4.3 Global Youth Collaborations

Several networks and initiatives share the goal of encouraging cooperation and alliances to advance the youth movement. Unfortunately, frequently these collaboration initiatives do not collaborate with each other.

UNESCO's Info youth web site http://www.unesco.org/webworld/infoyouth/index.html reads:

The INFOYOUTH Network was initiated in 1991 by UNESCO in order to meet two main challenges: on the one hand, the necessity to counteract the splintering of various and scattered information sources and networks on youth, and on the other, the urgent need to implement appropriate and coherent youth policies from local to global levels.

Civicus's initiative "Partnership for Youth Participation" at http://www.civicus.org/ reads:

As part of its objective to enhance youth participation in civil society, CIVICUS convened in 1999 a meeting of global youth stakeholders such as the Commonwealth Youth Programme, Development Education for Youth, AIESEC International, World Association for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), and International Youth Foundation. From that meeting has arisen an informal alliance of these global stakeholders, known as Partners for Youth Participation. The Partners are currently discussing areas in which an alliance may add value to what is already underway through their own and other organizations' activities. Complementing and informing this joint activity are the ongoing youth participation programs of each of the Partners.

The World Assembly of Youth's web site http://www.worldassemblyofyouth.org/introduction.htm reads:

The World Assembly of Youth (WAY) is the international coordinating body of national youth councils and organizations. Founded in 1949, WAY has consultative status with various agencies in the United Nations System. It acts as a bridge between the youth and the UN. WAY works for the promotion of youth and youth organizations in program areas such as democracy, environment, human rights, population, health, drugs, community development and leadership training.

A SEED's web site http://www.aseed.net reads:

A SEED (Action for Solidarity, Equality, Environment, and Development) is a global organisation linking youth groups and individuals on all continents. A SEED was established by young people in 1991 in response to the UNCED Earth Summit proceedings in Rio and aimed to forge alliances among young people committed to social and environmental justice. Since 1992, the A SEED decentralised network has been growing continuously and consists of regional "hubs" located in Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, Latin America and Japan, with various levels of activity.

International Youth Foundation's initiative "Global Partnership for Youth Development" at http://www.iyfnet.org/document.cfm/82 reads:

The Global Partnership for Youth Development (GPYD) is a unique initiative through which global companies, development banks, bilateral aid agencies, private foundations, and NGOs are working in an unprecedented global partnership to improve the conditions and prospects of children and youth worldwide.

The Funder's Collaborative on Youth Organizing web site http://www.jfjustice.org/FCYO%20home.htm reads:

The Funders’ Collaborative on Youth Organizing (FCYO) is a collective of national, regional and local grantmakers dedicated to advancing youth organizing as a strategy for youth development and social justice. Our mission is to substantially increase philanthropic investment in and strengthen the organizational capacities of youth organizing groups across the country. Our goals are to: 1) Raise the profile of youth organizing among grantmakers and community organizations; 2) Increase strategic funding to youth organizing by growing the Collaborative itself, and by promoting the inclusion of youth organizing in the grantmaking programs of foundations; 3) Strengthen the infrastructure of youth organizing groups through a broad range of capacity-building projects; 4) Sharpen funders’ grantmaking skills in this arena; and 5) Provide current information to funders and community organizations on youth organizing.

The Global Youth ACTION Network's web site http://www.youthlink.org reads:

The Global Youth ACTION Network is an international collaboration among youth and youth-serving organizations to share information, resources and solutions. Its purpose is to promote greater youth engagement. The GYAN creates the opportunity for every young person to be heard, leverages their voices to impact national and global agendas and provides tools, recognition and financial support for youth who take positive action to improve our world - community by community.