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

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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