Stronger United Nations: Youth Advocates Workshop for APAC Countries

Important Notice: The workshop is open for applications only for participants from the Asia-Pacific Region. Unfortunately we cannot accept any applications from Africa and other regions for this workshop. The deadline for applications has been extended to 22 September 2019 (12pm CET).

The workshop (16.-21.11.2019) is implemented in cooperation with the United Nations Association of Malaysia (UNAM). Flights, accommodation and meal costs will be covered. You can find information on the workshop and application process below or download the call for applications here. The deadline for applications is 16 September 2019 (5pm CET). Notice: The deadline for applications has been extended to 22 September 2019 (12pm CET).

As UN Secretary General Guterres said, young people are critical agents of change. It is for this reason that we see the exchange between young and engaged individuals as highly effective in the further promotion of youth participation in their countries and potentially as youth delegates at the United Nations. The workshop provides a chance for young people who are passionate about youth participation for the UN to meet, share their experiences and learn together throughout and beyond the workshop. In cooperation and with the support of the United Nations Association (UNA) they design new projects to empower young people, to participate at UN forums and advocate for youth rights.

Application Process (Deadline for Applications: 16 September 2019)

Applicants should have the following qualities:

• Be youth activists committed to youth participation between the ages of 18–27 years;
• Interested in international affairs, particularly in youth issues;
• Passionate about solving the world’s most pressing problems and working to engage young people in this important agenda;
• Residents of a developing country in the APAC region (Asia-Pacific) with an active UNA/UNYA*;
• Able to travel for up to a week in November 2019 (most likely November 16 - 22).
   

Skill and qualification requirements:

• Civil society engagement, preferably in the area of youth participation;
• Support from the UNA/UNYA in your home country*;
• Knowledge of current international affairs;
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with others;
• Fluency in English;
• Excellent writing, communication, organisational, and interpersonal skills
• Culturally competent.

We strive for gender balance and strongly encourage applications from women.
 

All applications must include (in English language):

• Curriculum Vitae (please attach a PDF);
• Letter of Motivation (2000 characters in online form);
• Short Analysis on “Opportunities and Challenges for Strengthening UN-related Youth Participation in your Country” (please attach a PDF);
• Letter of support from your UNA/YUNA (please attach a PDF).

Submitting Application: All applications must be submitted via our online form on https://dgvn.de/index.php?id=3368 by 5 p.m. CET on September 16, 2019. | The deadline for applications has been extended to September 16, 2019, 12 p.m. CET.

Background Information: Youth Advocates Workshop

Youth participation is one of the essentials in creating and shaping the world. With their unique perspective, one can recognize young people as a major human resource for development and key agents for social change, economic development and technological innovation. Youth participation is an effective tool for achieving enduring solutions and is key for future development. The significance of the youth has to be valued and needs to be reflected in the United Nations system. Young people as experts on youth concerns need to be engaged in the process of decision-making.

It is for this reason that in 1981 the General Assembly addressed the member states to include youth delegates in their national delegation. Further steps were reached in 1995 with the adoption of the resolution 50/81 for the World Program of Action for Youth by the General Assembly. With this attempt, the United Nations is endorsing young people to stand up for their beliefs and create an impact on an international level. Incorporating youth delegates in the national delegations of each country is prior to successful debates and reaching objectives. More than 25 countries have so far established a youth delegate program due to the resolution. But it represents barely 15 percent of the total number of Member States, which is obviously not enough! Young people need to be given a voice and should be encouraged to support local UNA’s or approaches for creating youth delegate programs in their countries and to have an impact on their future.

Young people are far from being inactive in this struggle. As UN Secretary General Guterres said, young people are critical agents of change. It is for this reason that we see the exchange between young and engaged individuals as highly effective in the further implementation of UN Youth Participation in their countries and potentially as youth delegates at the United Nations. We hope to create an environment, conducive to this exchange. A chance for young people who are passionate about youth participation for the UN to meet, share their experiences and learn together throughout and beyond the workshop.

We target the Youth in particular, as it can:

• Create awareness and communicate the goals to their peers and society at large
• Identify solutions, innovate approaches and take action
• Enrich the political discussions with new perspectives, creativity, energy and idealism
• Make a valuable contribution to successful and sustainable political decisions
• Promote intergenerational partnerships and design-focused activities to make youth participation a reality
• Develop youth-friendly information materials

By bringing together young people from different countries and backgrounds we aim at furthering and deepening youth participation. Through follow-up activities, we hope to empower participants to create a network to share experiences and know-how with. The impact of the event thereby gains long-lasting influence and strong impact. Thereby, UNA Germany, and upon completion also the participants, will be able to share their knowledge and truly enact change internationally.

What are youth advocates?

Mission: Inform, Engage, Empower.

Youth Advocates are young multipliers for the promotion of the United Nations in their country and local communities. Their mission: Inform, Engage, Empower. In cooperation and with the support of their national UNA they design new projects to empower young people to participate at UN forums and advocate for youth rights.

What are the main questions the workshop will tackle?

• What is youth participation and how do we manage volunteers? Which structures for youth participation already exist?
• How do we set up our own national programs of UN Youth Advocates and build a strong country team?
• Which state and civil society agencies can be involved in the establishment of such a program? How can the respective decision makers in a country be convinced of funding efforts for stronger youth participation?
• Which international partners and networks are there?

With the workshop, we want to support the development of key skills of the young participants and help them to become national multipliers and lobbyists for the work of the United Nations.

*UNAs are national civil society organizations that provide a link between the citizens of the world and the United Nations by seeking to ensure that the UN is relevant to the lives of the peoples it exists to serve. UNAs have different programs and a variety of constituencies, such as individual members, member organizations, and partner schools and universities. Find out about the UNA in your country here: www.wfuna.org/worldwide-members.

Please note: There is no UNA/UNYA in your country? Why not starting one? If you are interested in establishing a UNA, the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) can support you. There are already many examples of successful UNAs who were started by young people committed to the aims of the United Nations in various countries worldwide! Please send an email to WFUNA at youth@wfuna.org