IFRC flagship initiative on a culture of non-violence

and peace

IFRC Principles and Values Department Contact: katrien.beeckman@ifrc.org charlotte.tocchio@ifrc.org

Youth as Agents of Behavioural Change (YABC)

OUTLINE

1. Rationale

2. Objectives

3. Content

4. Methodology

5. The network… so far

6. Components

7. Impact at the individual level

8. Projects and grass-roots outreach

9. Looking ahead

1. Rationale

Call for…

Before 2008 After 2008

RC/RC international decisions

Innovative ways to promote FP 1999 IC, 2005 Fed Future S 2020, Youth D

Being a living example of RC/RC FP 2003 & 2005 COD S 2020, Youth D

Influencing behavioural change S 2010, 2003 COD, 07 IC S 2020, Youth D

Humanitarian education beyond cognitive S 2010, 2005 COD S 2020, Youth D

Non-formal peer education 30 IC IFRC pledge S 2020, Youth D

Leadership role of youth 30 IC IFRC pledge, 07 IC S 2020, Youth D

Skills-based empowerment of youth 30 IC IFRC pledge, 07 IC S 2020, Youth D

Inner change S 2020, Youth D

Strategic Aim 3 Expected impact

Promote social inclusion and a

culture of non-violence and peace

- Greater public support for the

fundamental principles and reduced

stigma and discrimination

- Lower levels of violence and more

peaceful reconciliation of social

differences

- Fuller integration of disadvantaged

people into their communities

Strategic Aim 1 Strategic Aim 2

Save lives, protect livelihoods, and

strengthen recovery from disasters

and crises

Enable healthy and safe living

A culture of non-violence and peace

It is a culture that “respects human beings, their well-being and dignity; it honours diversity, non-discrimination, inclusiveness, mutual understanding and dialogue, willingness to serve, cooperation and lasting peace. It is a culture where individuals, institutions and societies refrain from harming others, groups, communities or themselves. There is a commitment to positive and constructive solutions to problems, tensions and the source of violence; violence is never an option.”

In a world full of challenges, we the youth of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement commit ourselves to: 1. Inner change and the development of skills

to promote harmony and positive attitudes within communities

2. Live our seven Fundamental Principles as agents of behavioural change in our communities

... We call on our National Societies to: • Enable youth to take a leadership role in

positively changing behaviours and attitudes in our communities, using peer and non-formal education methods such as the IFRC’s “Youth as agents of behavioural change” initiative;

2. Objectives

• Inspire a positive change of mindsets, attitudes & behaviours in favour of a culture of non-violence and peace in society

• Empower youth to take up a leadership role as agents of change in their communities, through skills-based and values-based education

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

HUMANITARIAN VALUES INTERPERSONAL SKILLS THEMATIC ISSUES

Humanity

• Mutual understanding • Peace • Friendship • Cooperation • Respect for human being

• Empathy • Active listening • Critical thinking, non-judgement & dropping bias • Non-violent communication • Negotiation and mediation • Operating from inner peace

• Non-discrimination & respect for diversity • Gender • Intercultural dialogue • Social inclusion • Violence prevention, mitigation & response • International humanitarian law

Impartiality • Respect for diversity • Open-mindedness

Neutrality • Tolerance

Independence • Integrity • Trust

Voluntary Service

• Devotion • Solidarity

Unity • Openness

Universality • Equality • Mutual aid

3. Content

4. Approach and methodology

• Bottom up approach: initiative shaped by, for and with youth, and based on RC/RC National Societies’ experience, materials and guidance

• Capacity-building of youth through:

o non-formal peer education

o participant-centred experiential learning approach (games, role-plays, simulation and visualization, art, sport exercises ,etc.)

o non-cognitive methodology (« from the heart to the mind »)

5. The network… so far

• IFRC (Geneva Secretariat, Zones, Regional Delegations, Country Representations, Youth Commission)

• Centre for the Cooperation in the Mediterranean • 107 National Societies worldwide (590 peer educators)

6. Components

TRAININGS AND

WORKSHOPS

COMMUNITYBASED

PROGRAMS

SOCIAL MOBILIZATION

TOOLKIT PACKAGE

7. Impact at the individual level

As witnessed by participants in YABC trainings and workshops: • Engagement in a life-long process of learning • Self-questioning and inner change • Deepened self-confidence • Strengthened ethical leadership skills (teamwork and cooperation, open-mindedness and mutual understanding, trust, humility and integrity) • Enhanced self-resilience (management of stress, pressure, tiredness, emotions)

“The YABC approach is a complete mindset for leading your life. Without this initiative, it would have taken me a life time to change myself.”

“YABC guides youth in a true and very rich self-reflection, enabling them to learn about themselves. It unlocks their talents and strengthens their skills and beliefs that they can do something useful for their community.”

8. Projects and grass-roots outreach

Examples of integration/implementation by youth of the YABC network: • First aid (Egypt, France, Pakistan) • Disaster management (Egypt, Pakistan) • Sustainable development and vocational training (Sierra Leone) • Psychosocial support (Pakistan, Sri Lanka) • Migration (regional campaign and micro-projects in North Africa: Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia) • Service delivery during the civil unrests (Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Tunisia) • Junior and youth clubs and centers in schools, colleges, universities and communities (Ghana, France, Lebanon, Macedonia, Switzerland) • Leadership courses (Denmark, Philippines) • Awareness-raising on HIV/AIDS (Colombia, Papua New Guinea)

“The YABC initiative responds to the youth commitment and desire for action. The relevance of its objectives, the quality of its methodologies, tools and

mediations is producing diverse and adapted applications which will inspire and nourish the content of existing programs.”

9. Looking ahead

• Finalization and on-line access to the YABC toolkit package, after its official launch at the 31st International Conference (November 2011)

• Continuous capacity-building of youth (international, regional, national or local trainings and workshops)

• On-going implementation / integration of the initiative within existing programs and activities to reach out more youth around the world (over 2 500 youth from 150 National Societies familiarized at international or regional level to date)

• Impact study and development of external partnerships to extend the YABC network outside the RC/RC Movement

“YABC is a need and an experience that leads us to take a critical look at ourselves. If this initiative would be implemented everywhere in the world, the day to see peace on earth is not far.”

CREATIVE PLATFORMS FOR SOCIAL MOBILISATION • Theatre • Visual Arts • Music • Dance • Sports INTERNAL ARTS (Relaxation, Breathing, Yoga, Qi-Gong, etc.)

To become a YABC…

Institutional E-learning

Training of peer educators Managerial E-learning

• WORC • Self-learning tool on non-discrimination and respect for diversity • Gender equality in programming: different needs, equal opportunities

YABC initiation

• Spirit and methodology (“from heart to mind”)

• The 7 FP and their underpinning HV

• Thematic issues: ND&RFD, ICD SI, G, VPMR, IHL

• Behavioural skills: AL, E, CT/NJ&DB, NVC, N&M, PR

Peer education

• Facilitation and communication

• Motivation and learning

• Skills and personal development • Community engagement

• Preparation and evaluation of a session / workshop

• Assessment analysis

• Capacity-building

• Project planning and designing

• Implementation

• Promotion & communication

• Monitoring, evaluation and reporting

• Resource mobilisation and sustainability

• Networking

+ practice in the field …Peer educator

10 hours 20 hours 30 hours 20 hours

+ practice in the field …Trainer

Coaching and mentoring

• Training methods and techniques • Learning environment and group dynamics • Feedback and counselling • Preparation and evaluation of a training

30 hours

+ practice in the field …Coordinator

March • The Principles and Values department develops the initiative's concept paper

April • The Youth Commission welcomes and includes into its work plan the initiative (7 NS)

July

• CCM International Youth Camp Atlantis IV, Serbia, from 24th to 31st (15 NS): testing ideas for a

YABC toolkit

Sept-Oct

• Consultative Meeting of 18 NS, Geneva, 29-30 Sept.: content and action plan up to Solferino

• Consultative Meeting of External Experts, Geneva, 3 October: exploring non-cognitive techniques

Dec.

• First International YABC Gathering, Bamako - Mali, from 1st to 5th (21 NS): shaping the draft

YABC toolkit, and testing out peer education and the non-cognitive methodology

Appendix. Development stages (2008)

Appendix. Development stages (2009)

Dec. -

March

• Collection of 32 NSs' P&V non-cognitive materials

March • Technical meeting, Habkern - Switzerland, from 23rd to 31st (9 NS): developing the draft toolkit

April • Update to the Youth Commission

May • Training of Solferino peer educators, Viladecans - Spain, from 22nd to 30th (23 NS)

June • 3rd World Youth Meeting, Solferino - Italy, from 24th to 27th (15 NS): pilot-testing the draft toolkit

Aug.

• Field-testing the draft toolkit:

• CCM International Youth Camp Atlantis V, Medhia - Morocco, from 1st to 8th (14 NS)

• URCS International Youth Camp, Mukono - Uganda, from 17th to 23rd (9 NS), …

Nov. • Training on YABC and migrations, Megrine – Tunisia, from 14th to 18th (4 NS)

• Side-event at the General Assembly and Youth Award, Nairobi - Kenya

Appendix. Development stages (2010)

Jan. -

March.

• Integration of feedback and lessons learned from field-testing

March

• YABC-YEP, Kabala – Sierra Leone, from 5th to 20th: pilot-testing values-based indicators

• Field-testing the updated draft toolkit

• National Orientation Youth Camp, Hurgada – Egypt, from 6th to 10th

• Youth Clubs Workshops, Skopje – Macedonia, on 15th and 22nd

April -

Sept.

• Further field-testing the updated draft YABC toolkit:

• 2 National Orientation Youth Camp, Hurgada – Egypt, from14th to 20th of May

• YABC Workshop, Solferino – Italy, from 20th to 27th of June

• CCM International Youth Camp Atlantis VI, Grans – France, from 24th to 31st of July (17 NS)

• SRC International Youth Camp, Heiden – Switzerland, from July 28th to August 4th (35 NS)

• GRCS National Youth Camp, Ho – Ghana, from 21st to 28th of August (2 NS)

• CCM Seminar on Leadership, Ramallah – Palestine, from 19th to 26th of September (4 NS)

June -

Dec.

• Training of YABC peer educators:

• North Africa, Megrine - Tunisia, from 22nd to 29th of June (4 NS)

• Asia-Pacific Youth Summit, Ajloun - Jordan, from 9th to 17th of October (40 NS)

• Pakistan RC, Lahore, Pakistan, from 5th to 11th of December

• Sri Lanka RC, Vavunyia – Sri Lanka, from 14th to 18th of December

• North and West Africa, Megrine – Tunisia, from 13th to 20th of December