Youth Friendly Standards

🎄✨ Season’s Greetings from Youth Friendly Standards (YFS)!✨🎄 This holiday season, let’s remember the true spirit of being *youth-friendly*: creating safe, inclusive, and empowering spaces where young voices are heard, celebrated, and supported. We’re incredibly grateful for everyone who has walked this journey with us in 2024 our Champions, partners, and supporters. Together, we’ve set the foundation for a more inclusive future! As you celebrate, think about how you can: 🌟 Mentor a young person. 🌟 Support youth-led initiatives. 🌟 Advocate for youth inclusion in decision-making spaces. Here’s to wrapping up the year with gratitude and starting 2025 with renewed commitment to empowering youth globally! Thank you for believing in us, and cheers to even greater impact ahead. 🌍💙 With gratitude, The YFS Team #YouthFriendlyHolidays #InclusiveFuture #ThankYou #YouthEmpowerment

I'm so excited 😆 Recruitment for our third cohort of the UNICEF Youth Foresight Fellowship 2025 is now open!!! ✨🌍 Are you passionate about long term thinking, education and child rights? UNICEF Innocenti is seeking young changemakers ready to shape the future of learning and advocacy for children worldwide. Why Apply? 🔹 Join a global network of youth leaders. 🔹 Gain experience in child rights, foresight, and advocacy. 🔹 Contribute to global discussions, including at the Leading Minds Conference. 🔹 Receive a stipend for your work. Who Can Apply? 📍 Children and youth with interest or experience in education, research, youth engagement, or advocacy. 🕒 Able to dedicate 7–10 hours/week (January–September 2025). 🌍 Check countries and regions in the application form Apply Now: [Link in comments] ⏳ Deadline: January 5, 2025 Ready to make an impact? Join us in building a brighter future for every child. 🇺🇳 #YouthForesight #ChildRights #UYFF2025 #YouthForesight

📢 Calling all youth aged 18-34! We want to hear from you! Share your career aspirations 🌟 and challenges 🚧 by participating in the #YouthEmploymentBarometer survey. Your input will help shape policies that impact youth employment globally. By participating, you’ll also have the chance to win one of 20 exciting prizes! 👉Take the survey: https://bit.ly/YEB 👉More info: https://bit.ly/YEBi #SkillsRightNow Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth | International Labour Organization | ITCILO | Microsoft | AIESEC | United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs | Generation Unlimited

Tune in to the Latest Episode of 'We The Youth' Podcast on Spotify! Link here: https://lnkd.in/dNgRqjtT This week, we had the privilege of speaking with Samuel Olarewaju, a visionary in health innovation and youth empowerment! 🌍Samuel, a Canadian Vanier Scholar and PhD student in Physiology and Pathophysiology, is passionate about leveraging research to improve health outcomes, especially for African communities. As the leader of the Food and Genes Initiative, Samuel promotes healthy lifestyles and advocates for well-being, while also supporting women in STEM and empowering young leaders. In this episode, Samuel shares his journey, insights into achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the powerful role of entrepreneurship in health, education, and environmental sustainability. He also reflects on how digital platforms can reshape youth leadership narratives and offers advice to young people stepping into the social impact space. Join us as we dive into these thought-provoking questions and even a fun Gen Z trivia session that challenges stereotypes and explores the impact of AI, social media, and climate change! Don’t miss out on this enriching conversation listen now and join the movement for a healthier, more sustainable future! #WeTheYouthPodcast #YouthLeadership #YouthFriendlyStandards #SustainableDevelopment #HealthInnovation #Entrepreneurship #STEM

🚀 Calling All Young Leaders!   📢 The 2025 UP for Change Leadership Program is now accepting applications! 🌍 Join a dynamic group of youth committed to driving more equitable educational practices. Apply by January 2, 2025, to gain skills in grantmaking and program evaluation, and to advocate for more accessible, inclusive, and youth-responsive practices for all learners. Discover more and apply here: https://bit.ly/UP4CApply

Making Cents International GYEO Summit 2024: Advancing Youth Engagement Globally. We are excited to share the Youth Friendly Standards (YFS) Report from the Global Youth Economic Opportunities (GYEO) Summit 2024 which happened September 9th - 12th 2024! A huge THANK YOU to Fatou Ba NDIOUR, Program Director at Consortium Jeunesse Sénégal (CJS), and Koffi Assouan, Lead Executive at YFS, for representing YFS with such passion and dedication. Your efforts highlighted the importance of creating youth-friendly systems and meaningful engagement across global platforms. This comprehensive report available in English and French captures key insights, innovative strategies, and actionable steps for fostering youth inclusion and systemic change. A special shout-out to our amazing partners and collaborators who continue to champion youth empowerment. YMCA of the USA International Youth Foundation The Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN). Your work is pivotal in shaping a sustainable and inclusive future! And of course, a heartfelt appreciation to Pia Saunders Campbell, who consistently spearheads YFS initiatives with brilliance and dedication. 📖 Dive into the report here: https://tr.ee/iYogU27SDk Let’s continue driving change and creating spaces where youth can lead and thrive. Share your reflections with us and join the movement for youth-driven impact! #YouthFriendlyStandards #GYEO2024 #YouthEngagement #GlobalChange #InclusiveLeadership #SystemicImpact

We’re thrilled to share, Chineyenwa Okoro Onu Wyetey, compelling reflections on COP29. Her bold insights challenge us to rethink what inclusivity, representation, and action truly mean in the fight for climate justice. At Youth Friendly Standards (YFS), we fully align with this call to action. COPs are more than conferences they are battlegrounds for survival, especially for young people in vulnerable communities. Together with youth leaders Nikos Therapos, Anoushka Sinha,FRSA, and Fatima-Zahrae Tarib, we are working on a bold proposal to the UNFCCC: "Reimagining Youth Engagement at COP: Advocating for Youth Rights and Representation." It’s time to move beyond access conversations and create tangible opportunities for youth to lead climate action. 📖 Read Chineyenwa's full reflections and join us in advocating for systemic change. Let’s collaborate to ensure youth voices are not just heard but prioritized. #COP29 #YouthForClimate #UNFCCC #ClimateJustice #YouthEngagement #AccessForAll

Reflections from the YFS Community of Champions Dive into the inspiring remarks from Wendy Opoku and Baye Sidy Hakim Diop, two incredible members of our YFS Community of Champions! 💬 Wendy Opoku, a dedicated advocate for youth empowerment, shares her reflections on fostering inclusive practices and creating opportunities for young leaders to thrive globally. 💡 Baye Sidy Hakim Diop, speaks toYFS's expansion into Francophone regions, and highlights the importance of bilingual engagement and building bridges across diverse communities. Their words echo the heart of YFS empowering young people to take charge of their futures while driving systemic change worldwide. 📖 Want to learn more? Check out the full report and video to see how our Champions are shaping a better tomorrow! 🔗 https://tr.ee/GMpTel7ojl Let’s keep the momentum going! Share your reflections and let’s continue this journey together. #YouthFriendlyStandards #YFSCommunity #YouthEmpowerment #GlobalChange #InclusiveLeadership #YouthVoices

New Report Release: Empowering Youth Through Inclusive Engagement! We are excited to share the detailed report from our recent YFS Community of Champions Townhall held on October 26, 2024. This gathering marks a significant step in assessing and advancing our collaborative work with youth leaders worldwide. In this report, you'll discover: 🎤 Inspiring Testimonials from young changemakers 🌍 Innovative Youth-Led Initiatives making a global impact 🤝 Strategies for Systemic Change through Youth Friendly Standards 🔑 Key Outcomes and Action Items for stakeholders Why is this important? Reports like this not only highlight the incredible efforts of youth in driving social change but also provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities in youth engagement. They serve as essential tools for transparency, learning, and fostering stronger partnerships between generations. Read the full report here : https://tr.ee/GMpTel7ojl Join us in amplifying youth voices and building a more inclusive future. Your engagement and support are crucial! Special Thanks To The YFS Community Of Champions Townhall Support Team For Putting This Together. Wendy Opoku Helen Mendy Oluwatitomi Ajibola Seydina Omar TOP Baye Sidy Hakim Diop #YouthEmpowerment #YouthFriendlyStandards #YFS #CommunityOfChampions #YouthInclusion #GlobalYouth #SustainableDevelopment

There is no engagement without trust, no change without boldness. The Global Gateway High-Level Youth Event, held on October 9-10, marked a critical opportunity to amplify young voices on the global stage. Launched by the European Commission, the Global Gateway aims to support the development of the EU’s partner countries in emerging areas such as digital transformation, energy and the environment. This EU agenda reflects a clear commitment to ensure youth inclusion and participation in building sustainable solutions. The challenge now is to turn this vision into concrete actions, in order to fully involve youth in the design and implementation of projects. During the "What's in for youth" panel, I shared the unique example of the Consortium Jeunesse Sénégal’s partnership with the EU. There were about ten of us, starting that alliance from scratch with only our bold ideas in mind. L'Union européenne au Sénégal believed in us, investing an unprecedented €2 million to bring our youth led vision to life. This crucial support enabled us to form a strong group of youth organizations, equipped to implement high-impact solutions for youth empowerment across Senegal. For institutions seeking to better engage with young people, leadership, boldness, and, above all, trust are essential. Trust is the key - it unlocks the path to innovation and change. The story of CJS proves that collaboration between institutions and young people can transform society. This model should not remain the exception; it must become the standard. By mainstreaming youth-friendly approaches, we can drive lasting and meaningful change. This journey is already underway. Together with our partners, Consortium Jeunesse Sénégal has developed the Youth Friendly Standards (YFS), a roadmap for any organization seeking to systematically integrate and empower young people at every step. More and more organizations are joining this movement, undergoing assessments, and committing to tangible improvements in their impact on youth. Take the Fit! initiative, led by team Europe, which aims to ensure that the legacy of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar leaves a lasting impact on young lives, far beyond the competition. Our strength lies in our ability to collaborate. By connecting youth and institutions, we’re not just building bridges - we’re paving the way for a future we can all believe in. #AmulBayyi #YouthEmpowerment #YouthFriendlyStandards #GlobalGateway