JUST YOUTH

Just Youth

Future Sustainable Citizens Project

The Just Youth project will focus on the constructive elements of our Youth Cultures and drive forward the positive initiatives that will shape our future sustainable citizenship for the well being of our societies and environment. 

Background

The Youth (16-30) of the new century are exposed to a wide range of modern threats that differ considerably from those that affected their fore fathers.

Modern knowledge exchange mechanisms and changing lifestyles have brought to the attention of Youth many issues that would have previously been thought of as TABOO for example Climate Change.  However, enlightenment is also accompanied by responsibility and to manage responsibility the youth of today will need to be equipped with the appropriate tools and mechanisms that will enable them to make JUST decisions for the future.  The mature societies and governments of the new century have a responsibility to ensure that all their community youth members are provided with the right opportunities that will encourage a prospective sustainable and just society.   This will help young people to feel connected to their communities, seek to exercise influence over what is done and the way it is done, and will be able to make a difference by having meaningful and exciting opportunities. The Russell report (2005) states that young people have made it clear that they want their volunteering to have a tangible impact upon the communities in which they live and JUST YOUTH recognises that young people can – and do – make a difference to community life, and by working in line with the new framework the JUST YOUTH project should provide a real opportunity to expand upon new century youths contribution, helping to build social capital and to ensure that society appreciates the value of young people’s civic engagement

The JUST YOUTH project has been designed by youth for youth to provide such an opportunity and the project intends to provide a positive and innovative information and knowledge exchange mechanism and enable dynamic youth volunteer actions for the benefit of local communities.  Through these actions the JUST YOUTH project will cultivate and equip new century youth with the appropriate tools and mechanisms to ensure that JUST Youth affiliates will become Future Sustainable Citizens.  The Just Youth project will function within the remit of the National Framework for Youth Action and Engagement.

OBJECTIVES FOR -JUST YOUTH Future Sustainable Citizens

1) JUST YOUTH Action Strategy for Sustainable Community Development

a. Develop a JUST YOUTH action strategy that will create for ‘ongoing’ local community JUST YOUTH action volunteer opportunities in line with the National Framework for Youth Action and Engagement.

b. Implement JUST YOUTH action strategy and ensure local community action volunteer opportunities contribute to community quality of life and contribute to sustainable environmental fundamentals

By building on the strengths of the voluntary and community sector, and by demonstrating a renewed dedication by government departments, JUST YOUTH in line with the national framework can deliver

• a step change in the profile of young volunteers, to ensure that all young people, regardless of background, have an equal opportunity to volunteer;

• a step change in choice and quality for young volunteers, with improved access to advice, better opportunities to enhance their skills, and greater support for their commitment of time; and
• a step change in the number of young volunteers, with half of all young people aged between 16 and 25 years old – some 3.5 million people – actively engaged in a form of volunteering.

• 2) The JUST YOUTH - E.data Information Highway The Just Youth information highway will be a youth e-based forum to enable knowledge exchange, to share resources and good practices and to promote positive networking activities with other National and International Youth organisations
  	3) JUST YOUTH for Future Sustainable Citizens - Live Media Stream The Just Youth Live Media Stream will capitalise on modern technologies and provide an innovative tool for Just Youth members to develop sustainable citizen awareness- The objective will be to create for live media streaming on a regular basis with youth representatives from other countries to discuss values, and relevant issues – in particular, The Concept of Sustainable Development Climate Change and Actions Equality and Diversity  The Future Global Citizen

4) JUST YOUTH for Future Sustainable Citizens Accreditation The JUST YOUTH project will seek partnership with Universities -Colleges and other accreditation providers to develop ‘viable and recognisable ‘opportunities for JUST YOUTH affiliates- based on actions. JUST YOUTH will provide training an, support and capacity building services for youth representatives to increase the opportunities for young people.
	5) JUST YOUTH for Future Sustainable Citizens Private Sector, Media Campaign The JUST YOUTH project will develop and maintain excellent working relationship with the private and media sectors to raise the profile of new century YOUTH and to encourage sponsorship opportunities
6)  JUST YOUTH Future Sustainable Citizens- Charter JUST YOUTH Citizenship in Action will be delivered through the existing Youth Charter programmes and projects. The aim is to replicate and develop community cohesion in ten communities nationally and 10 communities internationally. The social and human impact of the Youth Charter's efforts will reflect local, national and international needs that empower young people and their communities to develop the capacity, leadership and skills to manage both their life chances and their communities. The JUST YOUTH Citizenship in Action initiative will aim to attract support from international donor agencies, governments and the private sector to assist the communities currently identified. This approach will have a particular focus and emphasis in the areas of education, health, social order and the environment. The social and economic impact of this overall approach will be identified within the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals. Citizenship in Action has been developed as part of the ongoing contribution to the Magglingen Declaration for Sport and Development.