1. Young Champions for Education Young People as Advocates & Change Makers in UNGEI An example of regional support to countries

2. Champion in UNGEI The idea of champions at global, regional and national levels to create the broad social mobilization in order to meet the MDG and EFA goals, is embedded within UNGEI The idea of champions at global, regional and national levels to create the broad social mobilization in order to meet the MDG and EFA goals, is embedded within UNGEI In South Asia, we chose to work with young champions because…. In South Asia, we chose to work with young champions because….

3. Why Young Champions? There are multiple, overlapping and specific disparities faced by girls and marginalized groups in the South Asia region – caste, class, gender, ethnicity, language, faith….. There are multiple, overlapping and specific disparities faced by girls and marginalized groups in the South Asia region – caste, class, gender, ethnicity, language, faith….. Worldwide, there is a “youth bulge.” Of 1.5 b. between 15-24 yrs, 1.3 b. are in developing countries, (WDR, 07), and most live in poverty Worldwide, there is a “youth bulge.” Of 1.5 b. between 15-24 yrs, 1.3 b. are in developing countries, (WDR, 07), and most live in poverty South Asia has a young population. India alone has a youth population of nearly 500 m., while 50% of Maldivians are young, about a third elsewhere South Asia has a young population. India alone has a youth population of nearly 500 m., while 50% of Maldivians are young, about a third elsewhere In South Asia, we therefore want to work in partnership with and assistance from young people to achieve the MDG and EFA goals in education In South Asia, we therefore want to work in partnership with and assistance from young people to achieve the MDG and EFA goals in education

4. The idea of Young Champions is introduced TOT for young champions organized in Kathmandu, Nepal from 7 to 11 May, 2007 organized by the SA regional UNGEI TOT for young champions organized in Kathmandu, Nepal from 7 to 11 May, 2007 organized by the SA regional UNGEI Each UNICEF CO requested to select up to 4 champions, both male and female, and two UNICEF officers as participants Each UNICEF CO requested to select up to 4 champions, both male and female, and two UNICEF officers as participants Concept note contained guidelines for selection and role of the champion (the latter was fine-tuned at the TOT) Concept note contained guidelines for selection and role of the champion (the latter was fine-tuned at the TOT)

5. Young Champions for Education TOT Goal: Work in partnership with young champions & UNICEF COs to help break the cycle of disparities that exclude girls in South Asia from accessing and completing basic education Goal: Work in partnership with young champions & UNICEF COs to help break the cycle of disparities that exclude girls in South Asia from accessing and completing basic education Objective: Develop a cadre of young champions as advocates and spokespersons for children and girls’ education Objective: Develop a cadre of young champions as advocates and spokespersons for children and girls’ education Expected outcomes include, young champions who: (i) are more knowledgeable on issues of social exclusion; (ii) can train volunteers at community level; (iii) can identify and/or create opportunities and forums to facilitate positive change, including interaction with policy makers & (iv) mobilize opinions and monitor results for specific events Expected outcomes include, young champions who: (i) are more knowledgeable on issues of social exclusion; (ii) can train volunteers at community level; (iii) can identify and/or create opportunities and forums to facilitate positive change, including interaction with policy makers & (iv) mobilize opinions and monitor results for specific events The champions will be independent of, but work closely with the UNGEI country partnership/UNICEF CO who will guide, facilitate, monitor and support their work, as appropriate The champions will be independent of, but work closely with the UNGEI country partnership/UNICEF CO who will guide, facilitate, monitor and support their work, as appropriate

6. The Approach Countries select champions using own criteria, but follow general guidelines in the concept note: Countries select champions using own criteria, but follow general guidelines in the concept note: Young persons, female and male Young persons, female and male Passion about education & for all children & determination to change things for the better Passion about education & for all children & determination to change things for the better Knowledge of issues related to children's’ ed Knowledge of issues related to children's’ ed Commitment to devote time& effort to this mission & ability to negotiate that time w/ family/employer/org. Commitment to devote time& effort to this mission & ability to negotiate that time w/ family/employer/org. Ability to represent interests of children’s ed. particularly girls’ ed at community & national level Ability to represent interests of children’s ed. particularly girls’ ed at community & national level Ideally be affiliated with an org. for reasons of support & sustainability Ideally be affiliated with an org. for reasons of support & sustainability Positions are non-remunerative Positions are non-remunerative

7. TOR of the Young Champion  Promoting greater participation of girls & disadvantaged communities by identifying, training & co-opting volunteers & role models  Working closely with the media, using media to promote children’s education & girls’ education, raising awareness about various forms of discrimination faced by girls & disadvantaged groups (e.g., letters to the editor, articles and columns in the print media, radio and television dramas with social themes)  Identifying &/or creating opportunities to influence public opinion & policy at various levels  Advocating innovative ideas for policy makers: raising internal resources through an education tax (India) raising internal resources through an education tax (India) working with the private sector in programmes such as adopt a school for school re/construction, repair, &/or maintenance working with the private sector in programmes such as adopt a school for school re/construction, repair, &/or maintenance  Lobbying for political commitment of governments to promote education esp. for girls & disadvantaged groups (e.g., removal of fees and other costs, separate toilets)

8. Approach TOT, so idea is for the champions to conduct national and community level training in local languages and help develop a group of local volunteers to take the mission forward TOT, so idea is for the champions to conduct national and community level training in local languages and help develop a group of local volunteers to take the mission forward Inter-active: group exercises, case studies, films (Back to School), video clips, presentation of champions’ work experience, simple terminology, mainly in- house resource persons Inter-active: group exercises, case studies, films (Back to School), video clips, presentation of champions’ work experience, simple terminology, mainly in- house resource persons

9. Agenda – 3 inter-related themes Knowledge: What makes it difficult for the majority of children in South Asia, esp. girls, to come to school and complete primary/basic schooling? Knowledge: What makes it difficult for the majority of children in South Asia, esp. girls, to come to school and complete primary/basic schooling? What are the economic, cultural and social issues that impact on these children? What are the economic, cultural and social issues that impact on these children? What are the constraints at the family and community level? What are the constraints at the family and community level? What are the constraints within the school system and within the classroom? What are the constraints within the school system and within the classroom? What are the policy issues? For example, is education free for all? Is it compulsory? Are there other costs related to schooling even if there are no school fees? What are the policy issues? For example, is education free for all? Is it compulsory? Are there other costs related to schooling even if there are no school fees? Skills: Effective communication – whether it is verbal, written, electronic, audio, or visual, or both audio & visual – music, dance, theatre, articles, letters, meetings with members of the community, meetings with policy makers – no matter what the forum, or the medium, young champions must communicate effectively. Skills to interact with various forms of media, peers, as well as policy makers were provided Skills: Effective communication – whether it is verbal, written, electronic, audio, or visual, or both audio & visual – music, dance, theatre, articles, letters, meetings with members of the community, meetings with policy makers – no matter what the forum, or the medium, young champions must communicate effectively. Skills to interact with various forms of media, peers, as well as policy makers were provided Application of the skills and knowledge of the first few days. The process of preparing workplans which are realistic, context specific & manageable, with activities tied to specific desired outcomes Application of the skills and knowledge of the first few days. The process of preparing workplans which are realistic, context specific & manageable, with activities tied to specific desired outcomes

10. Approach Topics covered: social inclusion, UNGEI, leadership & personality development, working with the media, advocacy for behavior change, using technology to bring about change & stay in touch, monitoring for results Topics covered: social inclusion, UNGEI, leadership & personality development, working with the media, advocacy for behavior change, using technology to bring about change & stay in touch, monitoring for results External resource person for sessions on leadership and personality development External resource person for sessions on leadership and personality development Two guest speakers Two guest speakers Mr. Kunda Dixit, editor of a leading national newspaper of Nepal, social worker Mr. Kunda Dixit, editor of a leading national newspaper of Nepal, social worker Ms. Ani Choying, nun and singer of international repute, uses her talent to Ms. Ani Choying, nun and singer of international repute, uses her talent to raise funds for education Field visit to child club and women’s paralegal committees Field visit to child club and women’s paralegal committees Back to School film by global UNGEI Back to School film by global UNGEI Participation of NORAD Participation of NORAD Key Message: Not just knowledge, skills & Application but also support: Key Message: Not just knowledge, skills & Application but also support: Young champions are a part of the UNGEI movement, UNGEI partners are there to support their workplan, which UNICEF and/or the UNGEI partnership will help take forward; and Young champions are a part of the UNGEI movement, UNGEI partners are there to support their workplan, which UNICEF and/or the UNGEI partnership will help take forward; and The regional office for South Asia will facilitate rolling out of the Young Champion model at country and community level in whichever way we can The regional office for South Asia will facilitate rolling out of the Young Champion model at country and community level in whichever way we can Countries without formal partnerships encouraged to put country partnerships in workplans Countries without formal partnerships encouraged to put country partnerships in workplans One workplan per country, but India had several One workplan per country, but India had several

11. Who were there?  Seven of the eight ROSA SAR countries participated  Young champions:  Twenty three young champions (13 M, 10 F) mainly in their 20’s, but there was one as young as 13  Six government representatives from education ministries (1 SL, 5 gender coordinators from various states of India)  Nine UNICEF staff members

12. Who were there?  The young champions represented a diverse cross- section from their communities  NGO activist, journalist & community radio project manager, Afghanistan  Journalists from print media and television reporter, Bangladesh  Painter, environmentalist and activist, community radio broadcaster & producer, Bhutan  Five gender coordinators representing various regions from India  Radio programme presenter and coordinator, journalist, members of youth and child clubs, Nepal  Rover scouts, girls’ guide, NGO activist from Pakistan  Students and theater artists from marginalized communities (tea estate, Muslim), Sri Lanka

13. One Size does not fit All  This diversity is reflected in the workplans (with a one-year perspective for most)  Afghanistan: focus on school security and policy advocacy (raise salaries of teachers as low teacher salary is a concern), programmes to work with religious leaders  Bangladesh: issue based articles, television documentary on two role models (im, 1 f)  Bhutan: country level training of 40 young people, expansion of community radio stations, art camps, youth clubs  India: Form 5 state level UNGEI partnerships. Work at policy level to enhance enrollment of girls from marginalized groups, use girl stars project to lead UN GEI  Nepal: Raise awareness, engage in enrollment drives through community meetings, radio programmes, training, columns in newspapers, formation of education watch, a national group of NGOs  Pakistan: enrollment drive using the scout network, launch campaign “Jawan Pakistan” (young Pakistan) nationwide, begin newsletter, youth conference, document success stories, form multiple provincial, & district level UNGEI partnerships  Sri Lanka champions to raise awareness through college clubs, magazines & drama societies  Country partnerships: Multiple planned for India (5) & Pakistan (2) in the next quarter

14. Nest Steps  The report is in draft, all presentations are being put in CDs  UNICEF ROSA will track implementation of workplans on a quarterly basis through country office UNGEI focal points  Regional UNGEI SA & other regional partners to support roll out of Young champions model in countries as appropriate  Regional UNGEI to track & support setting up of country UNGEIs  All participants will be linked virtually through an e-group which is in the process of being set up by a young champion from Nepal  Refresher course planned at the same time next year  A manual for this TOT to be developed subsequent to that

15. “Don’t Curse the Darkness, Light a Candle” Young Champions for Education chose the motto above, taken from the presentation of Ani Choying