Purpose of this Policy is to set the standard in working with and for young people throughout the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies (IFRC). It serves as a global point of reference to ensure consistency in decision-making and builds on and replaces the IFRC Youth Policy and Strategy (1991) and the IFRC Youth Policy (2011). National Societies are accountable to adhere to this Policy by adapting it to their context, aligning their existing policy with it or developing a new policy respectively. The IFRC Secretariat is accountable to adhere to this Policy in all its work. This Policy will be reviewed by the 25th session of the General Assembly in 2025.
The case study outlines how the Viet Nam Red Cross in Da Nang, the local chapter sought to activate young volunteers to increase its profile and community engagement, even with limited volunteer action and low advocacy activities.
ASEAN is a region with 370 million youth which covers 60% of population: 620 million. It has 11 Southeast Asia Red Cross and Red Crescent societies in 11 countries such as Brunei, Cambodia, Lao, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Timor Leste with 4.6 million youth and 1 million volunteers.
Red Cross Youth in ASEAN also addressed Red Cross Youth challenges as follows:
Lack of right skill such as facilitation and peer education which will open minds and enhance burning desires for positive social change
Inspirational opportunities in the access to community actions (no adult directed, but youth- led/designed) and supportive environment
Recognize the volunteerism and achievement of youth action
To provide solutions for those above challenges and address/inspire youth for a positive change, IFRC CCST Bangkok office provide with this guide for the youth empowerment programme in communities.
Purpose:
Youth Empowerment in Community (YEC) Programme Guide Pilot version was designed for a purpose of youth empowerment at communities to deeply address the issues of communities and inspire their positive change through youth innovative solutions by enhancing the knowledge, practicing in the field and gaining fresh perspective about the community challenges in a more peaceful and resilient way. The programme has four steps; Step 1; Trainings on youth such as Youth as Agents of Behavioural Change (YABC), Step 2; Field school and Practice in the field, Step 3; Community/School Actions, Step 4; Monitoring, peer learning and expansion.
The guide has a participant-centred, experiential learning approach which leads to creative platforms. It supports youth to discuss the social issues by addressing/identifying specific gaps/issues and their root causes in their existing knowledge and practice, giving all possible solutions to such issues by their own, through sharing their personal experiences and to demonstrate in communities/schools through a creative platform; theatre, dance, music, arts and sports activities. In a second phase, Children and youths collect the feedback from the community/school and reflect together to make a ‘from their heart to their mind’ changing journey to become responsible members of community challenges.
Purpose: The Red Cross Youth (RCY) volunteer created a youth empowerment Programme aimed to change the mindset of people and empower youths to promote an AIDS free generation.
Overview: The Cambodia Red Cross, Siem Reap branch supported by IFRC conducted a Youth as Agent of Behavior Change (YABC) Peer Educators’ training for RCYs and the YABC peer educators. The RCYs started conducting activities such as on the occasion of the World AIDS Day targeting HIV/AIDS prone community and Angkor High school students. The objectives include: 1) through community events, address the issue of discrimination against HIV/AIDS positive people 2) through school events, motivate other youths to join the HIV/AIDS Free generation campaign.
