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Going Global: Using Authentic Youth Engagement to Advance International Advocacy and Policy Reform. Jim Casey Youth Engagement Summit August 6, 2014. Session Goals:. Share examples and experiences of young people in the advocacy and policy arenas
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Going Global: Using Authentic Youth Engagement to Advance International Advocacy and Policy Reform Jim Casey Youth Engagement Summit August 6, 2014
Session Goals: • Share examples and experiences of young people in the advocacy and policy arenas • Focus on transferability of positive youth development principles, practices and policy across countries and contexts • Focus on the impact of youth and adult alliances
Speakers • Cordelia Belezaire • Youth Against Violence Movement Coordinator – Belize • Sixto Cancel • Jim Casey Youth Fellow • Clinton Global Initiative Representative • Rising Junior at Virginia Commonwealth University • Bonnie Politz • Senior Advisor, Creative Associates International
Facts & Figures • Youth aged 15-24 make up 27% of the world’s population • 1.7 billion youth today – largest generation to enter adulthood • In developing countries up to 50% of 15-24 year olds are unemployed and out of school • Marginalized youth more likely to engage in risky behaviors, be recruited into crime, armed conflict and terrorism
Policy and Advocacy Trends in Global Youth Development • United Nations • Post-2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) / Youth Action Guide • Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development • International Youth Day (August 12th, 2014)
Policy and Advocacy Trends in Global Youth Development • US Agency for International Development • Youth in Development Policy • State of the Field Reports on Youth Development: Workforce, Education, Youth Engagement, Cross-Sectoral Approaches
Youth Engagement “The active, empowered, and intentional partnership with youth as stakeholders, problem solvers, and change agents in their communities.” - Youth Leadership Institute “If you decide to institutionalize youth voice, you are essentially designing and launching a whole new project that needs resources, oversight, and direction.” —YouthBuild “Eighty-five percent of Taliban recruits are under 25 and the majority of people in Egypt in the square were young people. So you see a trail of positive or negative in which young people are already involved…” —Restless Development
Cordelia Belezaire • National Coordinator, Youth Against Violence Movement in Belize
Central America Youth Against Violence Movement Objective: Influence policy makers to implement the right strategies which we believe will aid the development of youth and create a safer Central American region; one without violence.
Central America Youth Against Violence Movement • A USG-funded initiative, began in Guatemala in 2009 • Now in 7 Countries: Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua • Youth volunteers between 16 to 35
Youth Against Violence Movement in Belize • The chapter in Belize was formed in November 2012 • Outcomes: • Public Policy Recommendations for the Prevention of Violence at the Central American Presidential Summit • Government of Belize National Youth Strategy • CaricomYouth Stakeholder consultation
Strategy 1 • Strengthen civil society and state institutional structures • Strategy 2 • Strengthen the family for the integral development of the youth • Strategy 3 • Strengthen the formal educational system as well as non formal and alternative educational initiatives
Strategy 4 • Reduce risk factors for the development of citizen security • Strategy 5 • Promote the recovery of public spaces and the development of integral initiates for peaceful coexistence • Strategy 6 • Provide incentives for the development of youth organizations and volunteer opportunities promoting youth social and political leadership
Strategy 7 • Provide incentives for vocational, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities • Strategy 8 • Promote integral attention for youth at risk • Strategy 9 • Guarantee access to justice, rehabilitation and insertion of youth with an emphasis on restorative justice.
Sixto Cancel • Founder, Think of Us • Member, Youth Innovation Advisory, Dell Inc. • Commitment Maker, Clinton Global Initiative University • Young Fellow, Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative • National Fellow, The National Center For Innovation & Excellence • Scholar, YouthVillages • Student, Virginia Commonwealth University
Contact • Cordelia Belezaire - cordeliabelezaire@hotmail.com • Sixto Cancel –sixto.cancel@gmail.com • Bonnie Politz – bonniep@creativedc.com Visit our website at www.creativeassociatesinternational.com