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.

WAGGGS Stay Connected Competition -- $3000 grant!

The Global Goals are 17 goals that world leaders signed onto at the United Nations to collaboratively work towards real issues like ending hunger, poverty, gender inequality, and environmental degradation. These goals are important for both developed and developing countries to make real changes in their countries, but they need the help of young people to make sure that people know about these goals and to get started on rolling them out! You can be a part of this important process.

Technology and innovation are key drivers that can help to make large and sustainable impact that last. Which is why Verizon has teamed up with WAGGGS to create this grant for Girl Scouts/Guides to come up with creative solutions to bringing the Global Goals to your community! Winners will receive a $3000 grant to execute the project.

Judging criteria:

• Relevance: How is this relevant to the Global Goals and girls' lives in your community? 
• Innovation: Is your idea a new one? 
• Effectiveness: How effective would your idea be in creating change?
• Impact: What is the impact your project could have on your community?
• Sustainability: How will your project be able to continue to have an impact once it's set up?

More info & apply: https://www.wagggs.org/en/what-we-do/stay-connected/

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/

Global to Local: UN Team Hosts Workshop on New WAGGGS Material

The WAGGGS UN team event, held yesterday in New York City, brought together troop leaders from Staten Island, Manhattan, New Jersey, and Heart of the Hudson! This workshop in particularly aimed at exposing troop leaders to the latest materials from WAGGGS: the new World Thinking Day materials (Connect 10 Million) and the very recent International Day of the Girl materials (10 Million Voices). The WAGGGS UN

Team worked to ensure that the workshop was especially interactive and exciting, allowing the troop leaders to discuss and explore the brand new Global Goals, which World Thinking Day and International Day of the Girl focus on.

What are the new Global Goals? Released on September 25, they are a set of priorities for all countries around the world that will help to address hunger, poverty, and social injustice. Each of the 17 goals focuses on one of the four themes: people, planet, peace, and prosperity. In 2017, each country will have national indicators that will help the public and non-profit organizations to hold their governments accountable to their commitments. As a result, it is essential that all people--young and not-so-young, girls and boys, parents and their children--learn about the goals so that they can be a part of this process and work towards a better world for their fellow citizens and the world.

Below are the resources discussed in the workshop, as well as some additional resources related to the Global Goals and the UN. I will also add these resources to the "resources" tab on this blog so you can find them again in the future!

Resources: 

WAGGGS International Day of the Girl 2015 (great activity ideas you can do right now!): https://www.wagggs.org/en/resources/international-day-girl-10-million-voices/

WAGGGS World Thinking Day (WTD isn't until February, but it is important to start thinking about it now with your other troop leaders, and there are many activities you can use at any time too!): https://www.wagggs.org/en/what-we-do/world-thinking-day/

Kid-friendly (elementary-level) activity book on Global Goals: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?page=view&type=400&nr=1616&menu=1300

Global Goals Lesson Plans: https://www.tes.com/worldslargestlesson/lesson-plans/

World’s Largest Lesson Video: 6.5min https://vimeo.com/137728737 

Global Goals comic book (great resource to discuss the Global Goals with your children! Please note this is a work in progress!):  https://www.dropbox.com/sh/kfpfgt1jpu5zl0x/AAClx23QyCi_MeZiYxIQ5N1va?dl=0

Youth Gateway: The UN Youth Envoy has created a “youth gateway” to get youth involved in the Global Goals and holding their governments accountable to the indicators. To be continued as we’re waiting for the indicators to com out (around January), but it is good to sign up now to get their emails and get involved: www.youthgateway.org

Global Goals Background Resources

The following are great resources for troop leaders to learn more about the Global Goals, or for having your girls use to do their own (or small group) research:

Sustainable development goals: changing the world in 17 steps – interactive: Interactive "map" that shows the differences between the MDGs (the goals set for 2000-2015) and the new Global Goals. Click on the Global Goals and it will bring you to a description of the goal: http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/ng-interactive/2015/jan/19/sustainable-development-goals-changing-world-17-steps-interactive

Sustainable Development Goals: All you Need to Know: This is a great overview of the goals. Please note that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the "technical" term for the Global Goals: http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/jan/19/sustainable-development-goals-united-nations

UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (under "Key resources" they list some great resources that might be helpful to leaders to look at before working with girls, or to have older girls themselves look at to do research if needed): http://unsdsn.org/news/2015/10/06/world-leaders-adopt-sustainable-development-goals-sdgs/ 

Other UN-Related Resources: 

This is a comprehensive list of UN teaching resources shared by the UN and its agencies: http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/resources/teaching_resources.html

Model UN Resources: http://unausa.org/global-classrooms-model-un/for-educators/resources 

Guardian Article: “How to teach… the UN”: http://www.theguardian.com/education/teacher-blog/2013/sep/09/united-nations-teaching-resources

Committee on Teaching About the UN (CTAUN) Resources: http://www.ctaun.org/teacher-resources/

WAGGGS and the Adoption of the UN Global Goals

Three young women, Emily Rodriguez (USA), Kristen Grennan (USA), and Tsinjoharinosy Rahaingoarivelo (Madagascar) were among 193 young leaders who participated in the opening ceremony of the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in New York City on September 25, 2015. Tsinjo is one of WAGGGS’ Post-2015 Ambassadors. Kristen and Emily are members of the WAGGGS NYC-based UN team.

 This UN Summit was historical because of the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (known as Global Goals). The 17 Global Goals include ending poverty and hunger, improving health and education, achieving gender equality, and protecting oceans and forests. The Global Goals will guide development strategies around the world for the next 15 years!

 In 2012, Emily participated the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (known as Rio+20) in Brazil. The new Global Goals were first formally discussed at Rio+20, along with the idea of including individuals in the decision making process of selecting these goals. Kristen became part of that initiative with her involvement as an intern at the UN’s Millennium Campaign and MY World global survey last spring. Tsinjo has been a WAGGGS Post-2015 Ambassador since 2013, and she has been attending international conferences and meetings to advocate for girls.

WAGGGS Delegates at the Adoption of the Global Goals

 WAGGGS Lights Lanterns and Leads the Way 

 Our day at the United Nations was incredibly exciting! We joined young leaders (under age 30) from around the world at 5:30 am, catching the sunrise over the UN courtyard! The youth selected to participate included official national youth delegates and representatives from youth organizations, such as WAGGGS.

 We were welcomed by the UN Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi in the morning. After we took our seats in the balcony of the UN General Assembly Hall, we anticipated presentations by Pope Francis, Malala Yousafzai, and Ban Ki-moon. Pope Francis encouraged us to take care of the environment and to put an end to exclusion. He discussed the importance of education, including for girls. Together with 193 youth from around the globe, we supported Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala, an activist for girls’ education and empowerment, during her speech. We stood with her in solidarity. We held solar-powered blue lanterns, lighting the way to a sustainable future for all children and youth. Emily, Kristen, and Tsinjo’s solar lanterns represented the 10 million WAGGGS members around the world! Malala raised her voice for girls’ rights and hope for our future. Tsinjo had the very special opportunity to sit behind Malala during the ceremony!

 At the end of the opening ceremony at the UN General Assembly, the Sustainable Development Goals were adopted with the official gavel, and we celebrated by waving UN flags from the balcony! WAGGGS delegates celebrated the adoption of the Global Goals with a spirit of achievement for all of our collective efforts over the last three years. The adoption of the goals gives us hope and encouragement!

 It was an honor to be a part of the historic adoption of Global Goals! Ban Ki-moon emphasized that youth are the torchbearers for the Global Goals. As Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, we have a responsibility to implement the Global Goals in our communities! What do you want the world to look like in 2030? Learn more about the Global Goals on: www.globalgoals.org

 By Emily, Kristen, and Tsinjo

Upcoming UN Team Event for Older Girl Troop Leaders

The UN Team will be hosting a training event for troop leaders to learn about the UN Sustainable Development Goals (aka, Global Goals), which are being officially launched this September. These Global Goals are established by the UN and will set a goal-oriented agenda for nations around the world to tackle issues such as poverty, hunger, and inequality. This event will explain what these new goals are and how you can discuss them with your troop in a way that will engage girls in thinking about the global sisterhood. The event will also look at how these global issues can become part of a discussion on local issues as well.

Who: Troop leaders who work with older girl scouts
When: Saturday, October 17, 9:45am-2pm
Where: Dana Center, Central Park North, NYC
Cost: $10

More info here:

UN General Assembly Volunteer Opportunity!

The One+1 and UN Millennium Campaign are teaming up to bring in a team of lucky volunteers for the rare opportunity to assist in the UN General Assembly (UNGA)! The General Assembly happens once a year at the UN in NYC when the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN convenes to make decisions on important questions, such as those on peace and security, admission of new members and budgetary matters, require a two-thirds majority. This is a special time when major heads of state and UN staff come from around the globe to discuss important issues and welcome in new leadership. This is also a special year in that it is the 70th anniversary of the UN! Volunteer opportunities to the UNGA are rare, so don't miss your chance!

Volunteers would be working as docents, helping to acts as guides and run information tables. Volunteers MUST be available two full days per week from 9am-6pm starting Saturday, September 19 until Wednesday, October 7! These days must be consistent each week, meaning you can sign up for Mondays and Thursdays, or Saturdays and Tuesdays. You have to be available the full days each week for the duration of the GA. 


Volunteers receive a certificate for their work as well as a small gift. This is also a great networking opportunity, as you will be volunteering right in the UN and will have the opportunity to meet with Heads of State, high level officials, etc.

In order to sign up, email networkforbetter@gmail.com with the following information:


1. Phone Number:
2. Email:
3. Emergency Contact Name:
4. Emergency Contact Info:
5. Volunteer Time Preference: (Mon-Sun):
6. Which days are a definite NO:

Please also considering following Network for Better on Facebook!
More info on Network for Better available here: http://www.network4better.com/about/
More info on the Millennium Campaign here: http://www.endpoverty2015.org/about/

Sustainable Development Goals Adopted + Child-Friendly Version

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of goals/targets that the United Nations will set from the years 2015-2030. The series of goals are important for identifying funding needs for projects and programs as well as creating measurable targets so the countries can see their progress.

On August 2, all member states of the UN have agreed to adopt the SDG agenda, which will not be officially adopted until September. The goals not take go into effect until January 2016, when the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are completed.

Alongside the adoption, there has been a release of a child-friendly version for parents, teachers, and volunteers to work with children around the world and teach them about the new SDGs, or "Global Goals." This is a great opportunity to talk with young children about the UN, human rights, and global issues around poverty, hunger, discrimination, and the environment. The child-friendly version is available here: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/SDGs-child-friendly.pdf

Adults and youth can check out the full SDG agenda here: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/7891TRANSFORMING%20OUR%20WORLD.pdf

A press release from the UN with more information can be seen here: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2015/08/transforming-our-world-document-adoption/
and here: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=51546#.VcDFiflVikp