YOUTH IN ACTION Americas Region MARCH 2019
YOUTH IN ACTION Americas Region Welcome to the First Edition of the Youth in Action in the Americas Region. The main objective is to highlight the work done on youth development during the last six months within the Americas Region of the International Federation of the Red Cross. It is divided in three areas: actions made by National Societies, Regional Youth Networks and the Americas Regional office through its Volunteering & Youth Development Unit.
Regional Office for America of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Volunteering & Youth Development Unit Dir. +506 2542-5000 Many thanks to all who have contributed to this number of YOUTH IN ACTION in the Americas Region.
Federaciรณn Internacional de Sociedades de la Cruz Roja y de la Media Luna Roja
NATIONAL SOCIETIES ARGENTINA In the month of February, the National Youth Camp was held in city of Tandil, attended by 58 participants from 27 branches throughout the country. In addition, delegates from the Spanish Red Cross and the Uruguayan Red Cross accompanied us. The main purpose was to strengthen youth volunteering through activities aimed at developing the active participation of young people in government and management spaces. In the framework of the same event, the meeting of the Governing Council was held and gave approval to the proposal to integrate young people into decision-making spaces and the logo representing the sector.
Youth in Action
Federación Internacional de Sociedades de la Cruz Roja y de la Media Luna Roja
Youth in Action
ECUADOR
URUGUAY
Ecuadorian Red Cross carries out the campaign “Conmigo con Condón”. The objective of the campaign is to raise awareness among adolescents and young people about the importance of sexual health and reproductive health, through informative activities with the aim of preventing unplanned pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). The proposed activities are through information posts located in places that have high recurrence by the target population of the campaign, parks or places close to universities, schools, nightclubs, cinemas, shopping centers, bus stops, etc. More than 22 thousand young people was reached through the information posts and through social networks.
The National Youth Meeting was held with the presence of the National Management Team, the National Council of the RC Government and the assistance of leaders of the movement of other National Societies such as the Argentine Red Cross, the Costa Rican Red Cross, the Paraguayan Red Cross and the Italian Croce Rossa. Participants gave feedback to the process of construction of the guidelines of our National Society in the field of Youth, with transversal development of leadership skills.
Youth Leadership Training. The Ecuadorian Red Cross through the National Youth Program contributes to community development through the training of young people as agents of change through its Leadership Skills Development workshops. During the two years that this methodology has been applied, 156 volunteers from the entire National Society participated.
The National Youth Policy was approved in December 2018.
Federación Internacional de Sociedades de la Cruz Roja y de la Media Luna Roja
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PANAMA A massive welcome of new youth volunteers was carried out in the city of Panama in December 2018. The National Youth Camp was carried out in the area of the Panama Canal in the province of Colón. The Youth programme promoted Health in the radio stations and invites the community in general to join the volunteering of the Red Cross.
NICARAGUA EL SALVADOR The school protection plan was strengthened and updated, specifically in 3 emergency committees (First Aid, Evacuation and psychosocial support). Strengthening was provided through 14 branches and more than 60 trained volunteers and about 1,300 direct beneficiaries. The methodology “living our principles” was created, based on 7 experiential dynamics, one for each principle in which it explains with a new approach the meaning of each one of them and is a methodology adapted to all public and created by the Red Cross Youth of El Salvador. The new zone work strategy was implemented throughout the country, which resulted in the division of Salvadoran territory into 4 zones to intensify the work of Youth and the creation of the youth network of the eastern zone, which optimizes the work and 3 sectional branches were reopened with the programme of Youth.
Humanitaria Fair, held during the celebration of the 85 Years of Youth Programme, a fair was held on all the tools that the Nicaraguan Red Cross works on. Risk Management, Dynamisation, community health, First Aid, Climate Change, with the participation of 102 volunteers.
Federaciรณn Internacional de Sociedades de la Cruz Roja y de la Media Luna Roja
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COSTA RICA National Youth Congress. Through the implementation of ludic methods of debate, the inclusion of an expert team in manifestations of violence, personnel with a professional profile linked to the disciplines of Psychology and Social Work, was carried out the national youth congress, with the participation of more than 70 volunteers, also, was built a letter of commitment, with proposals generated from the working tables, voted and approved in plenary and signed by all the participants, with the objective of seeking the fulfilment of these actions, in order to achieve a culture of peace in the Costa Rican society. The activity was supported by the IFRC Volunteering and Youth Development Unit of the Americas.
Training Schools. The coordination of training through constant attention and communication has enabled the team of instructors of the Red Cross youth program to provide more specialized attention to the participants of our training, thus meeting the educational needs of the participants, considering the age of the population and even to the context in which they unfold. During last year a total of 548 people were trained in 8 of our courses through 38 training processes, which were taught in 7 of our regions through regional training schools. National Youth Camp. This event had the participation of around 500 young volunteers and international delegations from Spain and Italy, as well as the participation and support of the Regional Unit for the Development of Volunteering and Youth of the IFRC.
Federaciรณn Internacional de Sociedades de la Cruz Roja y de la Media Luna Roja
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MEXICO Actions against climate change. It aims to promote ecological awareness among girls, boys, youth and adults in each locality with clear messages, especially regarding the conservation of forests and environmental processes in connection with social, economic and cultural. Particular objectives: The Team will use the concepts of environmental education in their daily life; Promote the protection of health and life, and the reduction of risk of disasters related to the climate, helping the environment and increasing the capacities to face and adapt to the new climatic conditions; Encourage the acquisition of new environmental values and encourage critical and constructive attitudes; Promote awareness of environmental problems, both local and global; Generate strategies for responsible consumption of natural resources. 24,605 people trained in the community. No Violence and Peace Campaign. This Campaign seeks to promote the acquisition of attitudes and capacities for the nonviolent resolution of conflicts and to promote the importance of rejecting manifestations of violence, in order not to allow it to become a daily situation in life school, and discussing the issue of bullying in particular. Objectives: Promote the rejection of violence as a means to promote its reduction; Raise awareness among adults about the negative effects that violence has on children and young people, in order to assume their role as counsellors and guides in the relief of anguish; Highlight that violence is not a solution, nor represents a way to educate children and young people; Promote the acquisition of attitudes and capacities for the non-violent resolution of conflicts; Foster positive and supportive attitudes in daily coexistence. With 13,467 beneficiaries of 8 to 17 years old
Federaciรณn Internacional de Sociedades de la Cruz Roja y de la Media Luna Roja
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SURINAME Several activities were carried out by the Red Cross Youth in Suriname during the last months, including: Suriname Red Cross Vacation School with 200 participants (Each week 50 children in which they were taught about 7 principles (YABC style), children first aid and other themes which the SRC are specialized in); Induction training for 20 new youth volunteers; First aid sessions (training & field work) with HAT (DM Unit), Several youth first aid assistance started with the train the trainers session and assisted in fieldwork and training sessions; YABC session with Roteract with 25 participants.
Federaciรณn Internacional de Sociedades de la Cruz Roja y de la Media Luna Roja
YOUTH NETWORKS 2018 - 2020 Caribbean Red Cross Youth Network Coordinating Committee (YCC). The new YCC was ratify during the online Youth Network meeting that also involved General Directors from the Caribbean Region. The new members are from Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica and Haiti. The Volunteering & Youth Development Unit of the Americas facilitated the process and will support the new YCC in the coming months to develop their new plans. Approval of the regulations of the Youth Network of America - Subregion I and II from a joint session with the participation of Coordinators, Directors and / or National Youth Presidents of the Network of Subregion I (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama); subregion II (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay), a representative of the Global Youth Commission and the Regional Volunteer and Youth Development Coordinator of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent South American Youth Network. In the last 6 months, 4 subregional meetings have been held, in order to lay the foundations for regional
Youth in Action
coordination, foster international friendship and mutual support among National Societies under the principle of Universality. Also, regional intervention plans were developed, with a view to the preparation of the Plan Sur Joven 2019. The realization of those meeting helped to guarantee a participatory process and of constant feedback. South American and Central American Youth Networks. Both networks developed a campaign within the framework of the International Youth Day, which included its own graphic identity, a declaration of both subregions and a series of key messages and hashtags to disseminate in the institutional networks, as well as within the personal profiles of the volunteers. Active participation in the Youth-led Working Group OCAC Review Working Group (YORWG) Joint elaboration among the youth networks of sub-regions I and II of a macro-project to strengthen them, based on multilevel interventions, and a project focused on community resilience, with the technical support of the Partnerships and Resource Unit Development of the Regional Office and the Volunteering & Youth Development Regional Unit.
Federaciรณn Internacional de Sociedades de la Cruz Roja y de la Media Luna Roja
Youth in Action
Federación Internacional de Sociedades de la Cruz Roja y de la Media Luna Roja
REGIONAL OFFICE Financial opportunities for the youth networks The Americas Regional Office launched a pilot project to support the three youth networks in the region to find financial resources for their activities. Different coordination meetings took place with the networks and the regional office to establish the working plan and funding actions.
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YABC Train of Trainers 30 participants from 11 National Societies from the Americas, worked together in Costa Rica with the aim of developing participants’ understanding of the YABC peer educator training process and how to manage it to create a powerful learning experience that triggers an individual dynamic of positive lasting change towards ethical leadership for a culture of non-violence and peace. It also developed participants’ knowledge and ability to effectively train others on the affective and experiential learning approach and materials of the (Y)ABC toolkit, as well as on peer education, facilitation and communication techniques, and to ensure set quality standards for impact when planning, delivering and evaluating a peer educator training course.
youth development Youth Event before the Interamerican Conference To strengthen meaningful engagement of youth delegates and ensure the youth voice echoing throughout the Interamerican Conference, the Youth Event will be organised on 19 - 20 May, 2019, preceding the Interamerican Conference. In addition, the Youth Event will become an opportunity for the youth leaders to discuss matters pertinent to advancing the Movement’s work and youth engagement regionally (Regional Youth Networks). Various examples of excellence in advancing youth engagement at the National Society level will be also featured. To nurture meaningful inter-generational engagement of youth leaders during the sessions of the Interamerican Conference, the methodology of the Youth Event will bank on the peer to peer learning and support in both the substantive and procedural matters pertinent to the Interamerican Conference. The Youth Event is planned by a team composed by the three coordinators of the youth networks in the Americas region (South American Youth Network, Central American Youth Network and Caribbean Youth Network), the youth director from Argentina RC and the Americas IFRC Volunteering and Youth Coordinator. The three youth network coordinators ensure that all members of their networks are involve in the process. The youth delegates will participate in discussions such as the humanitarian challenges, involvement in real decision-making processes, sub regional youth networks matters and other issues. The youth event will hence provide a space for youth to reimagine what the Red Cross Movement shall look like in the future and what kind of Movement they would like to inherit. Outcomes of these discussions, including the vision of young people will be shared as youth-led interventions and inputs to substantive discussions during the Interamerican Conference.
Contact information
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Regional Office for the Americas Andrés Morales, Volunteering & Youth Developement Regional Coordinator | andres.morales@ifrc.org
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IFRC
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www.ifrc.org/americas