1st Global Forum on Youth Policies -- Applications Due Aug. 27

The Global Forum on Youth Policies will be convened by the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth together with UNDP, UNESCO and the Council of Europe from October 28-30, 2014 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

According to the Global Forum on Youth Policies website:

"In 2014, of 198 countries, 122 countries (62%) have a national youth policy, up from 99 (50%) in the previous year. These numbers show that governments are increasingly aware of the need for legal and policy frameworks that respond adequately to young peoples’ needs, aspirations and demands.

"Despite these advances, however, a number of challenges affect both the efficiency and inclusiveness of youth policies, from fragmented responsibilities and challenged structures to the lack of reliable knowledge and the absence of appropriate resources.

"Against this backdrop, the Global Forum will build a common understanding of the needs for and rationales of systemic and cross-sectoral approaches to youth policy, and develop guiding principles for integrated youth policy development.

" By renewing the commitment to public policies on youth issues, the Forum will be a milestone in defining what it means to take young people and youth policies seriously in the twenty-first century."

Who should apply?

Nongovernmental experts of youth-led organizations and movements working on youth policy;
Youth experts of global and regional intergovernmental organizations working on youth policy;
Research experts from institutes, universities and think tanks with a focus on youth policy;
Development experts from organizations, agencies and institutions in the youth sector;
Programming experts from donors active in supporting policy change in the youth field.

What kind of experience should I have? Applicants who:

have at least two years of experience with youth policy at regional or global level;
are interested in critical and informed debate about the state of youth policy;
can use English with sufficient proficiency for a professional context;
are associated with an organisation or network that works on youth policy issues;
can attend the First Global Forum on Youth Policies for its entire duration;
and are, preferably, between 18 and 35 years old.

Applications are due August 27! Apply here: http://www.youthpolicyforum.org/details/call/

FAO/YUNGA Internship Opportunity in Rome

The Youth & United Nations Global Alliance is looking for an intern for this fall! The internship does provide a stipend of  $700 per month and they are looking for someone with the following criteria:

1. Educational, environment or science education.
2. Has been working for at least 2 years in non-formal educational environments (for example a Scout or Guide leader).
3. Experience in developing educational materials and resources in English and other languages.
4. Has undertaken community work.

 If you are interested please send your CV and a one paragraph e-mail on why you would be interested for working for YUNGA to yunga@fao.org with Reuben.Sessa@fao.org in copy by September 15, 2014.

Check out the original posting here.

What is YUNGA?

The Youth and United Nations Global Alliance (YUNGA) was created to generate collaborative initiatives between United Nations agencies and other organizations and civil society organizations working with children and young people. YUNGA is a gateway to assist the engagement of youths in activities of key environmental and social concern at the national and international level.

YUNGA seeks to empower children and young people to have a greater role in society, support UN related activities, raise awareness and be active agents of change.

YUNGA and its numerous partners are working on a number of thematic areas including: agriculture, biodiversity, climate change, energy, forests, food security, hunger, nutrition, oceans, water, and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Activities range from educational policy, capacity building programmes, didactic materials, resource packs, international competitions, challenge badges and different programmes intended to inspire active participation.

What is FAO?

Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO's efforts – to make sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.

FAO's three main goals are: the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition; the elimination of poverty and the driving forward of economic and social progress for all; and, the sustainable management and utilization of natural resources, including land, water, air, climate and genetic resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

FAO: YUNGA Badges

YUNGA develops challenge badges around various themes relating to the UN and global issues. Check out the full list of badges here: http://yunga-youth.weebly.com/themes.html

Millennium Development Goals-- 500 Days Remain, Tell Us Your Story!

Today marks 500 days remaining for United Nations Member States at achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)! In case you missed it, in 2000 the UN established 8 clear goals that are expected to be reached by 2015-- which is now just 500 days away! Here is a short video from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that helps to recap what the MDGs are:

Tell Us YOUR Story!

Success in the next 500 days will not only help improve lives for millions, put more girls in school, save mothers’ lives, fight diseases, ensure a safe start in life for children: it will add momentum as the world is developing the new global development agenda after the MDGs expire in 2015. This is known as the Post-2015 development agenda.

For every day in the remaining 500 days to MDGs, we want to hear a story from you – a story on what you have done to help the world achieve the MDGs, on what you have done to make an equal and just world a reality for billions of people around the world. Share your stories on social media via the hashtag #MDGMomentum #500stories or email them to comms@wagggs.org!

Get Involved!

It's never too late to get involved in and raise awareness about the Millennium Development Goals! There are some really helpful and amazing resources you can use to help educate young people and children in your community about the MDGs:

Take Action

Girls Worldwide Say, "Together We Can Change Our World" Badge Curriculum: An activity pack that helps children and young people to learn about the MDGs and take action on the issues that affect them and their communities.

Be the Change Community Action Programme: A resource for girls 14+ to engage their communities on the Millennium Development Goals.

My World 2015 Vote: The United Nations wants to know: What do YOU want to see as part of the post-2015 development goals? The result of this vote will influence the UN's Post-2015 Agenda, or Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), so cast your vote now!

Resources

The World We Want for Girls Policy Paper: The policy paper from the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts reviews the gaps in the Millennium Development Goals and suggests how the voices and aspirations of girls and young women should be reflected in the next development agenda beyond 2015.

MDG +10 Report: A 2010 report on how girls and young women worldwide are taking action on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

Today is International Youth Day!

Today is International Youth Day, which was established in 1999 by the UN. Events are being held around the world to herald the youth's have made in this last year as well as to spur on leadership and action in our global youth community. It's not too late to get involved! Here are some resources and information to help:

What is International Youth Day?

From the UN Website:

The theme of International Youth Day 2014 is "Youth and Mental Health."

Youth with mental health conditions can often experience stigma and discrimination, which in turn can lead to exclusion and/or discourage people from seeking help for fear of being negatively ‘labelled’. 

The 2014 observance of International Youth Day will raise awareness on this important topic, as well as highlight the experiences of brave, young individuals who have chosen to speak out about these issues with the objective of overcoming stigma and discrimination to ensure that young people with mental health conditions can lead full and healthy lives free from isolation and unnecessary shame, and openly seek the services and support they need. 

Today at the UN in New York a major event was held in honor of the day. Invited speakers for this event  in the ECOSOC Chamber at the UN in New York included Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, H.E. Ambassador Otto, the PR of the Republic of Palau. Confirmed speakers included mental health advocates, Alicia Raimundo and Jordan Burnham and the author of the report Social Inclusion of Youth with Mental Health Conditions, Catherine Bradshaw. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's statement can be read here.

Young people could also submit artwork for the event around the theme of Youth and Mental Health, some of which you can check out here:

Post by United Nations Youth.

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Take Action: 

 
Join GenUN to get engaged in the UN community (just launched today!): http://genun.unausa.org/


International Youth Day Toolkit: http://undesadspd.org/Youth/InternationalYouthDay/2014/Toolkit.aspx

Resources and Further Information:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UN4Youth

Twitter: @UN4Youth

Kathy Calvin, President and CEO of the UN Foundation, writes about International Youth Day for the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-calvin/on-international-youth-da_b_5669180.html

International Business Times Article: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/international-youth-day-2014-top-quotes-history-observance-1460756

UN Women Photo Essay on Girls' Struggles & Achievements in Honor of International Women's Day: http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2014/8/youth-day-photo-essay