to your friends and followers.
  2. Visit them on Facebook and/or use #futureWEwant or #beyond2015 on Twitter.
  3. Participate in the online forum, and ask your friends, and family members to post their questions on what, why, and how countries should deal with sustainable development challenges (rising unemployment, food security, biodiversity, climate change, sustainable consumption and production, land degradation, water, energy, sustainable cities, financing and technology transfer). Selected questions will be answered live on 24th September.
  4. Bring an impact to the campaign by posting the graphic identity, “Building the Future We Want” on Facebook (Profile and cover pictures) and on Twitter with a hyperlink to www.un.org/en/ecosoc/we. Downloadable visuals (Images and promo video) are available here
  5. On 24th September, watch live responses to your questions.
More information here.

Source: DESA

DESA Banner

Wake up Europe - It´s time to act!

All across Europe political groups and subcultures that feed off racist ideologies are on the move, penetrating mainstream politics with devastating consequences for the minorities targeted.
The impact of racism and discrimination on our societies today is severe: it affects all of us in various ways – whether we are its subjects or objects – making social cohesion impossible and paving the way for conflict.
On the background of these examples and many others, UNITED is organising this upcoming international conference to be held on 12th till 17th November in Finland.
In Finland, migrants and ethnic minorities face prejudice, discrimination and racism that affect, for instance, equal access to work and equal treatment in schools. Racism in different forms– varying from exclusion and name-calling to violence is part of everyday life for many visible minorities, though racist incidents are rarely reported. Support for young victims of racism is insufficient and this need is not properly recognised. Finland has a relatively small migrant population; the biggest migrant groups today are Estonians, Russian and Somalis. There are four national ethnic and language minorities: Finnish Roma, Tatars, Finnish-Swedish and Sami, last one being the only indigenous people in EU.

Creative approaches to tackle discrimination
In this climate of hate, they are heartened by acts of courage and the strength of free-thinking individuals; people who are not afraid to speak up for equality, multiculturalism and solidarity; people who go against the status quo to fight for what they believe in.
The European antiracist movement is full of such people, and you are invited to join them in Finland to create one unified voice that shows the true value of diversity.
During the conference, they will share fresh strategies and best practices for the European antidiscrimination movement. In a time when far-right groups are more and more successful in addressing a large part of the population, our response needs to be visible and creative: It’s time to ACT!

The working groups below will discuss such issues from different angles. Programme
  • Just Roma -The right-less communities: This working group focuses on involving Roma communities in the fight against discrimination and marginalisation, also on the inclusion of Roma rights in the antidiscrimination movement. They will also deal with the problem of how Roma are represented in the media and what solutions can be found to break stereotypes.
  • The InVisables - Which rights for undocumented migrants? This working group focuses on the situation for undocumented migrants in European countries. They will take a look at how human rights, basic needs, employment and education are met/missing for sans papiers in different European countries, and how different the human rights movement addresses these issues both at grassroots and advocacy levels.
  • School for All - Antidiscrimination education in school: In this working group they will search for the most effective way to implement an atmosphere of antidiscrimination within formal education environments. They will also look at how NGOs and schools can cooperate and exchange good practices.
  • Power to the Youth! Volunteering in NGOs: In this working group they will look at volunteering as a form of non-formal education and the possibility to obtain new skills, knowledge and competences as well as new support for the antidiscrimination movement. They will also look at tools that help to evaluate and monitor learning processes in relation to key competences involved in volunteering.
  • Online (H)Activism - New media in our struggle: The Internet and social media era provides a variety of new tools, methods and approaches that activists can use in their everyday work. In this working group they will explore the opportunities that these tools, methods and approaches provide and create strategies to best apply them in our everyday work.
  • Artivism - Creative action against racism: In this working group they will discuss the possibilities of creative methods and art in activism and explore inspiring examples, for example in antiracist campaigns. This creative working group will offer an open environment to bring forth and test all forms of ideas and methods.
UNITED is the largest pan-European anti-racist network of more than 550 organisations. With its conferences antiracist and human rights activists from all parts of Europe meet and discuss effective ways of combating racism and discrimination. At a recent UNITED conference held in May 2012 in Turkey (TR) delegates from 92 organisations from 35 countries look at specific issues, such as refugees rights, strategies to tackle Islamophobia, the creation of a Minority Rights Network, strategies for a critical approach to the media and many more.

Read the full information here.

If your organisation is interested to nominate a representative, send an Email as soon as possible (Deadline 19 September 2012), preferably by email to finland@unitedagainstracism.org

Source: UNITED

Monday, September 17, 2012

UNESCO-Aschberg Bursaries for Artists

 The UNESCO-Aschberg Bursaries for Artists (hereinafter called the Programme) promote the mobility of young artists in order to enrich their personal perspectives, to develop their creative project, enabling them to engage in a cultural diversity dialogue.
The Programme offers residencies to young artists (between 25 and 35 years old) worldwide. UNESCO-Aschberg advocates and promotes creativity, highlights cultural exchanges and the need for artists to enrich their experience through contact with other cultures.
These residencies are catalysts for the development of artistic expression in all cultures of the world.
The UNESCO-Aschberg Bursaries Programme was integrated in UNESCO's strategy in 1994 to promote cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. It aims to provide experience to young artists and to help them complete their training in countries other than their own.
  • The artistic disciplines for which the bursaries are awarded are Creative Writing, Music and Visual Arts. These three fields cover artistic specialisations that drive the creative industries, in particular the recording industries, the organisation of concerts, the audiovisual sector, graphic design and publishing. The countries of the South, which have a rich artistic tradition, can further expand their skills in these fields, and therefore boosting the different sectors of the cultural industry.
  • The Programme strategy is based in UNESCO’s policies to promote creativity and cultural diversity, and so, converges with the goals of the Convention on the Promotion and Protection of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005 Convention)
  • The Programme also gives priority to artists and institutions in developing countries, in order to enhance North-South and South-South cooperation.
The Inception of the Programme
  • The sale of a château donated to UNESCO by Swedish philanthropists, Mr and Mrs Aschberg, allowed for the creation of the UNESCO-Aschberg Bursary Programme in 1994. At the time, the Programme covered five disciplines.
  • Between 1994 and 2007, the Programme awarded 650 bursaries in 149 institutions to laureates from 72 countries.
  • In 2007, the Programme was temporarily suspended and was subject to an evaluation aimed at not only to draw synergies with the 2005 Convention but also to optimise its management.
Source: UNESCO
  

Democracy Education

Democracy is a universal value based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives.
While democracies share common features, there is no single model of democracy. Activities carried out by the United Nations in support of efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate democracy are undertaken in accordance with the UN Charter, and only at the specific request of the Member States concerned.
The UN General Assembly, in resolution A/62/7 (2007)  encouraged Governments to strengthen national programmes devoted to the promotion and consolidation of democracy, and also decided that 15 September of each year should be observed as the International Day of Democracy.
The subject of this year's theme -- democracy education -- is essential for the long-term success of democracy. All citizens, including the young people, in all nations need to fully understand their rights and responsibilities, especially in countries that have recently transitioned to more democratic societies. Questions such as, “Why should I vote?”, “How can I influence my leaders?” “What can I reasonably expect from my elected officials?” or “What are my constitutional rights?” need to be addressed through civic institutions, in the free press and in classrooms. It is only with educated citizens that a sustainable culture of democracy can emerge.

Source: United Nations

Polling officers help a voter cast her ballot in Timore-Leste’s parliamentary elections.

Friday, September 14, 2012

YOUth in the driver seat

YOUth in the Driver Seat is a Teen Driver Safety Semester of Service. This brand-new YSA toolkit is designed to help students develop their own teen driver safety service-learning program with educator guidance as part of a Semester of Service. Download
Learning to drive is one of the most exciting milestones in a teen's life. To support teens and their teachers in this rite of passage, YSA and State Farm® are offering $1,500 YOUth in the Driver Seat Grants to implement a service-learning program that encourages safe driving habits, community service and student achievement.
Also this Saturday, on 15th September, State Farm® is hosting Celebrate My Drive events in 14 cities across the country. You can also enter your school into the sweepstakes for the chance at one of 14 $100,000 grants. Then, teens 15-18 may enter for a chance to win a new car. Get more information here.

State Farm® Good Neighbor YOUth in the Driver Seat Grants Application Deadline is on 15th October 2012.

Source: YSA

Thursday, September 13, 2012

What can you share with the world?

Answer this question for the TEDxYouthDay! TEDxYouthDay is a series of TEDx events happening all around the world coinciding with Universal Children’s Day from 17th till 18th November 2012. These events are designed to empower and inspire young people.
TEDxYouthDay events present a combination of live speakers and TEDTalks to audiences around the world. These events vary widely in size, format, and theme, but they share a common vision: inspiring curiosity, igniting new ideas, and empowering young leaders.
Have a look at suggested TEDTalks for TEDxYouthDay events here.
And don´t forget to answer the question, what you can share with the world. You can Twitter, submitting  a short video or get part of the TED conversation.

Source: TEDxYouth Day

TEDxYouthDay

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Participate in the Youth Delegation

The Conseil quĂ©bĂ©cois de la coopĂ©ration et de la mutualitĂ© and the International Summit of Cooperatives are launching a call for applications aimed at youth aged 20 to 35 actively involved in Quebec’s cooperative and mutualist movement. Those selected will get to participate in the Cooperative and Mutualist Forum and the International Summit of Cooperatives, which will be taking place respectively on October 8 and from October 8 to 11, 2012, in Quebec City. Registration for the 36 youth selected to participate in the youth delegation at these events is financially supported by the SecrĂ©tariat Ă  la jeunesse, as part of its 2009-2014 youth action strategy, and by the Fondation pour l'Ă©ducation Ă  la coopĂ©ration et Ă  la mutualitĂ©.

Eligibility criteria:
  • be 20 to 35 years old
  • be a Quebec resident
  • work in the cooperative and mutualist movement as an employee or elected officer, or be a student and show a keen interest in the cooperative and mutualist model
  • have significant cooperative experience to be able to actively contribute to discussions and debates
Application and selection process:
Submit a complete application to Isabelle Gagné, including a:
  • rĂ©sumĂ©
  • cover letter
  • proof of age
The first 36 applicants who meet the selection criteria will be notified by email and will then have to confirm their commitment to participate in the scheduled activities.

Participation fees:
The total registration cost for each participant selected will be covered by the Secrétariat à la jeunesse, as part of its 2009-2014 youth action strategy, and by the Fondation pour l'éducation à la coopération et à la mutualité.

Information:
Isabelle Gagné
Conseil québécois de la coopération et de la mutualité
418-835-1644, ext. 24
isabellegagne@coopquebec.coop

Source: International Summit of Cooperatives

accueil-groupe.jpg

Study Human Rights in South Africa

Anyone who thinks about South Africa and human rights may immediately think of two things: Nelson Mandela and apartheid. The practice of apartheid, a system of brutal racial oppression, illustrates the dark potential of humans to inflict harm on each other. In contrast, Mandela has dedicated his life to liberating his people from the bonds of such injustice. He, along with many others, successfully put an end to apartheid and ushered in a new ethos of human rights in South Africa. His story is inspirational and gives us all hope for a better future.

As you consider studying in South Africa, think about following questions:

  • What do you think life in South Africa was like under apartheid? What might have happened if apartheid had not been dismantled?
  • Do you think that full liberation has now come to all South Africans? What human rights challenges have emerged in the post apartheid era?
  • Can parallels be drawn between the fight for human rights in South Africa and the countless human rights abuses still taking place around the world?
  • Most important, what can individuals, like you, do to effect change?

You are invited to come to South Africa and seek answers to these questions by yourself. The International Human Rights Exchange (IHRE) program provides a receptive and challenging intellectual space to debate international human rights and propose solutions.

For sure your IHRE experience will be life changing and help you better understand the role that you can play in the fight to protect human rights. Your participation, ultimately, might prove to be an investment in everyone's future.

Source: IHRE

Step into Service!

"Step into Service" with United Health HEROES Service-Learning Grants! YSA and United Health are teaming up to offer $1,000 grants for youth-led service-learning projects which aim to combat childhood obesity through walking, running or hiking programs. United Health HEROES grantees will lead active service projects that encourage their peers to get moving, learn about healthy lifestyle choices, and do good for others. Whether walking or running, HEROES will count the number of steps they take in their journey towards healthier kids and healthier communities!

Each United Health HEROES project will begin on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, 21st January 2013 and end on Global Youth Service Day (GYSD), 26th - 28th April, 2013.

Schools, service-learning coordinators, non-profits, and students in the health professionals are eligible to apply. For more information and to view a detailed program overview and application guidelines click here.

The online application will close on 15th October 2012.

YSA will hold webinars to help applicants through the application process and answer all of their questions.  The first webinar will be on 13th September at 3:00 pm. Sign up here.

Source: YSA

Join the International Task Force

Peace Child International and UNESCO’s Education for All Global Monitoring Report Team seek a Task Force of young people aged 15-30 to produce a young people’s summary of this year's landmark Report on Youth, Skills and Productive Work. They want a version of the Report that is accessible to young people to make sure that all of them, regardless of their background, have the skills needed for good jobs – and that everyone around the world has the same opportunities as you have had to be able to read and write!

Young people have produced several extremely popular Youth summaries of important UN Documents from the Convention on the Rights of the Child to the UNDP Human Development Reports on Water and Climate Change. Education for All is vital: for years, the UN has been urging governments to make sure that every child has the chance to go to school. Everything – from good health, to getting a job, to overcoming poverty – depends on every child – male and female – getting a good education. And yet - 61 million primary school age children are not in school (that's 1 in 10!), and 47% of those will never get to school at all. Even if they do, there is no guarantee that they will stay in school long enough to learn how to read and write. This means that many young people are entering the world of work without the skills they need to get good jobs. Those who are disadvantaged – whether because of poverty, gender or where they live – are most likely to be excluded from jobs that pay them enough to feed themselves and their families.

You will find these – and many other – amazing facts in the Report.
So, they are looking for young writers and artists to bring the messages and data in the Report to life by putting them into the words of young people, together with your personal reports, poems, stories and opinion pieces, paintings, cartoons and photographs - so that everyone can understand it.

JOIN the Task Force and share how education is – or is not – preparing young people for the world of work. They are particularly keen to hear ideas on the kind of support needed for young people who do not even make it through primary or secondary school, to ensure they get the skills needed for better work opportunities. Your contributions will be read by young people and many others (often senior politicians!) – around the world. And you, and your school or group, will be listed in the book as a Task Force Member. Further – if you send in a particularly good story, opinion piece or illustration – you may be invited to the Editor’s Meeting in the UK at the beginning of October with all expenses paid.

So - this is genuinely an amazing opportunity for concerned young people!

If you would like to participate, write back today to Willow Hewitt, the young editor who is managing the project, at: editor@peacechild.org. She will give you a password to the restricted parts of the UNESCO Report Youth Summary website and suggest to you the types of writing and the illustrations that they need to reinforce the key messages of the Report.

For more informations write them an Email and they will include you in the Task Force List – and you can take part in the Editorial Meeting online.

Source: World Assembly of Youth

Monday, September 10, 2012

Watch live: EU Youth Conference in Cyprus

Today starts the EU Youth Conference in the 'FILOXENIA' Conference Centre of Lefkosia (Nicosia). The thematic priority of the conference is "Youth Participation and Social Inclusion". During the conference, representatives from various youth organisations and government officials from EU member states, candidate countries and others will discuss how youth participation leads to the social inclusion of young people, with emphasis on young people with a migrant background. The importance of the participation of young people and youth organizations especially in decision making, as an important factor for the creation of inclusive, democratic and prosperous societies will be highlighted. A set of Joint Recommendations on the subject will be adopted at the end of the Conference.
To watch the opening and closing plenary live click here.

Opening Plenary - Tuesday 11th September, est. at 11.30-15.00 (CET)
Closing Plenary - Thursday 13th September, est. at 9.30-11.45 (CET)

Source: Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union

cy2012.eu Logo - Home

Young Professionals Programme (YPP)


The United Nations is looking for highly qualified candidates who are ready to launch a professional career as an international civil servant. The young professionals programme (YPP) is a recruitment initiative that brings new talent to the United Nations through an annual entrance examination. For young, high-calibre professionals across the globe, the examination is a platform for launching a career at the United Nations. This programme builds upon the national competitive recruitment examination (NCRE) which was held for the last time in 2010.
Are you eligible to participate in the young professionals programme examination?

  • Do you hold at least a first-level university degree?
  • Are you 32 or younger by the end of this year?
  • Do you speak either English and/or French fluently?
  • Are you a national of a participating country?

The examination is held worldwide and is open to nationals of countries participating in the annual recruitment exercise - the list of participating countries is published annually and varies from year to year.
This examination is also held for staff members of the United Nations Secretariat who work within the General Service and other related categories and aspire to a career within the Professional and higher categories. For more information about staff members participating in the young professionals programme, click here.
The examination tests your substantive knowledge, analytical thinking, drafting abilities, as well as your awareness of international affairs.
Initially you will be appointed for two years and then be reviewed for a continuing appointment. The Organization promotes mobility within and across duty stations and job families. As a new recruit you are expected to work in at least two different functions and duty stations within your first five years of service. You will be offered orientation and mobility training as well as career support. This will help you adapt and accelerate the learning period leading to productive work and job satisfaction as an international civil servant.


Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Your rights, your future - Tell what you think!

Hopefully you know that you, as a European citizien, have specific rights.
Between 9th May and 9th September 2012 you have the opportunity to give your view on your rights as a EU citizien.
Use this chance and think about following questions:
  • Have you ever encountered difficulties moving to another EU country?
  • Have you ever had problems when trying to shop online from another EU country?
  • In what kind of Union would you like to live in 2020?
Tell your view, your stories about this topic to the European Commission and support to strengthen your rights. Also your answers will help to prepare the next EU Citizienship Report in 2013, the European Year of Citiziens.


Boy sits looking at a lake while holding a toy boat with EU circle of stars on its blue sails @ EU


Youth Essay Competition

The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) is inviting students and young professionals worldwide, from 18 to 30 years old, to share ideas on how to create opportunities for youth to strengthen democracy and the private sector in their own countries.
To apply you should write an essay of 1500 up to 2500 words on the following categories:

  1. Entrepreneurship and Innovation - Beyond technology: What barriers do young entrepreneurs in your country face in translating their ideas into products and services? How do young entrepreneurs in your country foster new ways of acting and thinking? What supporting institutions do young innovators need to succeed?
  2. Inclusive Growth - The entrepreneurial environment for scaling up business: What challenges do youth-led businesses and entrepreneurs in your country face when they're expanding their enterprises? What opportunities do youth-led businesses and entrepreneurs have to succeed in your country, and what are some of the success stories? In your society, what tools or institutions do entrepreneurs need to grow small enterprises into larger, more prosperous businesses?
  3. Social transformations - The role of entrepreneurs in building democratic societies: How can entrepreneurship among youth strengthen newly-formed or emerging democracies? How are young entrepreneurs from different backgrounds participating in your country's democracy? In what ways are young entrepreneurs contributing to social transformations in your country?

For each category, CIPE will publish the winning first, second, and third place essays. Winning authors will also receive receive a cash prize. One grand prize winner will be invited on an all-expense-paid trip to attend CIPE's upcoming Democracy that Delivers for Entrepreneurs conference in the United States, which is planned for April 2013.

Deadline:19 October 2012

More details are available here.

Source: European Youth Portal (EYP)

Basic Education for Slum Girls

Maybe you remember, few days ago I published one entry about "Girls Education Challenge". They were looking for ideas and projects which can be robustly evaluated for their potential impact on providing the world’s poorest girls a real chance to improve their future.
Aarti Naik from Mumbai, India, sent me an Email and told me an interesting story which you should know about, too.

"My name is Aarti Naik. I am slum based Young Girl Changemaker from Mumbai, India. I have been staying in a slum area of Mumbai since my birth. Four year ago, I was 10th std. school dropout and there was no hope to continue my education. Because of my family`s poor condition, I was studying in B.M.C. school where I did not get quality education, so due to lack of proper guidance I failed in 10th std. and hence I became a one School drop out girl and parents insisted me to stay at a home. I strongly wanted to continue my education but due to poor conditions of parents, I decided to work and to continue my education. But I was not aware of any work in outside world, so I started to prepare ladies chains at home. Some women from neighbors were doing the same things, so they helped me to get such work. Every day I used to get 9 rupees of my work.  I worked for three years continuously. Then I started my education with the help of my three year earnings and some money from my parents. Hence after three year I passed in 10th std. exam. Now I am doing my graduation in B.A. (Sociology) from open university.
While I was studying , many thoughts came in my mind that whatever difficulties I had faced during my education, our slum based girl will face the same situation, because these slum girls also going to B.M.C. school. Also in my slum area, there is not supportive environment for girl`s education. There is a lack of awareness about the education of children especially for girl child.  These girls are facing so many socio-economic problems to continue their education.  Therefore I felt that I should do something for these slum girl`s education.
But there was not any support for me to help my slum girls. I started to talk with my friends, one day one lady from our slum suggested me about Ashoka`s Youth Venture. They provided me Changemaker Fellowship. I got financial help for one year. With the help of their continuous capacity building workshop, initially I started to conduct basic education classes of primary school going girls. Then gradually during 2008, I started my social venture “SAKHI” (a female friend of girls), especially for slum girl’s education.
Hence Since 2008, I have been conducting basic educational capacity building classes of slum girls (1st to 7th std.). The main purpose of venture SAKHI for Girls Education is to educate slum girls, to provide them an opportunity to express their views and to solve their academic & personal problems. Initially it became very difficult for me to convince the parents of slum girls. They showed ignorance to send their girl child to participate in different capacity building activities. Then I started to meet personally the girls’ parents, especially mothers. I talked with them about my activities, such as to provide opportunities to talk in public, to solve the problems of daily study, to discuss problems individually with each girl, to build their confidence through small group activities.
I informed them about the current worse situation of girls due to lack of education. I pointed out that due to school dropout and lack of education, their mother could not get a good job and forcefully they have to work as labor. It has been affecting on the continuation of their girls education. Gradually parents started to send their girls to participate in project activities. After three months, 23 girls enrolled in my venture SAKHI. Since then I have been taking reading, writing, alphabets activities, also I have started “Word Bank” activity to increase their vocabulary. So slum girls will aware of new words and its meaning in every week. So they will not find difficulty in English words during 9th & 10th std. and they will continue their further career.
I am happy to inform you that I started English Books Library on 11th July 2010 especially for slum girls of Mumbai.  Life Unlimited organisation supported me to ensure my dream into reality.  I have started my library with 100 books. Slum girls never get an opportunity to read books in English medium, apart from their school curriculum. So I strongly feel that every slum girl should have access to get valuable English books, it will give them exposure of essential knowledge in English. It will increase their confidence to pursue their further education in English medium without having any inferior complexes or fear of English language.
My aspirations : As I aware that due to my parents poor condition, I will not able to complete my higher education, but I can build the capacity of my slum based girls for their basic education with Life skills building, so they will continue their schooling and they will move ahead confidently.
My slum girls education is my life`s mission."

I felt a lot of respect for this work. The only thing what I can do is to publish this interesting and important story. But maybe you can get her a valuable guidance and kind support to realise Aartis dream into reality.
Here you can read about Aarti, read an interview or for contact aartidnaik@gmail.com

Friday, August 31, 2012

Children and Youth Engagement


Before two weeks over 40 participants representing youth-led organizations, CSOs, UN, private sector and academia met for two days in New York to coordinate and harmonize their efforts to enhance child and youth participation in the formulation of the agenda that will succeed the MDGs after 2015.
The meeting – organized by the UN Millennium Campaign in collaboration with the UN Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development, the UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service, CIVICUS, GCAP and the Beyond 2015 campaign– counted with the presence of Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General for Post-2015 Development Planning.
Liana Manusajyan, a youth representative from Armenia, opened the meeting. “I am asking you to lift the barriers to children and youth participation,” she said. “Because we need your help and we offer you our help in return.”
Rajiv Joshi, Global Call to End Poverty at the opening said “Our planet stand upon a precipice and people around the world, particularly women and young people are facing growing inequality, poverty and injustice. Next month over 150 young leaders and over 800 delegates will meet at the CIVICUS Youth Assembly and World Assembly in Montreal do build a vision of the World We Want and define a new social contract for people and the planet. As World Leaders craft the Post 2015 Development Agenda, we call for a future framework that is build upon the voices of citizens around, particularly young people who are in the forefront of changing their nations and the world".

The multi-stakeholder working session was conceived to facilitate partnerships between different stakeholders, to design a children- and youth-led engagement strategy, to develop follow-up mechanisms to enhance their engagement in this process, and to mobilize resources from donors.
Speaking at the session Amina J. Mohammed, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General in Post-2015 Development Planning said “"Youth participation is fundamental for the post-2015 agenda. Their vision and energy will be needed to do the heavy lifting in its implementation.”

Read more about this meeting and the results here.

Source: EndPoverty 2015