YOUTH WORK - The Commonwealth · 2016. 8. 31. · Social media tips 9 Case Study Template 11 Press Release Template 13 Endnotes 14. Youth Work Week \ 1 ... Youth Work Week 2016 to

Empowering Young People through Sport and ArtsEvent Guide

November 2016

YOUTH

WEEK

WORK

Youth Work Week

Empowering Young People through Sport and Arts

Event Guide

7–13 November 2016

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ContentsWhat is Youth Work Week? 1

Youth Work in the Commonwealth 2

Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards 6

Ideas: Youth Work Week Events 7

Social media tips 9

Case Study Template 11

Press Release Template 13

Endnotes 14

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What is Youth Work Week? Youth Work Week celebrates the contribution and achievements of youth workers, youth organisations and young people throughout the Commonwealth. We are pleased to announce that for the fifth year running we will be celebrating Youth Work Week across the Commonwealth, from 7–13 November 2016.

The Commonwealth, in partnership with the Commonwealth Alliance of Youth Workers Associations and Commonwealth Youth Council, will be promoting Youth Work Week 2016 to provide youth ministries, organisations, networks and individuals with an opportunity to highlight the excellent work they do with young people locally, nationally and internationally.

The theme for this year is Empowering Young People through Sport and Arts. The Commonwealth encourages organisations to focus their events around this theme where possible. During Youth Work Week youth groups and projects all over the Commonwealth will be increasing the awareness and profile of youth work. Their activities are organised locally by youth services, ministries, youth organisations, youth leaders or other stakeholders in celebration of Youth Work Week, and are entirely implemented and funded by the participating organisations.

Youth Work Week is a chance to highlight the contribution of youth work to the development of young people and to turn public attention towards the positive roles youth workers play in their communities. Groups and organisations are invited to use the week to promote their work with young people. The Youth Work Week campaign aims to highlight the role of youth work in supporting young people to understand more about themselves, others and society, and equip them with skills to operate in the wider world.

Since 2012, we have seen growing support for Youth Work Week. Youth workers in Commonwealth countries have set up committees to consult on the role and contributions of youth work to national development. Some hold recognition ceremonies for outstanding youth workers, while others conduct conferences, displays and performances, which often involve hundreds of young people.

For some groups the focus has been on providing new opportunities to young people, while others focus on raising the profile of youth work to the general public through the media. Some groups also target their messages to members of parliaments and other political leaders. All of these activities are spearheaded by ministries and departments of youth, national youth workers’ associations, or informal collectives of youth workers and youth leaders.

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Youth Work in the CommonwealthThe Commonwealth Youth Programme continues to prioritise youth work

professionalisation, and has executed a number of plans to support and raise the

profile of youth workers.

These include:

• Joint hosting of the second Commonwealth Conference on Youth Work, in collaboration with the Government of South Africa and the University of South Africa in March 2016.

• Formulation of a Commonwealth Youth Work Qualifications Consortium, in partnership with the Commonwealth of Learning and University of West Indies in Jamaica, which provides the opportunity for a virtual platform that will offer a diploma and degree qualification in youth work.

• Creation of the Commonwealth Alliance of Youth Worker Associations (CAYWA) as a collective of youth worker associations from across the Commonwealth who are committed to raising the standard and status of youth work by connecting, strengthening and championing the professionalisation of the youth work sector.

The Commonwealth Youth Division will further plans to facilitate better networking

between youth workers, so you can share your good practices and reflect on your

contribution to supporting young people.

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing how you are celebrating Youth Work

Week this year.

Youth Empowerment With the introduction of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and with 15 years to achieve tangible progress on the agreed targets, the role and contribution of young people has become a recurrent theme for discussion within the youth sector. This year’s International Youth Day, for example, is about focuses on the leading role of young people in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Commonwealth has long advocated for the engagement and empowerment of young people as a critical step in enhancing their contribution to development outcomes. Within that context, the contribution and continued relevance of youth workers becomes an important issue for consideration within the wider discourse on youth involvement in the sustainable development. Given that the overall aim of youth work is to enhance the life experience of young people and enhance their contribution to society as active, involved, useful and valued citizens, we must conclude that the contribution of youth workers today is as important as it has ever been in history. This Commonwealth Youth Work theme seeks to highlight the central purpose of youth work as defined in the CYP Diploma’s tutor training manual “...to empower young people to play an assertive and constructive role in the strengthening and regeneration of their communities”1.

The Commonwealth’s Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment presents two equally reinforcing perspectives on youth empowerment:

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1. Young people are empowered when they acknowledge that they have or can create choices in life, are aware of the implications of those choices, make an informed decision freely, take action based on that decision and accept responsibility for the consequences of those actions;

2. Empowering young people means creating and supporting the enabling conditions under which young people can act on their own behalf, and on their own terms, rather than at the direction of others. These enabling conditions fall into four broad categories:

i. an economic and social base;

ii. political will, adequate resource allocation and supportive legal and administrative frameworks;

iii. a stable environment of equality, peace and democracy; and

iv. access to knowledge, information and skills, and a positive value system.2

Empowerment therefore can be seen as both an end and a means. The social, political and economic empowerment of young people has been at the centre of the Commonwealth’s youth work for over 40 years, as articulated in the 13 priority actions of the Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment. Through this experience, the Commonwealth recognises the connection and interactions between empowered young people, governments, collaboration between stakeholders, and facilitating enabling conditions for young people as critical aspects in the dynamic cycle of youth empowerment.

Theme Youth Work Week 2016: Empowering Young People Through Sport and ArtsYouth work is a very diverse profession not only in terms of social tasks and employment situations, but also in the tools, methodologies and strategies employed in engaging with young people. Youth empowerment through sport and arts will be the focus of the Commonwealth Youth Work theme in 2016. Through this theme, the Commonwealth will highlight some of the ‘out of the box’ approaches to positive youth development.

Across the Commonwealth, youth workers intentionally employ sport and arts programmes as part of the youth empowerment strategy linking individual/personal growth to wider social responsibilities. As young people participate in these programmes they build personal, social and intellectual capacities that enhance their contribution in the home, school, community, country and the wider world. The impact and contribution of these programme at the individual or community level should not be understated.

This year’s Commonwealth Youth Work Week campaign will showcase the value of sport and arts programmes and approaches in working with young people. The contributions of sport and arts in youth empowerment are listed below:

• The contribution of sport and arts in promoting social-emotional learning. The arts are especially powerful vehicles because they appeal to all abilities and cultures, and create a level playing field whereby background (socio-economic, educational, etc) becomes irrelevant.

• The use of sport and arts in developing leaders and enhancing youth participation in the community. These programmes inspire and instil the belief that as a young person it is possible to achieve, to create, to become,

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to overcome. The vehicles of the arts and sport create a space for leaders to emerge, youth voices to be amplified and for young people to test their own capacity to transform the world around them.

• The value of sport and arts programmes in promoting social justice and access for all. These empowerment programmes support young people’s vision of the world they would like to live in and empower them to take steps towards building/shaping that world. Sport and the arts programme curricula supports the development of critical thinking skills, reflection and creates the space for freedom of expression about their community.

• The opportunity provided by sport and arts in enhancing the economic empowerment of young people. With the growth and expansion of sport and the creative sectors, the role of media (particularly social media), the link to culture and lifestyle, there is a growing opportunity to link the risk taking and creativity in empowerment programmes to entrepreneurship.

• The vision of sport and arts programmes to building partnerships that will work to achieve development goals and targets. The youth workers in this sector have been raising awareness on development issues, with the growing focus on development today. There is an opportunity for youth workers in this space to work together, pool resources, advocate for policy change and collaborate around the new global agenda for sustainable development.

Commonwealth Member StatesThe Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 53 nations (see map opposite), supporting each other and working together towards shared goals in democracy and development. There are two billion people living in Commonwealth nations, over half of whom are under 25.

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Commonwealth Youth Worker AwardsThe Commonwealth Youth Work Awards celebrate the achievements of some of the most inspiring people – those who transform the lives of young people and the communities in which they live.

In 2016 the Commonwealth Youth Programme is again welcoming nominations for the Commonwealth Youth Work Awards from young people, youth organisations, youth workers and statutory organisations. Nominate youth workers who are passionate about their work, and who have made a great contribution both to the young people and to the communities they work in.

The application forms to enter nominations from your country and community can be found on the Commonwealth Website http://thecommonwealth.org/media/news/nominations-open-commonwealth-youth-worker-awards-2016. The deadline for applications is 31 August 2016, with the exception for entries that are in progress for submission.

If you have any queries about Youth Work Week 2016 please email Ms. Sina Mario on [email protected].

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Ideas: Youth Work Week EventsHere is a list of event ideas you can hold in your country or community as part of Youth Work Week. Some of these will vary in popularity and relevance from country to country, however we hope there’s something for everyone! Remember to contact your local media and local politicians or people of authority – this is a chance to highlight the impact and importance of youth work in your country!

Online Nominations

1. Nominate your 2016 Outstanding Youth Worker for the Commonwealth Youth Worker of the Year Award via this link  https://commonwealth-youthworkers.awardsplatform.com/

Workshops and Meetings

2. Use the theme! Run a workshop or training session by using the value and principles of youth work through sport and arts to link young people’s individual personal growth to wider social and civic engagement.

3. Hold a workshop, conference or consultation with stakeholders on the contribution of youth work to national development, which may include the use of sport and arts. These workshops can include intergenerational dialogue and engage different stakeholders around youth work.

4. Use the Commonwealth Youth Division’s Youth Work Resources to discuss or set up a National Youth Worker Association.

5. Organise a meeting with the Minister of Youth, or other senior officials to discuss the main youth work issues in your country.

Self Expression

6. Hold performing arts workshops e.g. filming, radio presenting, music skills – singing or instrumental (guitars, drums etc.), DJing, electronic music production, stage theatre, dance – hip hop, jazz, contemporary.

7. Visual arts workshops e.g. murals, screen printing, Badge making, 2D (painting/drawing), fashion, digital, photography.

Setting up/Strengthening Youth Work bodies

8. The countries that have already begun setting up youth work bodies could conduct a consultation on establishing Codes of Ethics that guide youth work professionals. The Commonwealth has a guide that you may use for this - Guiding Framework: A Draft Code of Ethical Practice for Youth Workers.

9. Hold a national youth worker recognition awards ceremony to promote outstanding youth workers in your country. Publicise the outstanding youth work taking place in the mainstream and social media.

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Research and Advocacy

10. Conduct research on the challenges facing youth workers in your country, share your report with the Commonwealth Youth Division.

11. Write a case study on successful youth work projects in your country and share it with the Commonwealth Youth Division. Remember to send photos and video content that can also be shared with others.

12. Circulate the Commonwealth Code of Ethics ‘Guiding Framework: A Draft Code of Ethical Practice for Youth Workers’; review and share your thoughts on a Commonwealth Code of Ethics in Youth Work; develop your own national Code of Ethics for Youth Work Professionals.

Campaigns

13. Organise a flash mob - brainstorm with local young people and arrange a random flash mob, but keep the date and venue secret from the public. It could be in the form of a dance in a highly crowded public place or a red carpet at the bus stop and clap people off the bus. A flash mob is a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an act for a brief time, then quickly disperse, often for the purposes of entertainment, satire, and artistic expression. Flash mobs are organised via telecommunications, social media, or viral emails.

14. Run a local youth event – this could be in the form or a competition, music event or dance competition.

15. Run a social media campaign – use this as an opportunity to gain more interest in your social media presence whether it’s on Facebook, Twitter or blog sites. You can run a competition or do a poll around the theme, including Commonwealth in the conversation, and build a profile by running an article, competition, poll or question on each day of Youth Work Week. Don’t forget to include #YWW16!

What are the Youth Work Resources?A list of Commonwealth resources that you can adapt and use to set up any of the event ideas for Youth Work Week. They include:

1. The Commonwealth Guide to advancing development through Sport.

2. The Commonwealth’s A 12-Step Guide to Establishing a Youth Worker Association.

3. The Commonwealth Professional Youth Work, Concept and Strategies.

4. Guidance on developing Code of Ethics for Youth Workers and Youth Worker Association which promotes enabling, empowering youth work.

5. Engaging Young People in National building, the youth workers’ role.

6. A practice based guide for youth facilitators, Co-Creating Youth Spaces.

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Social media tipsTwitter, Facebook and Instagram are the most popular social media platforms currently in use, and the majority of young people will have accounts on or access to these sites. These platforms are powerful tools that enable the sharing and exchanging of ideas, perspectives and information.

Not only is social media an opportunity to increase your engagement with young people, but it is also an opportunity to raise the profile of your work and/or your organisation, as posts on social media are regularly picked up by media and quoted in news stories. Here are some tips for maximising your social impact:

Targeting young people and stakeholders on social media

Twitter: Hashtags are the best way to track and sustain interaction with young people. An effective way of using hashtags is to use existing ones that already have followers. Start using the Commonwealth hashtag #cwyouthwork and share it with your colleagues and followers so that they can become engaged in the conversation around youth work.

Facebook: Make your status updates more engaging by including questions or raising statements for discussion on the 2016 Youth Work Week theme – Empowering Young People through Sport and Arts. You can also use Facebook to publicise your events related to Youth Work Week, and to track similar activities that are being run by other organisations.

Instagram: Photos can be powerful testimonials to the impact and reach of youth work. Upload photos of yourself ‘in the field’ or interacting with youth stakeholders to provide insight into your different projects. Short videos are also a great tool to capture attention and spur interest in your work.

Tips to make a video log:

Making videos to showcase your work is easier than you think. Some assume that you need to own a hi-tech camera and hire a professional, which doesn’t always have to be the case. Most of the time, effective stories can be told simply by using your mobile phone. Here are some tips to help you get started on vlogging:

1. Audio. Always do a ‘sound check’ to ensure that audio levels are sufficient. Get your subject as close as you can to the microphone without sabotaging the shot. Try to avoid noisy places or environments where there is a lot of background noise.

2. Lighting. Proper lighting is important. Whenever possible, take advantage of natural light, but ensure that the lightning is consistent across your shots. Make sure the source of the light is always behind the camera.

3. Positioning. Although the tendency may be to shoot with your phone in an upright vertical position, remember that most video hosting platforms, including YouTube and Vimeo, are designed to showcase horizontal/landscape videos.

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4. Balance. No one likes shaky shots! If you can afford it, invest in a tripod. If that’s not an option, then use DIY methods such as building a makeshift tripod out of a pile of books or lean against a wall to keep shakiness to a minimum.

5. Rule of thirds. Most photographers recommend using this rule. Instead of placing your subject in the centre of the shot, divide your frame up like a tic-tac-toe board and place him/her at any of the intersecting lines.

But above all else, ensure that you have a clear idea of the message or narrative that you want to get across. Without this in mind, no matter how good the quality of your vlog, it won’t have the impact that you desire.

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Case Study Template

Real-life case study example

Press Release Template

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Endnotes1. CYP Diploma in Youth Development, Module 3, page 25.

2. Commonwealth Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment

Commonwealth Secretariat

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London SW1Y 5HX

United Kingdom

thecommonwealth.org

Commonwealth Secretariat

Marlborough House, Pall Mall

London SW1Y 5HX

United Kingdom

thecommonwealth.org

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