International Symposium
'Youth Participation and Empowerment
- Getting Beyond the Rhetoric and Slogans'
Starting Points Objectives Location Facilitators Program Workshops Cost Further Information Registration
Venue: Ronil Beach Resort, Goa, India
Dates: 29 October 2007 - 2 November 2007
Convener: International Council on National Youth Policy (ICNYP)
with support from the following partners:
Starting Points        

Central to the building of strong, healthy and inclusive communities and nations is the active participation of young men and women. So often this participation is adult defined, lead and structured. In reality, it is quite tokenistic in terms of the scope and level of youth responsibility and leadership. The frustration of many young people was expressed well by South African Mathagonda Magapi – ‘we as young people always yearn for something that we never really get – a feeling of control of our situation, and of our lives’.

The International Council on National Youth Policy (ICNYP) is totally committed to supporting the full and meaningful participation, leadership and empowerment of young people in the design, implementation, evaluation and re-orientation of youth strategies and action plans. ICNYP encourages the creation of supportive environments and programs at the community and national levels which enable young women and men to be proactive in facilitating positive change. ICNYP recognises that across the globe there are many exciting examples of where young people are designing and leading initiatives which are making a difference in terms of community and national life.

This International Symposium seeks to bring together such young people with youth policy and program makers to share experiences, ideas and aspirations and to identify what motivates and sustains successful youth designed and lead actions.

This Symposium seeks a balance of 75% youth activists (15 – 30 years old) and 25% youth policy and program makers (all ages). The focus of the Symposium is listening to the experiences and ideas of young people who have ‘stepped up’ and have made a significant impact on their societies through their actions. This Symposium seeks to take the advice of Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General – ‘Normally when we need to know about something we go to the experts, but we tend to forget that when we want to know about youth and what they feel and what they want, then we should talk to them’.

The critical outcome of the Symposium will be a clear understanding of the type of policy and practice environment that supports and sustains young men and women to design, implement and monitor initiatives that make a real difference at both the community and nation building levels.

Objectives         
  1. To listen to the voices and stories of young men and women about their experiences regarding participation and empowerment.
  2. To expose youth policy and program makers to best practice and thinking regarding youth participation and empowerment.
  3. To gain a deeper understanding of the processes and methodologies to maximise youth participation in development.
  4. To develop guidelines, tools and a Declaration on youth empowerment and participation.
  5. To build an ongoing network of people interested in ensuring youth participation as the fundamental basis for youth policy and practice.
  6. To enrich National Youth Policy and Action Plan formulation processes.
  7. To create a unique international networking experience.
  8. To exposure participants to the richness of Goan and Indian culture and youth development experiences.
Location:         

Ronil Beach Resort, Goa, India (www.alcongoa.com). Goa is the smallest state of India and lies 600kms south east of Mumbai. A Portuguese colony for 450 years (until 1961), it has evolved with a unique heritage and culture, and as a place where east meets west. Annually, two million visitors descend on Goa enjoying its stunning beaches, food, architecture and built and cultural tourist sites. Parts of Goa have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. India as a country has a strong tradition of innovative youth development. India is home to the biggest youth population on earth – 600 million people under the age of 25.
Facilitators:         

The Symposium will be facilitated by two of the most highly regarded youth facilitators on the globe:
  • Michael O’Meara (Australia), Director of MOHOW and facilitator of the National Youth Roundtable, Australia
  • Kamel Nabulsi (Jordan), Coordinator of National Youth Policy formulation processes throughout the Middle East.
Program Structure:         
 
29th October  
   
4pm onwards Registration
6pm Official Welcome
'The Story and Lessons of People Power – ‘The Save Goa Campaign’
7.30pm Welcome Dinner and Introduction
   
30th October  
   
9.00am Morning welcome
9.15am Keynote presentation – ‘The Participation of Young People in Development – How to make it REAL and how to make it WORK’ (Adam Smith, Executive Director, Education Foundation Australia, former Youth UN Delegate)
10.20am Morning tea and snacks
10.45am Youth Participation Stories from around the globe
12.15pm Lunch and networking
1.30pm Structured Workshop One – ‘Defining the Elements of Successful Youth Participation’
3.00pm Afternoon tea and snacks
3.30pm Skills workshop One
7.00pm Dinner and networking
   
31st October  
   
9.00am Morning welcome
  Keynote presentations - One
  ‘Building Supportive Environments that Maximise Young Peoples Success in Designing and Implementing Civic Action’
  Keynote presentations - Two
  'Exciting and Harnessing the Passion, Leadership and Entrepreneurial Spirit of Young People to Create a Cool Community’ (Dallas Gislason, Regional Development Coordinator, Saskatchewan Regional Development)
10.30am Morning tea and snacks
10.50am Key note presentations – One
  ‘Making the Voice and Actions of Young People Central in National Youth Policy Formulation, Implementation and Evaluation – the New Zealand / Aotearoa Youth Development Strategy’
  Key note presentations – Two
  'Making the Voice of Youth Centred in national Youth Policy Formulation, Implementation and Evaluation’ – the Caribbean Experience (Henry Charles, Director, Commonwealth Youth Program, Caribbean)
12.20pm Lunch and networking
1.30pm Skills workshop Two
3.00pm Afternoon tea and snacks
3.30pm Tour of Goan Youth Projects
7.00pm Mandivi River Cruise and Dinner with presentation
   
1st November  
   
9.00am Morning welcome and reflection
9.30am Keynote presentations – One
  ‘Making Schools a Place to Learn and Practice Participation and Empowerment’
  Keynote presentations – Two
  'Hear by Right – getting Young People Involved in Local Democracy’
10.30am Morning tea and snacks
10.50am Structured workshop Two – ‘Defining the Key Ingredients of Successful Participation and Empowerment’
12.30pm Lunch and networking
2.00pm Optional tour of old Goa
Writing of DRAFT Declaration
7.00pm Dinner, dancing and networking
   
2nd November  
   
9.00am Morning welcome and reflection
9.15am Presentation and discussion of Symposium Declaration
10.40am Final Symposium participant reflections
12.00noon Farewell Lunch
   

Please note that program is subject to change
Skills Development Workshops         
  • The Symposium will offer a choice of skills workshops would be offered e.g.:
  • ‘Building a Culture of Participation – Necessary Tools’
  • ‘Youth Participation – lessons from the fight against youth unemployment’
  • ‘Youth Participation – lessons from the fight against AIDS’
  • Involving Young People in National Youth Policy Formulation, Implementation and Evaluation’
  • ‘Gender and Formulation Participation’
  • ‘Teaching Youth Enterprising Skills’
  • ‘Role of the Media in Building Participation’
  • ‘Youth Participation Role of National Youth Service Programs in Building a Culture of Participation’
  • ‘Youth Participation via New Communications Technologies’
  • ‘Tools and Indicators for Maintaining and Evaluating Effective Youth Policy’
    • ‘Youth Participation and initiatives involving New Technologies’

Please note that Workshops are subject to change
Cost:         
  • Youth Delegate (15 - 30 years)
    - single accommodation: US$585.00
    - twin accommodation: US$485.00
  • Non Youth Delegate
    - single accommodation: US$685.00
    - twin accommodation: US$585.00
Further Information:         
Contact Symposium Convener Peter Kenyon:
Registration:         
Click here for registration form.