Youth Champions Program

About the Program

The Youth Champions Program brings together Canadian small and medium organizations (SMOs) and Canadian and international youth in a multigenerational and peer-to-peer learning exchange and collaboration. The program aims to increase their capacities, opportunities, and contribution to public engagement on global issues related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and particularly gender equality.

OBJECTIVES

This six month-program starting in February 2020 will offer tailored subject matter, skills training, support, opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and mentorship to SMOs and youth, who will then collaborate to plan and implement 5 public engagement opportunities in their regions.

Youth will benefit not only from the training, but also from opportunities to deepen their understanding and engagement, and address and overcome barriers to their meaningful participation in the international cooperation sector and on global issues. They will also have opportunities to influence decisions at the organizational level. Youth participants will receive a Certificate of Participation.

SMOs will benefit from a concentrated opportunity to learn about, deepen their engagement, and collaborate with youth, and the general public through this experience.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Small and Medium Organizations (SMOs)

Meet the GAC definition of SMOs
Be working on projects related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and/or Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP)
Have some experience engaging with youth in their community
Demonstrate commitment to making meaningful youth engagement and multigenerational collaboration a priority in the organization
Be willing to contribute 5 hours/ week to this initiative for the duration of the program
Have the capacity to provide support, mentorship, and opportunities for meaningful participation and contribution to their youth champions for the duration of the six-month program. This includes having a lead or point person with whom the Youth Champion will be working, as well as having whole organizational buy-in
Have the means to facilitate numerous public engagement activities in their community
Be willing to share their experiences with the Program with other organizations, in the future.

Youth

Youth must be between 18 to 35-years-old by the start of the program (March 2020)
Be involved or affiliated with a Canadian small or medium organization (SMO) as a current or former volunteer, member, alumnus, or partner.
Be willing to contribute 5 hours/week to this initiative for the duration of the program
(For International Youth) Nominee must be available to travel to Canada in May / June 2020
(For National Youth) Nominee should be prepared to travel across the region for the duration of their term
Have access to reliable internet or phone line (Spur Change might be able to cover the cost of this if it is a barrier to participation)
Demonstrates experience and commitment to working with youth in their community
Demonstrates interests and ideas to forward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and/or Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP)
Demonstrates excellent leadership skills
Demonstrates the ability to engage an audience
Demonstrates a capacity to collaborate with others
Demonstrates willingness and availability to take on self-directed learning
Demonstrates willingness and availability to report back on all activities, including writing reflections and follow-up reports

APPLICATION PROCESS

The application process for the Youth Champions Program is meant to be a collaborative process between the SMO and the youth (Canadian or international) that it is nominating.

SMOs are encouraged to discuss the opportunity with the youth they wish to nominate, sharing with them the program objectives, activities, expectations, and requirements.

Each of the SMOs and Youth are expected to complete a separate application form. Applications will not be accepted unless they are received from both parties. We strongly suggest that the person completing the application from the SMO will be the actual person responsible for working and supporting the Youth throughout the program.

SMOs are welcome to nominate either a Canadian or an international youth.

SMOs are welcome to nominate more than one youth, bearing in mind that only one Canadian and one international youth will be selected per region, and that each youth will have to submit an application.