YouthBank
STORY
The YouthBank story is first and foremost a young people’s story: how they see their communities, what they understand to be the key issues they face, how they believe these should be tackled and what they can do to effectively make a positive change in their communities.
Being part of YouthBank made me much more confident, opened the way how I think about others. It showed me the value of understanding, trust and positive values among youngsters.
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THE MODEL
The Model consists of three levels of learning (cycles) comprising different challenges, themes, and steps, that are spread between five phases.
Specific challenges are built into each cycle and are designed to provide the knowledge and skills development each YouthBank requires to be successful.
The beauty of the model lies in a fact that it can be easily implemented in every part of the world.
5
PHASES
18
STEPS
100+
CHALLENGES
Each YouthBank Cycle takes the YouthBank Team through 5 phases.
The first four phases build the team’s knowledge about themselves and their communities, and an understanding of their potential as change makers. Developing their skills to make decisions and take action, they are challenged to exercise power in an ethical and value driven way.
The fifth phase consolidates what the YouthBank has learned in the first four phases, and identifies and evaluates the changes that have occurred during the process.
THE IMPACT
A major strength of the YouthBank process is that it captures and acts upon real life experiences of the young people of the 21st century.
More than a 1/3 of the targets set by United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (17 Goals with 169 targets) highlight the role of young people and the importance of their empowerment, participation, and well-being, to accelerate economic development, reduce poverty and build sustainable societies.
Our emphasis is about defining the relationship with the SDGs and the importance of protecting the independence of young people’s voices and experiences as they assess and understand the issues in their communities.
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YOUTHBANK GOLDEN RULES
While all YouthBanks are given flexibility to develop in a variety of ways to suit local needs, their work is underpinned by 9 key values - YouthBank Golden Rules.
1. YOUTH LED 2. OPEN TO ALL YOUNG PEOPLE 3. PARTICIPATION & INCLUSION 4. PROMOTING UNDERSTANDING & RESPECTING DIFFERENCES 5. CLEAR AND FAIR METHODS OF GRANT-MAKING 6. SAY IT AS IT IS 7. DEVELOPING YOUNG PEOPLE`S SKILLS & EXPERIENCE 8. REFLECTION & EVALUATION 9. CELEBRATION
THEORY OF CHANGE
WHAT WE BRING
WHAT WE DO
Over 20 years of expertise in non-formal education, fundraising, financial literacy, critical thinking, problem solving.
We promote young people as decision-makers at the local level
We are using funding as a tool to address issues and problems that young people themselves have recognized as important in their communities.
We equip young people with all the skills and tools, guide them through decision making methodologies and support them on their path towards active participation.
THE CHANGE
Young people are equipped with clear ideas of:
social entrepreneurship
idea development
digital literacy
financial literacy
fundraising
money management
fund management
setting the funding priorities
decision making
creative thinking
critical thinking
problem solving