YOUTH PARTICIPATION PLATFORM
The Nigeria Network of NGOs recruits youth interns to support the work of the network on a volunteer basis and, at times, to also support the work of member organisations. While volunteering youth are also provided with a stipend to support them. The network has also collaborated with young people to support youth-led social good initiatives, and has partnered with youth to host seminars and workshops.
YDC employs a digital advocacy model. Every minister in Canada is required to maintain an active Twitter presence, which allows YDC to facilitate interactions with key decision-makers over digital platforms. YDC empowers delegates to speak directly to decision-makers using platforms like Google Hangouts.
CARE designed a new social accountability tool called “Third Party Monitoring” through which youth groups were trained and empowered to monitor some government public works and community development projects in Egypt.
PNF recognises that youth inclusion is not limited to the voices of a few young people, and that youth are a diverse group. This diversity means that some young people are more marginalised than others, such as young women and girls, young people with disabilities, and young people living in conflict zones. The network aims to engage diverse youth perspectives and develop inclusive youth leadership. In order to reach a diverse group of youth, PNF uses a number of different strategies including outreach through schools, colleges, and social media. PNF also uses more traditional approaches such as community focal points, study circles and community dialogues to reach youth in rural communities.
The Laura Lundy Model is a rights-based model that conceptualises Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which states that children should have the right to form their own views and express them freely, and that their views should be given due weight. The model has four components: space, voice, audience and influence. In this case the participants voiced their concern about underage drinking and expressed that they wanted to create a film to communicate their message. There was a safe space to express their views and plan for the film. When they completed the film they asked for it to be viewed by an audience other than their peers, through which they were able to influence and create awareness around the issue.
