International Youth Leadership Academy, Istanbul

Deadline: 26 July 2013 at 17.00 (GMT+2)
Open to: youth between 15 and 30 years old who represent marginalized/minority youth groups or NGOs in the Balkans, Commonwealth of Independent States and the Caucasus
Venue: 31 August- 4 September 2013 in Istanbul, Turkey

Description

The 4th international training programme of International Youth Leadership Academy (IYLA) called “Youth Empowerment for Equity” will take place on 31 August- 4 September 2013 in Istanbul, Turkey. The training will be conducted based on the experience and knowledge of experts and trainers from UNICEF and Habitat. The main aim of this programme is to provide young people with equal opportunities for leadership and develop their capacity to actively contribute to their own communities.

The training aims to develop the knowledge, skills and experience of the participants on human rights, youth and child rights and participation as well as more specifically on Intercultural Dialogue, Gender Equality, and Conflict Resolution. During this process, the participants will be followed by the experts and supported with various materials that will enable them to get prepared for their own leadership role in their communities.

The International Training Program on Youth Empowerment for Equity including a focus on the Post 2015 Agenda will have the following aims and objectives:

• To provide an equal opportunity for young people from Turkey, the Balkans, CIS and the Caucasus to exchange information and experiences on participating in civil society work and establish a network for further collaboration,
• To empower young people to take an active and effective role in advocating the rights of children and youth within their ethnic, sexual, socioeconomic or other minority/marginalized group perspective,
• To raise awareness and knowledge about social responsiblity towards children and youth,
• To equip young people with the relevant information and skills, enabling them to contribute to the post-2015 Regional Consultation,
• To share good practices and tools in the area of democracy, intercultural dialogue, gender equality, conflict resolution,
• To provide young people with negotiation skills for their effective participation
• To empower young people with the necessary leadership skills for them to outreach to other young people/children in their own communities after the training

Costs

Travel costs, accommodation, and meals will be provided by IYLA. Full details will be sent to selected participants later.

Eligibility

30 participants (15 international, 15 national) will be selected from countries in the Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Serbia), Caucasus Region and the Commonwealth of Independent States (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine). Priority will be given to applications from youth belonging to or identifying with ethnic, sexual, socioeconomic or other minority/marginalized groups.

Applicants should:

• be between 15 and 30 years of age,
• represent marginalized/minority youth groups or NGOs and/or be experienced in minority youth and/or child work,
• work with marginalized and disadvantageous youth and/or children,
• be willing to play an active role in the sessions,
• be able to and willing to follow the process and actively implement the activities required by the programme,
• be able to participate in training and regional consultation on post 2015
• have the opportunity to share their new knowledge, skills and contacts within their own organizations following the program,
• be committed to carrying out follow-up activities and be active in localising the knowledge,

The language of the program will be English, with simultaneous interpretation provided in Russian and Serbo-Croatian.

Application

Young people interested in participating in the International Training Program must apply online HERE. Candidates will be informed by 2 August 2013 (the earliest date) whether they have been accepted, put on the waiting list or refused. Accepted candidates will receive the program documentation directly.

The participant selection process will be based on a detailed application form, and letter of recommendation from the organization(s) whom the young people may be involved with. Please send your recommendation letter to ugla@habitatkalkinma.org by 26 July, 2013 17.00 (GMT+2).

Letter of Recommendation: Your reference letter should explain how important your participation is for your community and how your NGO/ community will support you in conducting further activities or similar training in your own communities, after the IYLA summer school.

Please contact the IYLA team at ugla@habitatkalkinma.org if you need help, have questions or need further information. For more information, please see the official call for applications HERE or the official website HERE.