United Nations for Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme are pleased to announce the launch of a joint volunteer management Training of Trainers (TOT) in Amman. The workshop brings together 20 youth associations and civil society organizations from different Arab countries to share experiences and lessons learned on how youth volunteerism can be harnessed to contribute to promoting peace and sustainable development.
In a region where more than sixty percent of the population is younger than thirty years old, it is imperative to engage young people meaningfully in sustainable development. The TOT in Amman will enable participants to maximize the impact of youth volunteers as partners for positive change.
“We want to make sure that there are safe and non-abusive platforms for young people to volunteer on. We need to make sure that we work consistently on excellence in youth volunteer management, so that the reputation of your programmes with the population at large will be that of a safe, secure place to volunteer”, said Richard Dictus, UNV Executive Coordinator
Today, more than ever, young women and men are change-makers, building new realities for themselves and their communities. All over the world, youth are driving social change and innovation, claiming respect for their fundamental human rights and freedoms, and seeking new opportunities to learn and work together for a better future. UNESCO recognizes this reality, and therefore prioritizes its work with and for youth across all its programmes. The Organization is guided in this by an Operational Strategy on Youth (2014-2021), which is the result of a long process of review and consultation, engaging both young people and Member States. This serves both to consolidate and innovate UNESCO’s action for youth.
The five day Training of Trainers will facilitate the exchange of information and good practices amongst participants from Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, Bahrain and Jordan to strengthen the inclusion of young people in sustainable development in countries affected by conflict. In addition, participants will receive volunteer management training to ensure that volunteers in their organizations have a positive experience. The training forms part of UNV’s efforts to build the capacity of youth networks and civil society organizations to promote youth volunteering.