Youth Advocate Program International

Youth Advocates in Brazil

Photo: Christoph and Friends

Youth Advocates in the USA

Photo: YAP International Archives

"The speaker provided a lot of insight and enlightened me on current issues. He was highly interactive and truly believes in today's youth."

"I feel this seminar helped encourage our generation as a whole. I am more motivated to go out and begin to make a difference."

"The speaker was very entertaining and gave me different points... It gave me many new ideas to take back to my community and start-up programs to benefit my community."

Youth Advocacy

Youth are best at representing themselves: regarding their needs, wants, and concerns. Any significant decisions made for them, should include their input, if not their full and active involvement.

Youth leaders have a responsibility to themselves and the youth they serve: like all advocates, they need to learn their issues; express their opinions, and make their own choices, even if they are not always the same choices as the organization they represent.

Despite what you may have heard, many of the unsung heroes of the world that are making a difference in the lives of others every day, began their work as youth. They believed in something, and began to share that belief with others around them... sometimes through words... often through their actions.

The Role You Want

Unfortunately, youth often accept positions that do not provide them the opportunities they are looking for, are not as interesting as they thought, or are not at all what they were promised. If this is the case, and you are truly not happy or comfortable, then maybe it is time to find another opportunity.

One way to avoid this is to take a good look at the organization before accepting a position. Read any materials they have available, visit their website, ask people who have been there, and think about what is most important to you and ask them questions before accepting.

The Right Motivation

Do you feel powerless? Do you want to be heard, yet no one seems to listen to you? Do you feel that you have no choice but to follow the rules and direction of adults?

These questions often motivate youth to get involved. The problem is these reasons alone are not good motives. Why? They are based on a criticism of the way things are, as opposed to being based on constructive ideas on how to improve our world.

Do you want to make a difference in your community, your country, or the world? Do you have ideas that you want to share? Do you want to lead or help coordinate an effort to promote, prevent, eliminate, or support something? If so, we can help you through our presentations, training, and internships.

Participation is Important

Youth Participation is a partnership process between youth and adults; each side of the partnership has rights and responsibilities.

Adults need to hear your voice. Without it, how can your needs, concerns, and fears be heard? In the United States, there are more than 19 million youth age 15-19. Imagine the power 19 million youth could have if they spoke out on issues that matter most to them. Imagine the influence they could have, and the positive changes that could be made.

Whether or not you realize it, these 19 million youth, and those under 14 as well, are already having a powerful influence everyday (locally, nationally, and internationally). What you buy at the mall, what you have for lunch, where you choose to go to school, how you treat your family and friends, and all of your everyday interactions have an influence on the world around you.

For example, youth have the ability to tell corporations what products to make and how much you will pay for them; youth can influence the decisions a school makes about its funding priorities; and youth can change their communities, country, and the world around them in many powerful ways.

The first questions are: "What is important to you?" and "What do you want to do?"

Preparing Youth

One opportunity is our new Youth Education and Advocacy Program, working to improve the level of understanding and competence youth will have in dealing with real world issues.

In 2006, the Youth Advocacy Program will allow youth to meet regularly with a school designated advisor to discuss real world issues (issue modules in development); decide what issues are important to them; become certified in basic and advanced advocacy; and take constructive, non-violent action in working toward the promotion, prevention, reduction, and/or elimination of a problem.

After nearly ten years of participating in the international arena as advocates for youth, having significant successes, and actively involving youth in international advocacy, we are preparing this program to inform, educate, and engage more students and teachers than we did in our first ten years combined. This program is greatly needed, and nothing like it exists.

Youth Participation (for Adults)

In order to tap into the power and talent of youth, and the positive change they can help to create, this requires you to recognize their potential, to give them a voice, and to let them be involved in the decision-making process, including having a vote.

It is essential for adults to realize youth are their own best advocates, and regardless of how good our intentions are, we cannot represent them better than they are capable of representing themselves.

What better way to address issues directly affecting youth than to have them directly involved and offering potential solutions? Possessing a wealth of knowledge that often goes unheard or unnoticed, youth participation provides a powerful means to have needs, concerns, and fears heard, and then begin working towards real substantive change. Providing an opportunity to make changes also dramatically improves the level of awareness and understanding needed to respond to real issues.

If adults choose to serve as powerful role models, youth will be able to develop on a personal and a professional level. Personally, they will develop knowledge on issues affecting them, and a sense of purpose and dedication to making them happen. Professionally, youth participation provides the skills needed for adulthood, such as writing, public speaking, activism, organizing, leadership, and advocacy. Even better, a lifetime of volunteerism can be accomplished just from having a fulfilling partnership established early in life that results in positive change.

Adults have the power to help the youth of today realize both their potential now... and for tomorrow. Get active and work collectively with the youth of your community today.

Youth Advocate Program International
4545 42nd Street, NW, Suite 209
Washington, DC, 20016