International Youth Leadership Academy
Long-Term Training Program
Youth rights, participation, citizenship and social responsibility
First phase training: 7-14 September 2012, Istanbul, Turkey
Second phase training of trainers: February 2013 (TBC)
Deadline for Applications: 15 August 2012
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The first international training programme of IYLA will take place on 7-14 September 2012. The training will be conducted based on the experience and knowledge of experts and trainers from UNICEF, Save the Children and Habitat. The main aim of this programme is to develop the capacity of local youth leaders and to support them to actively contribute to their own communities.
The training will be conducted in two phases. The first phase of the training aims to develop the capacity, skills and experience of the participants on human rights, youth and child rights and participation as well as more specifically on Child Abuse and Neglect, Violence against Children, Child Protection, Intercultural Dialogue, Conflict Resolution and Mediation. Therefore, this training will focus on theoretical learning combined with various case studies from Turkey and the participating countries. The participants will make an action plan to follow up the process till the second phase. During this process, the participants will be followed by the experts and supported with various materials that will enable them to get prepared for the second phase. In other words, the first training will be followed up by both a monitoring and mentoring process.
The second phase will consist of a Training of Trainers that will take place in February 2013. This ToT will provide knowledge, skills and practical guidelines to the participants, to enable them to multiply their impact by leading trainings and workshops in their own local cities or communities. At the end of the course, trainees will be expected to develop a detailed work plan for action in their respective countries/ provinces/communities. More information will be provided to the selected participants.
Who are we?
Habitat Center for Development and Governance was established as a part of the Youth for Habitat International Network at the Copenhagen Social Development Summit in 1995, and has approximately 300 members in nearly 100 countries, Habitat was founded as an association by youth activists of the United Nations Human Settlements (Habitat II) Conference, which was held in 1995 in Istanbul.
Habitat first started to work under the name Association of Implementing Decisions of Habitat and Agenda 21, then under Habitat and Agenda 21 Youth Association, and until September 2011, Youth Association for Habitat. The association was restructured in 2011 and changed its name to Habitat Center for Development and Governance. Habitat’s mission is to support children, youth, women, and the disabled in terms of sustainable development and participation in decision-making processes through developing the capacities of young people.
Habitat believes in spreading a more transparent, accountable culture of good governance based on partnership by accepting disabled and disadvantaged groups, such as youth, and viewing them as equal partners in improving awareness of participation in social and political life. Habitat facilitates mutual participation of all activists at the local and national level.
Habitat has assisted with the configuration of the local, regional, and national youth platforms and networks with the aim of enabling young people in decision-making processes. With this vision, Habitat aims to contribute to the activities carried out at the local, regional, national, and international level by developing joint programs with international organizations, public agencies, private sectors, and civil society organizations.
With the partnership of Women, Youth, Children Councils, and Councils of Disabled People configured all under the umbrella of the National Youth Parliament and City Councils, Habitat contributes to The United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals with the creation of urban policies on the basis of rights, access to information and effective use of communication technologies, awareness of social gender and sexual health/reproductive health, development of entrepreneurship and financial knowledge and skills, and ensuring environmental sustainability.
The International Youth Leadership Academy (IYLA), which is coordinated by Habitat, was established in Istanbul as a result of a partnership between Habitat, CORIO, Save the Children, UNICEF Turkey, United Cities and Local Governments Middle East and West Asia Section (UCLG-MEWA), and the World Academy of Local Governments and Democracy (WALD). The aim of the IYLA is to establish a contemporary youth leadership training centre and international training school providing a suitable environment for non-formal education, capacity building and the enhancement of leadership skills among young people.
The IYLA serves as a pivotal development center for youth supporting the implementation of the internationally-recognized rights of youth and children and the UN’s policies for youth. These rights and policies and other related documents will constitute the main basis for the international component of the academy.
In addition to its ongoing work in Turkey, the IYLA is currently consolidating the curricula developed so far and working on the development of new curricula and training programmes for use with young people not only from Turkey but also from other countries in Southeast Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus.
Save the Children is the world’s largest independent international children’s right organisation, making a difference in children’s lives in over 120 countries.
With its 30 national organizations and global staff of more than 15,000 Save the Children focuses on education, protection and healthcare from emergency relief to long-term development.
Since 1919 Save the Children is helping children to achieve a happy, healthy and secure childhood, Save the Children secures and protects children’s rights to food, shelter, healthcare, education and freedom from violence, abuse and exploitation.
Save the Children works together with governments and with local, national and international organizations to improve children’s lives directly and to influence the policies that support it. A commitment to building the capacity of local organizations is a core belief and way of operating for Save the Children.
The International Youth Leadership Academy is part of the Youth academy program that is being funded by CORIO through Save the Children Netherlands. Besides, funding Save the Children is also providing technical support.
UNICEF is the United Nations agency specialized in children’s and young people’s rights. All of its work is guided by the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, the most widely adopted human rights treaty in history. It views child rights as an essential component of human development as foreseen in the United Nations Charter and the Millennium Development Goals.
UNICEF has been working in Turkey for 60 years to raise awareness of child and youth rights in collaboration with government, NGOs, academia and the private sector. In this project the UNICEF Turkey office is providing technical support for the conduct of sessions on rights, participation and protection related issues, benefiting from its international expertise. UNICEF is also playing an important role in this initiative to reach young people through its regional offices. Through its international experts, UNICEF is also providing technical support to the development of the curricula and the facilitation of several sessions.
Aims and Objectives of the International Training Program
The International Training Program on Youth rights, participation, citizenship and social responsibility will have the following aims and objectives:
- To provide an opportunity for young people from Turkey the Balkans, the Middle East and North Africa, and the Caucasus to exchange information and experiences on participating in civil society and youth work and establish a network for further collaboration.
- To empower young people to take an active and effective role in advocating rights of children and youth within Human Rights perspective
- To raise awareness and knowledge about social responsiblity towards children and youth
- To share good practices and tools in the area of Child Protection against abuse, neglect and violence, Intercultural Dialogue, Conflict Resolution, Mediation and Peace-building
- To provide young people with negotiation and advocacy skills for their effective participation
- To empower young people with inclsuive leadership skills
- To prepare them for the follow-up training in February 2013
- To reach at least 20 young/children in their own communities after the second phase
Methodology
The first training includes the following non-formal education methods:
– Introductory sessions
– Workshops
– Small group discussions
– Verbal and visual presentations
– role play games/simulations
– Participation to Youth Forum
– Feedback and evaluation sessions
– Integration in a wider event (International Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect IPSCAN)
The second training will be conducted as a ToT and the methodology will be shared with the selected participants.
Participants:
30 participants (20 international, 10 national) will be selected from countries in the Balkans, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus. Priority will be given to applications from Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Egypt, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, Montenegro, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen….) youth participants from other parts of the world are also encouraged, however, the priority will be given to the above mentioned countries Applicants should:
- be between 15 and 29 years of age,
- have the ability to use English as the working language throughout the training programme,
- represent a youth NGO and/or be experienced in youth and/or child work,
- work with marginalized and disadvantageous youth and/or children,
- be willing to play an active role in the sessions,
- be able to and willing to follow the process and actively implement the activities required by the programme,
- be able to participate in both trainings, (be available to attend the full duration of the training program from the arrival date of 7 September to the departure date of 14 September 2012 as well as be able to attend the full duration of the TOT that will be conducted in February 2013)
- have the opportunity to share their new knowledge, skills and contacts within their own organizations following the program,
- be committed to carrying out follow-up activities and be active in localising the knowledge,
Training participants will be selected based on gender-equality.
Working Language: The language of the program will be English. Participants should be proficient in English.
Accommodation:
Travel costs, accommodation, and meals will be provided and paid for by the IYLA. Full details will be sent to selected participants later.
The expenses of the participants who fail to follow up the activities after the first training and who fail to participate to the TOT in February 2013 may have to reimburse the expenses paid.
Insurance:
Participants are requested to have their own accident, civil liability and health insurance for the duration of the seminar. Health insurance is not provided and any costs incurred will not be reimbursed by the organizers. All participants are also strongly advised to purchase private travel insurance.
Application Process:
Young people interested in participating in the International Training Program must return the application form by e-mail to ugla@habitaticingenclik.org.tr by 15 August, 2012 at the latest.
Candidates will be informed by 21 August, 2012 whether they have been accepted, put on the waiting list or refused. Accepted candidates will receive the program documentation directly.
The 30 participants will be selected on the basis of the profile outlined above. During the selection process, criteria will be applied to ensure a balance between sexes, geographical regions, and the diversity of religions, cultures, organizations and experiences. Young people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
The participant selection process will be based on a detailed application form, motivation letter, and recommendation from the organizations whom the young people will represent.
Contact information:
Please feel free to contact us if you need help, have questions or need further information.
IYLA Project Coordinator: Elif Kalan
00 90 212 265 3314 – elif.kalan@habitaticingenclik.org.tr
IYLA Project Assistant: Tunç Karaçay
00 90 212 265 3314 – tunckaracay@habitatkalkinma.org.tr
Application form:
You are requested to use the standard application form that follows in attachment.
Motivation form:
You are requested to submit a motivation form which address following question:
– Why would you like to take part in this training course?
– How is your background relevant to the topic of the training course?
– Have you participated in similar training course/s? and if yes then why do you want to participate in similar training course?
– How do you ensure that you will follow the whole process that the training will bring and you will participate in the second training in February 2013?
Reference letter:
Sending Youth-led Organisation (YLO)/ NGO is requested to send us a reference letter. There is no single format for the letter, yet it is important to see how is your participation important for the YLO/NGO and how does the YLO/NGO support you in conducting similar training in your own communities.
Language of application:
You are requested to write your application in English.
Application:
Please use the following format for the title of your attached application file. Please also use the same format as the subject line of your email.
“Your country your name_IYLA_Training_Program_12
as in the following example:
Subject: “TR_Elif_Kalan_IYLA_Training _Program_Sep_12”
Address for applications:
After naming your application as stated above, please submit your application to our project address:
ugla@habitaticingenclik.org.tr to reach us by 15 August,2012.
Draft Agenda will be shared with the accepted participants.
