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 International Youth-Serving Organizations
Intro
Around the world
there are hundreds and thousands of youth-serving organizations. For
more than 50 years there have been a number of attempts to weave
together these diverse programs under one common plan of action. Those
efforts have repeatedly failed. However, the Internet has brought the
youth community closer than ever, showing more potential than any
other medium before.
Following are several categories of
action in the international youth movement. This movement, which is
leaderless and diverse, is complex. Everywhere young people
are complex, there needs and interests broad, and their responses
outstanding. These categories attempt to summarize this diaspora of
activity under the common umbrella of The Freechild Project Youth
Movement Plan.
The "Big 7" Youth Organizations
There is a group of major youth-serving organizations
that have either existed for a long time, have large numbers of
participants, or have significant governmental and financial support.
These are those.
The World Organization of the Scout Movement
is the home of Scouting, whose mission is to contribute to the
education of young people, through a value system based on the Scout
Promise and Law, to help build a better world where people are
self-fulfilled as individuals and play a constructive role in society. There are more than 28 million Scouts, youth and adults, boys and
girls, in 216 countries and territories. Send mail to
Box 241, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland. Call (+41 22) 705 1010 or email
worldbureau@world.scout.org
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
seeks to be the voice of girls and young women by representing the
issues important to their members. Send mail to World Bureau, Olave
Centre, 12c Lyndhurst Road London, NW3 5PQ. Call +44 (0)20 7794 1181
or email
wagggs@wagggsworld.org
World
Alliance of Young Men's Christian Associations (YMCA)
says that "The YMCA is a youth movement. It places special
emphasis on the genuine involvement of young people at all levels,
recognizing that a strong and vibrant youth leadership is essential in
local, national and regional Movements. The YMCA also places special
emphasis on developing programs for and by young people that are
relevant and meaningful to them. Send mail to 12 Clos Belmont, 1208
Geneva, Switzerland or call +41-22-8495100.
World Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA)
has a vision of a fully inclusive world where justice, peace, health,
human dignity, freedom and care for the environment are promoted and
sustained through women's leadership. Send mail to 16 Ancienne Route,
CH-1218 Grand Saconnex, Geneva, Switzerland. Call (41-22) 929 6040 or
email
worldoffice@worldywca.org
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies recognizes that in their
actions, young people can make a significant contribution to meeting
the needs of the most vulnerable people within their local communities
and globally. Their main role within the movement is as partners in
its management and as workers in each of its program. Send email to
youth@ifrc.org
International Award Association
offers the International Award, an exciting self-development Programme
available to all young people worldwide equipping them with life
skills to make a difference to themselves, their communities and the
world. To date over 5 million young people from over 100 countries
have been motivated to undertake a variety of voluntary and
challenging activities. Send mail to Award House, 7-11 St Matthew
Street, London, SW1P-2JT. Call +44 (0)20 7222 4242 or email
sect@intaward.org
International Youth Foundation is
working in close to 70 countries and territories to improve the
conditions and prospects for young people where they live, learn,
work, and play. Established in 1990 to bring worldwide resources to
young people in need, IYF works with hundreds of companies,
foundations, and civil society organizations to strengthen and "scale
up" existing programs that are making a positive and lasting
difference in young lives. Send mail to 32 South Street, Suite 500,
Baltimore, MD 21202, USA.
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Regional Youth Platforms
Every major geo-physical region around the world-
except North America- is home to a coordinating agency focused on
young people called a "Regional Youth Platform." The following is
information about these platforms.
Global Cooperation Coordinating Committee
(GCCC) is a network of regional non-governmental youth platforms from
around the world. The GCCC was established in 1997 and arose from the
need for regional youth platforms to co-operate and work together on
common global issues affecting young people.
The African Youth Network brings African young
people together to discuss youth policy in areas such as the
environment, trade and poverty, through seminars, workshops and
regular publications. Send mail to The African Youth Network,
Permanent Secretariat, B.P. 4542 Lomé, Togo. Call 228 22 17858 or
email
raj_ayn@hotmail.com
Arab Youth Union was founded
in 1974 encourages youth initiatives aimed at developing the youth
movement within the Arab world and supports activities in the fields
of technology, science, sports, voluntary service, literature and
issues related to the spirit of initiative and creativity among young
people. Send mail to PO Box 12033, Damascus, Syria. Call +963 11
3338012 or email
arabyouth@mail.sy
Asian Students Association
seeks to transcend all barriers and express solidarity with one
another and all the people of the world through the promotion of an
Asia-Pacific identity and a Third World consciousness. It operates an
Activist Training Centre, a Media Centre and ASEED-Asia. Send mail to
Flat B, 2nd floor, wang cheong building, 249 – 253 Reclamation Street,
Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR. Call +852.2388 0515 or email
asasec@netvigator.com.
Asian Youth Council is a
regional coordinating body for youth in the Asia-Pacific region. It is
a non-governmental, voluntary organization seeking to promote peace,
goodwill and solidarity among member organizations in order to foster
a greater international understanding and respect for the wide variety
of rich cultural values within the region. Send mail to S2
International Youth Centre, Jalan Yacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Call +6012 377 2509 or email dfameux@tm.net.my
Caribbean Federation of Youth
calls for advocacy, education and training, cultural
and dramatic art forms, social integration and entrepreneurial and
enterprise development. CFY's main activities are: an annual regional
work-study camp; leadership training projects; regional conferences
for youth and representation at regional and international level. Send
mail to PO Box 1815, Egmont St, Kingstown, St Vincent, West Indies.
Call + 1 784 4856378 or email
cfy@caribsurf.com
European Youth Forum is an international organization established
by national youth councils and international non-governmental youth
organizations to represent the interests of young people from all over
Europe. It is the youth platform in Europe representing youth
organizations in international institutions - mainly the European
Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations. It serves to
channel the flow of information and opinions between young people and
decision-makers. Send mail the European Youth Forum, Rue Joseph II straat 120, B-1000 Brussels.
Call (+32 2) 230 6490 or email
youthforum@youthforum.org
Latin American Youth Forum is
the co-ordination body for 8 national youth platforms and 12
international youth organizations from this continent. FLAJ's purpose
is to become a vehicle of representation, coordination and
co-operation between the youth organizations of Latin America. Send
mail to Foro Latinoamericano de Juventud (FLAJ), Technical
Secretariat, Foro Juvenil de Uruguay, Calle Maldonado 1260 CP -
11.200, MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY. Call +59829030029 or email
canario@forojuvenil.org.uy
Pacific Youth Council is
composed of 19 national youth councils. The principle objectives of
the organization are to bring together the different territorial and
national youth organizations that exist in the region in one common
organization and to promote, at all levels, a regional youth identity
that takes into account the different cultural, social, economic and
political particularities of the states and territories that are
members of the PYC. Another key role for the PYC is to encourage
co-operation between NGOs, youth NGOs, and governmental organizations
both regional and international- and to promote the participation of
youth. Send mail to C/- Pacific Youth Bureau, Secretariat of the
Pacific Community, BP D5 98848 Noumea Cedex, New Caledonia. Call + 684
633 28 75 or email
MonicaV@spc.int
Pan-African Youth Movement
seeks unity of thought and action; sensitisation; informing and
mobilising young people to totally free the continent from all forms
of foreign domination; the struggle for economic and social
independence and cultural rehabilitation of Africa as well as the
unity of all peoples - real African unity. Send mail to Mouvement
Panafricain de la Jeunesse, 68, rue de Tripoli-Hussein-Dey, Alger,
Algeria c/o Mr. Belkasmi Ahmed, Deputy Secretary General. Call + 213
21 476851 or email
pym_mpj@hotmail.com
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United Nations Youth Programs
The UN hosts several outreach programs particularly for
young people. Following are some of those.
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International Organizations of
Note
The following organizations are emerging
international leaders to providing services to young people.
International Association for National
Youth Service - Takes
a pro-active position on national youth service, recommending that
every country give serious consideration to national youth service. To
this end, the Association and its members are prepared to exchange
information and otherwise assist nations wishing to consider the
introduction of national youth service. Email
TAPIANIEVES@netscape.net
International Council on National Youth
Policy - Operates
as expert content provider on national youth policy-making and
advocate in international decision-making. Send mail to
Sieveringer
Strasse 151/1/1, A-1197 Vienna, AUSTRIA or call +43 1 925 25 13
Oxfam International Youth Parliament
is an initiative of
Oxfam International. It is a network of young leaders in 150 countries
with a vision of "youth building an equitable, sustainable and
peaceful world". Send mail to Oxfam Community Aid Abroad, PO Box 1711,
Strawberry Hills, Sydney NSW 2012 Australia. Call +61-2-8204-3900 or
email
info@iyp.oxfam.org
Peace Child International
empowers young people to
inform themselves and take action on major world issues. Since its
founding in 1982 it has grown to include over 500 youth groups in 120
countries. Send mail to
The White House, 46 High Street
Buntingford, Herts, SG9 9AH, UK. Call
+44 (0) 1763 274459 or email
contact@peacechild.org
International Save the Children Alliance
fights for
children's rights. It
delivers immediate and lasting
improvements to children’s lives worldwide. Save the Children
works for a world which respects and values each child; a world which
listens to children and learns; a world where all children have hope
and opportunity. 27 Save the Children organisations make up the
International Save the Children Alliance, the world’s largest
independent movement for children, making improvements for children in
over 110 countries.
TakingITGlobal
is an international organization - led by youth and empowered by
technology. TakingITGlobal connects youth around the world to find
inspiration, information and get involved in improving their local and
global communities. Send mail to 19 Duncan Street, Suite 505, Toronto,
Ontario, M5H 3H1
Canada. Call +1 (416) 977-9363 or email
info@takingitglobal.org
YouthActionNet
seeks to connect, inspire, and nurture present and future young
leaders. Send mail c/o
International Youth Foundation, 32 South Street, Suite 500, Baltimore,
MD 21202 USA. Call +1 410 951 1500 or email
yan-info@youthactionnet.org
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