Youth Sector Context

• What you need to know about us

• What we do

• What we want to do

What you need to know 1. Who we are

Youth Sector Actors & Organisations

What you need to know 2. Youth Sector Uniqueness

Development Education in the youth sector is unique because...

• Young people participate on a voluntary basis• There is a great diversity of organisations/groups working within the youth sector reflecting

the diversity of interests of young people• The methods and approaches allow young people and particularly marginalised young

people to access DE and to have their voices heard • Organisations within the sector who are experts in both DE/ ESD and Youth work• We start where ‘young people are at’ adopting a flexible & creative approach • We pay attention to process and outcomes• We provide quality opportunities to engage with DE• Young people are active partners in making decisions, planning programmes, setting priorities• Our relationships are based on dialogue and partnership between young people and adults• We engage in a reflective learning process through an ongoing cycle of experience,

observation, reflection and action• Youth work aims to eradicate injustice and inequality and strives for openness and

inclusiveness in all its dealings with young people and adults locally, nationally and internationally

What you need to know 3. Youth Sector background…

• Nearly 400,000 young people participate actively in youth work• Over half of these come from disadvantaged areas• The Youth Sector works with and for young people on a range of interests and

issues in a variety of contexts including formal education, community settings, and social settings

• The Youth Sector supports young people to reach their full potential in areas such as education, social, scientific, sport, development, environment, politics, culture, etc

• Through their engagement with the youth sector, young people develop the confidence, resilience, capacity and skills they need to be involved in society and to reach their potential

• Two in five young people are involved in a club or society• 40,000 adults volunteer in youth work with some 1,400 professional youth

workers employed• We celebrate diversity from local clubs in rural and urban areas to large

national bodies encompassing faith and identity based projects, etc

What we do: 1• Introduce human development and developing world perspectives to young people• Create opportunities where the knowledge, values, attitudes and skills related to

DE/ESD are explored in a holistic and engaging process• Provide educational opportunities to empower young people to take action on DE/ESD

issues by building self confidence and developing skills such as critical thinking, systems analysis, futures thinking

• Build young people’s capacity to consider risks and consequences and make informed decisions and take responsibility, globally and locally

• Support young people to develop social, environmental and global awareness and a sense of solidarity

• Give young people a voice in decision-making which affect their lives• Enhance young people’s role as active global citizens• Listen to and hear what young people have to say• Work collaboratively within the sector and across sectors to achieve better outcomes

for young people• Build capacity of educators to deliver DE• Build competency through research, educational materials, training, opportunities• Build on key DE activities and events in the youth sector including One World Week,

ECO-UNESCO Youth for Sustainable Development Programme, Film/arts-based work, Partnerships, etc

What we do: 2 Among the issues we talk about…

POVERTY

CLIMATE CHANGE

EDUCATION

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

VIOLENCE

IRISH AID

COFFEE

HUMAN RIGHTS

CONFLICT

DEMOCRACY

CHILD SOLDIERS

ENVIRONMENT

SDGs

JUSTICE

PARTICIPATION & ACTION

YOUNG PEOPLE &

DEVELOPMENTHUNGER

WATER CHILD LABOUR

GENDER MDGs

WORK

FAIR TRADE

MIGRATION

AID

GLOBALISATION

VOLUNTEERING

HIV & AIDS

CONSUMPTION

DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION

DEBT

CLIMATE JUSTICE

Through our DE work, the youth sector/participants are empowered and supported to:

• Take action locally on DE issues• Understand the global context of their local lives and present different

viewpoints • Make personal, local, national, and global links between their lives and the

different dimensions of their lives - Food they eat, clothes they wear, air they breathe, gadgets they use, political systems in which they live, and people’s interconnectedness to the world

• Appreciate the similarities and differences between people – locally, nationally, globally

• Critically examine values and attitudes • Accept and value diversity• Learn about the work of Irish Aid and NGOs working in the development field • Develop the skills and methodologies that will enable them to take action to

combat injustice, prejudice and discrimination• Challenge key development issues and promote and support social justice,

consciousness, action and questions

What we do: 3 Our Youth Sector Successes

• The youth sector empowers young people to be agents of change• Over 30 years of sustained quality DE work • Natural non-formal synergies between DE and youth sector• Youth led work• Diverse range of activity and provision• Complimentary approach to what is happening in other sectors• Interaction/partnerships between youth and other sectors• Key activities have supported public knowledge, participation and engagement –

One World Week, ECO-UNESCO Youth for Sustainable Development Programme• Quality resources and materials for specific target groups• Training, education, DE modules, in-service training and CPD• The introduction of the National Strategy on ESD• Long term and meaningful engagement in quality DE progs/activities• International recognition of good practice DE programmes being delivered in Ireland• High level of Volunteering• Research – Standpoints, Dochas, Suas• Dedicated funding has supported the work

What we do: 4 Some Challenges we face

• Continuing to expand DE/ESD and its relevance to smaller youth groups

• Geographical spread• No strategic partnership with the youth sector• Annual funding, and challenges of capacity and access in the

youth sector• Ongoing capacity to develop opportunities for greater number

of young people to engage in quality DE/ESD activities opportunities for participation

• Availability of CPD, courses and trainings• Lack of collaboration between non-formal and formal DE

What we do: 5 Opportunities we can explore

• Greater engagement of and with young people• Capacity building and support for the sector• Scaling up successful programmes• Technology • Partnerships, collaboration and cohesion• New policy developments:

– National: Youth, ESD, – European: EU Youth Policy – Global: UNESCO GAP, UN World Programme for Youth, SDGs

• Variety of funding methods to support innovation and diversity• Quality research within and across sectors• NQSF and Results based frameworks

What we want to doStrategic Priorities in relation to:

• Young People - Young people recognise themselves as agents for change nationally and internationally

• Policy – Policy makers recognise the value of youth work practice and are well informed about development education in youth work

• Practice – Best practice in development education in youth work is mainstreamed, standardised and sustained

• Youth sector workforce – Staff & volunteers have improved competence and confidence to act