Apply to be a UN Advocate for the 2017 UN High Level Political Forum in July!

Restless Development is recruiting for an exciting opportunity for ahead of this year’s UN High level Political Forum. Restless Development is collaborating with the Permanent Mission of Denmark to the United Nations to help embed youth-led accountability at the heart of the the 2030 Agenda. To do this, we will be jointly implementing a high-level side event and a two day capacity building training at the UN High Level Political Forum in July 2017, showcasing how young people are already engaging formally and informally in the follow-up and review of the SDGs.

For this year’s High Level Political Forum, Restless Development and the Permanent Mission of Denmark to the United Nations are recruiting six young advocates to attend the Forum, taking place in New York from 10-19th July. We are looking to support six young people with a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences in youth-led monitoring and accountability for sustainable development, and will be selecting applicants on the basis of the below criteria, as well as ensuring that the group of youth advocates attending the HLPF reflects our commitment to diversity and inclusion. Preference will be given to young people representing the 44 countries who are conducting Voluntary National Reviews this year.

If you are interested in being a Youth Advocate for Restless Development and the Permanent Mission of Denmark, please fill out the below application form before the deadline of Wednesday 7th June at 9am BST. We will not unfortunately be able to consider applicants who have submitted forms after this time.

UN Youth Advocate to the 2017 HLPF - Application Form

Along with other certain criteria which we are looking for in applicants, please note this opportunity is available only to those aged between 18-29. If you have any questions or are unable to fill out the form, please contact sarahh@restlessdevelopment.org.

Already going to the HLPF?

Great! Restless Development and the Permanent Mission of Denmark to the United Nations will be hosting a two-day capacity building workshop for young people in New York ahead of the Forum on the 8-9th July. The two-day training will be open for any young person attending the Forum in New York with the main aims of helping participants navigate the UN to maximise their advocacy efforts, as well as promoting the role of youth-led accountability in ensuring the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The training will foster peer to peer learning between young advocates along regional and thematic lines, and provide participants with an opportunity to engage with key decision makers and stakeholders also.

In preparation for the training, we’d love to hear from you regarding the topics you think the training should cover and the skills you believe participants should receive training on.

Please take 1 minute to fill out this short form letting us know of the dates you will be in New York for and what topics you would like the training to cover.

Scholarship for Peace Boat US Program

*This is not a WAGGGS program, but thought I would pass along in case it is of interest

PEACE EDUCATION AND THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN LATIN AMERICA (SUMMER 2017) 

June 20 – July 3, 2017

This program is geared toward university students, and welcomes advanced high school students, graduate students, and life-long learners, participating individually or in groups. Peace Boat US will also offer two full scholarships to join the program. Please see below for details.

Traveling to Panama, Nicaragua, and El Salvador, participants will learn about meaningful development experiences and peacebuilding in the Latin America region. Beginning in Panama, participants will visit the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) office, exchange with with indigenous communities, and learn from youth working for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Embarking onboard the Peace Boat in the port city of Cristobal, participants will pass through the Panama Canal and participate in lectures, cultural exchanges, and presentations on peace and sustainability issues while at sea. Arriving in Nicaragua, participants will learn about climate action and visit mangrove forests along the coast. After sailing to El Salvador, participants will disembark and join various educational activities including an exchange program at the University of Don Bosco in San Salvador.

Schedule (tentative): 

June 20 – Orientation in New York City at Peace Boat US Office, UN Plaza (or by Skype)
June 21 – Fly to Panama City, hotel check-in, and welcome dinner
June 22 – Visit UN Development Program regional office, session on Sustainable Development Goals in Latin America
June 23 – Visit RET (Resilience, Education and Training) program for refugee youth in Panama
June 24 – Study Program and cultural exchange with local indigenous communities in Panama
June 25 – Embark on Peace Boat in Cristobal, Panama, onboard orientation
June 26 – Panama Canal passage, preparation for lectures and study sessions onboard
June 27 – Onboard lectures and workshops
June 28 – Arrive in Nicaragua, Climate Action study program and mangrove forest visit. Return to ship for departure.
June 29 – Arrive in El Salvador, disembark from Peace Boat, cultural exchange program
June 30 – Visit University of Don Bosco in San Salvador, forum on Peace and Sustainability
July 1-2 – Cultural exchange in El Salvador with local community groups focused on the SDGs
July 3 – Return home

Full Voyage Itinerary 

Details 

Program fee is approximately $2,700 USD per person, and includes all accommodation on land and at sea (shared occupancy), land and sea travel during the program, three meals per day, and port programs. Fee does not include flights between home and Panama City and San Salvador and home, visa expenses, travel insurance, or other personal expenses. Passport valid until at least January 2018 is required. Participants are free to travel before and after program at their own expense.

Contact us for more information about participating. Individual students, student groups, and life-long learners are all welcome!

“Youth for the SDGs” Scholarship 

Click to download PDF flyer In 2015, 193 UN member states came together to define 17 Sustainable Development Goals to shape the global agenda for sustainable development in the next fifteen years and beyond. Achieving these goals will require an unprecedented mobilization of the energy and skills of young people, who play a key role in promoting and advancing the SDGs through entrepreneurship, volunteering, research, education and other endeavors.

Towards this aim, Peace Boat US is offering two full scholarships for young people working to advance the SDGs to join the “Peace Education and SDGs in Latin America” program.

Applicants are encouraged to review the Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals website.

Applicants are also highly encouraged to participate in the UN Ocean Conference to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal #14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development, taking place at the UN Headquarters in New York City from June 5-9, 2017

The scholarship will cover the following: 

• Airfare: NYC-Panama, and El Salvador-NYC (or equivalent price) 
• Accommodation, meals, and travel onboard the Peace Boat and in ports of call for the duration of the program 
• Travel insurance covering June 20 – July 3, 2017 

Costs to be covered by participants: 

• Personal expenses including gifts, souvenirs, toiletries, additional food, etc 
• Travel expenses not directly related to the program 
• Costs related to extending your time in Latin America either before or after the program dates 

Eligibility: 

• Ages 18-30 years old 
• Youth who are currently involved in SDG-related initiatives 
• All nationalities, pending visa confirmation for the included countries 
• Applicants must currently have a passport valid through December 31, 2017 

Qualities we are looking for: 

• Leadership skills 
• Strong speaking and presentation ability ( in English ) 
• Experience volunteering or working in SDG-related initiatives 
• Commitment and plans for continuing SDG-related work in the future 

Application process: 

In 500 words or less, please explain:
1) Brief background of your experience with SDG related initiatives
2) Why you want to join this program
3) How you can use the experience to further your SDG-related work

Statements can be submitted via email to info@peaceboat-us.org
Applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm / 17:00 Eastern Standard Time on April 25, 2017
Selected applicants will be contacted by April 30 to conduct an interview via Skype. Interviews will be conducted no later than May 5.
Scholarship recipients must submit a copy of their passport, one photo, and program application form within one week of receiving notification from Peace Boat US

Scholarship website can be found here: http://www.peaceboat-us.org/programs/latin-america-summer-2017/

Friendship Ambassadors Summer Youth Assembly at the UN

Press Release from the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation:

Friendship Ambassadors Foundation (FAF) invites youth from around the world to apply for this year's Summer Youth Assembly, set to take place from August 9 - 12, 2017 in New York City, USA.

Delegate applications are open to youth between the ages of 16 - 28 who exemplify strong potential or have made an impact as leaders and changemakers in their communities. Interested applicants who are 29 years or older may apply as an Observer.

Delegate Packages: The Delegate Packages are designed to extend the Youth Assembly experience beyond the conference and provide various learning and networking opportunities to delegates, in addition to affordable accommodation and meals during their stay in the United States.

Participants who sign up for the packages enjoy access to additional events and activities, which aim to enrich their experience in both practical and inspiring ways.

 Outstanding Youth Delegate & Youth Assembly Scholarship Opportunity

FAF recognizes that meaningful youth participation in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires empowering young people, especially those who are furthest behind.

Therefore, in addition to recognizing two Outstanding Youth Delegates at the conference, FAF is pleased to introduce a merit-based scholarship opportunity which will be provided to one deserving youth to attend the Youth Assembly at the United Nations in New York.

All three winners will have the unique opportunity to speak on the podium and inspire other young people through their work and commitment to global development and the success of the SDGs. 

These opportunities are only the beginning of the Foundation's growing efforts to make the Youth Assembly an open and inclusive platform for youth coming from various socio-economic backgrounds.

Visit our website to learn more. Please stay in touch and look out for further announcements coming soon! Sincerely, Friendship Ambassadors Foundation, Inc.

Event Tomorrow: Investing in Every Last Girl

WAGGGS is co-hosting an event tomorrow (March 15, 2017) at 10:30am on investing in girls. The event will highlight necessary steps to ensure fair financing and gender-responsive, equitable investment in girls.

Following a musical performance, there will be an interactive discussion with representatives from Save the Children, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), Women Deliver, and Women, Business and the Law, Development Economics, World Bank Group. Please RSVP here.

 We hope you can join us and do feel free to share the event with your colleagues and networks!

Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) Events

For two weeks, the United Nations holds a major conference on gender issues and successes. While many events are closed to the public unless you apply for a conference pass, non-profits hold hundreds of public events around NYC between March 13 and March 23. The list of events can be found here and the locations given in the document correspond with the following locations:

Girls are not only allowed to attend, they are encouraged to! It's a great opportunity for a girl to learn about organizations working on gender issues, find out about topics being addressed internationally, and for them to raise questions or comments about issues that girls face specifically. It's also a great way to learn about Gold Award topics/ideas! (Girls under 18 should bring a parent/guardian/adult with them!)

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) is hosting a parallel event on March 14 at the Armenian Convention Center at 4:30pm, titled Girls' and Women’s Economic Empowerment: Addressing Gender Norms and Stereotypes. Please do attend! It will be led by Girl Scouts/Guides from around the globe!

Again, these events are free and open to the public! Check out the full list of parallel events here.

COP21: How you can influence global leaders

UNA-USA is hosting a nationwide conference call next Tuesday to talk with young people about how they can influence global leaders at the upcoming Climate Conference in Paris. Join the call and learn about how GenUN/UNA-USA is engaging youth around COP21:

December 1, 5 p.m. ET

#EarthtoParis:

Briefing on the Historic Climate Convening

and Tips for Effective Advocacy

featuring

Ryan Hobert

Senior Director, Energy and Climate, United Nations Foundation

Click here to RSVP.

About Earth to Paris:

This December, world leaders are gathering in Paris for a landmark convening to complete a new global climate agreement – an extraordinary opportunity for the international community to rise to meet the threat of climate change. UN Foundation has launched #EarthtoParis to drive awareness and host events that highlight the connection between people and planet and the need for strong action on climate; to showcase climate solutions and innovations; to bring together communities to promote collaboration; and to engage people around the world in the dialogue taking place in Paris. Whether you’re in Paris, France or Paris, Texas, you can help to drive the conversation and advocate for strong climate action in December.

Join us for a conversation with Ryan Hobert, Senior Director, Energy and Climate, at the UN Foundation for an in-depth look at these once-in-a-generation climate negotiations and how to best advocate to tackle climate change.

Hashtags: #EarthtoParis #COP21

Check out the Earth to Paris website here: http://www.earthtoparis.org/

Quick info on Earth to Paris: http://www.earthtoparis.org/resources/EarthToParis-One-Pager.pdf

How is WAGGGS engaging COP21?

WAGGGS has several exciting steps you can take to get involved! Taking this conference call will get you thinking about how you can engage your leaders. Here are some concrete steps you can take to address climate change with world leaders through WAGGGS (whether you take the call or not!): https://www.wagggs.org/en/what-we-do/speak-out/cop21-united-nations-conference-climate-change/get-involved/

Apply by Nov. 13 to Represent Girls Around the World at UN CSW in NY

Did you know that the World Assn. of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) sends representatives to major UN conferences to advocate on behalf of girls worldwide? Girls can also provide support from their home countries as well. (Please note this is an opportunity for girls 18-30 years old.)

This spring (March 14-24), the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will bring women, girls, and their allies from around the globe to discuss the issues they face and the policies, programs, and support needed to address these issues. At the conclusion of the commission, world leaders attending the event create a resolution to look at how they can address these needs in the coming year(s). This year's theme for CSW will be "Women’s empowerment and the link to sustainable development." Leaders and advocates will be reflecting on how women's empowerment can be engaged in the new Sustainable Development Agenda (which comprises of the new Global Goals).

Please note this is a competitive application process and you will be competing with girls around the world. Only serious applicants over the age of 18 should apply, and you should be available to attend the whole event from March 14-24, 2016. Applications are due by November 13. More info available here: https://www.wagggs.org/en/what-we-do/speak-out/60th-commission-status-women/ and applications are available here: https://www.wagggs.org/en/what-we-do/speak-out/60th-commission-status-women/apply-now/

If you are in the NYC area from March 14-24 but aren't selected to represent WAGGGS (or cannot commit to the whole conference), there are additional ways for you to engage in the conference. Throughout the time there will be parallel events held outside of the UN compound throughout NYC. These events will be open to the public. In February these events will be announced. We will keep you posted!

More info on CSW generally is available here: http://www.unwomen.org/en/csw
Info on CSW 2016 is available here: http://www.unwomen.org/en/csw/csw60-2016
Info on the Global Goals is available here: http://www.globalgoals.org/

WAGGGS at UN Youth Day

WAGGGS UN Team Members at Youth Day: Emily, Maria, Jen, and Kristen

To celebrate the International Day of Youth on August 12, four WAGGGS youth delegates living in the New York City area participated in activities at the United Nations headquarters! Kristen (USA), Jen (USA), Maria (Chile), and Emily (USA) met with three Girl Scouts from the Greater New York Council who were also attending the event with their leader.

Be sure to keep your troop in the loop with these kinds of opportunities by signing up for updates from the WAGGGS UN Team Blog! See the "Follow By Email" box at the top right of your screen.

Girl Scouts NYC attending the event!

The theme for this year’s International Youth Day was “Youth Civic Engagement,” advocating for the involvement and inclusion of young people in decision-making processes. We attended the main event of the day, which included remarks by the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon. He said, “Young leaders have contributed fresh ideas, taken proactive measures, and mobilized through social media as never before.” We are the most interconnected and interdependent generation in history, and we are global citizens.

Ban Ki-moon speaking to youth at Youth Day

Ban Ki-moon said, “young people will be the torch bearers in the new Sustainable Development Agenda.” In September, countries will formally agree on the Sustainable Development Goals, which are the world’s new set of targets covering a broad range of issues, including ending poverty and hunger, improving health and education, and protecting oceans and forests. The engagement of girls and young women is critical to achieving these new goals!

Professor Mark Brennan said, “Empowering youth is not only the right thing to do – it is the single most important thing to do.” All of the panelists were inspiring and gave examples of how youth are agents of change. Following the main panel sessions, we attended a luncheon with youth delegates from all over the world, representing various youth organizations, UN agencies, and governments.

Post by Emily Rodriguez, originally shared to the WAGGGS website here: http://www.wagggs.org/en/news/23699

Sign up NOW for August 12 UN Event for International Youth Day!

This August 12 is International Youth Day! This is an internationally recognized day to celebrate youth. This year's theme is on civic engagement. Civic engagement is defined as: the encouragement of the general public to become involved in the political process and the issues that affect them.

On August 12, there will be an International Youth Day event held at the UN headquarters in NYC! This event is meant for youth (under 25 years old) and is an exciting opportunity for you to go to the UN and have your voice heard, while also meeting other young people who are passionate about global issues and social justice. You can register for the event here: https://www.eventbrite.com/register?orderid=444627433623&client_token=1b0aae330df74ff08265490586bb7a86&eid=17770214189

Didn't get picked for the event or can't get to NYC? Create your own event in your community! The UN's Envoy on Youth has some excellent suggestions for you to take with your troop, friends, or community organization. Or, you can take action online.

More information here: http://bit.ly/1L2KsS2

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/