Global Youth Work Learner’s Network

Human Rights, the World Cup and Youth Work 

15th November  2022 11:12:30pm 

In December 2010, Qatar won its bid to host the 2022 World Cup
The network meeting on the 15th of November 2023 looked at the competition through a Human Rights Lens and the importance of global youth work in responding to the World Cup event. We were joined by Amina Moustafa who brought insight and knowledge through her work with Sports Against Racism Ireland and the Glencree Centre for Reconciliation. 

World Cup fever sweeps up fans and non-fans alike, generating a great sense of enthusiasm for the competition.  At the same time, human rights abuses identified well in advance of the World Cup challenge us in our commitment to social justice, particularly in a global youth work context.  Men and women, mostly from Africa and Asia, built the stadiums, the roads, the metro; they provided security for the football matches, transported fans in taxis to the games, greeted visitors in hotels and served them in restaurants. Since 2010, human rights organisations, trade unions, and media have consistently documented the rampant human rights abuses in the country, especially against migrant workers, including widespread wage theft, high recruitment fees, unexplained deaths, and passport confiscation, among others. 

We wanted this network meeting to be an entry point to interject and have conversations with youth workers about some of the social and global issues the World Cup competition brings.  We were interested particularly in the intersection with poverty, workers’ rights as a global phenomenon, football as a social issue, LGBTQ rights and the role of youth work.  Also, what is the role of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) in this conversation? 

The discussion was deepened and developed thanks to the youth workers participating in this discussion.   

Watch the session here: 

Human Rights, the World Cup, and Youth Work 

The following resources may of of interest to members interested in doing work on this area: 

Globalisation, the Youth and the Truth (Section on the World Cup) 

Qatar 2022 Fair or Foul Amnesty International 

Youth work responses to anti-Migrant and anti-LGBTQ Hate

21st March 2022  11-12:30 pm 

One of the requests coming through our GYWLN evaluation was to look at the theme of  solidarity, in responding to a rise in anti-Migrant and anti-LGBTQ hate.   For the network session, we focused particularly on how we, as youth workers, can develop strategies to respond, and to work collectively, in this regard. 

We hosted our network meeting online in association with MASI (Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland), to discuss how a global youth work approach can educate and empower against rising anti-migrant sentiment. The meeting was addressed by Kate O’Connell, from the Intercultural and Equality Programme at NYCI, who has been collaborating with the Hope and Courage Collective, and Nancy Waheng from MASI. Kate gave a good insight into protest developments in recent times and how this has impacted on young people, and what kind of responses we need to develop to these.  In terms of addressing issues raised by the Far Rights in youth work, she focused on de-escalation, listening to fears and concerns so people feel heard, talk about the ‘we’, and the power of connection, inclusion and diversity.  

One of the points raised at the meeting was that the Department of Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth recently launched the National Action Plan Against Racism, 2023-27 (NAPAR). The plan was developed by an independent Anti-Racism Committee, and covers key objectives, priority actions and mechanisms for implementation and monitoring. Read or download the Plan here. 

The following resources may of of interest to members interested in doing work on this area:  

• NYCI’s Beyond Hate Resource (a resource that was developed to help youth workers transform hate speech and behaviour in youth settings). 
• The Hope and Courage Collective:  A Guide to Understanding and Responding to the Far Right 
• Guidance on messaging re local protests 
• Report of Resisting the Far Right 
• Resisting the Far Right – Civil Society Strategies for Countering the Far Right in Ireland, Report by: Barry Cannon, Richard King, Joseph Munnelly, and Riyad el-Moslemany, Maynooth University 

• Far Right Observatory:  Link to their resources page 

Gender, power, and status: youthwork responses 

18th April 11-12:30pm 

Another request coming from the GYWLN evaluation was to look at youth work responses to the Andrew Tate phenomenon. We had a powerful session at the meeting the 18th of April, thanks to Ontla (Ontlametse Rachel Raleru) and Thembe (Thembelihle Madi) from Sonke Gender Justice Project in Botswana and South Africa, and to Danni (Danielle Mc Kenna) from Rialto Youth Project, Dublin.   

We looked at: 

• Questions of gender, identity, power, status, and youth work responses 
• Specific examples of the youth education and empowerment work of Sonke Gender Justice Project, South Africa and within a regional context, and, Rialto Youth Project, Dublin.  
• How the intersecting issues of gender and poverty perpetuate systemic gender inequity.  

Thanks to Philomena Ilobekeme Obasi, Scouting Ireland for her closing point on the strength and inspiration across all the methodologies presented in today’s session, and how we can all learn from this. 

The recording of the session is here 

The following resources were discussed in the meeting and may facilitate you to explore the topic further in your work. 

• What Does He Need? 

• Sonke Gender Justice Project 

• The One Man Can Campaign 

• MenEngage Africa Alliance  

A focus on SDG #10, Reduced Inequalities on World Refugee Day with the Young Voices of Africa Online Network

Thanks to everyone for their participation in the GYWLN on 20th June-World Refugee Day.  We were so delighted to have representation from Chad, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Sudan for our discussion on SDG #10 on Reduced Inequalities.    We were also delighted to have Jessica Gill, UN Youth Delegate and Rocayra Vanga EU Youth Delegate in the space along with all the youth sector voices who contributed.  

This is our first time to host this space with the Young Voices of Africa Online Network, supported by Kelvin Akpaloo, Ireland/Ghana and Alhassan Kallon, Sierra Leone.  We were delighted to be joined by Alamin Durmas from Sudan, and he spoke about the current reality of young people and their families in the conflict, and the hope for peace.   We appreciated participation from across membership of the Young Voices of Africa Online Group. 

We had some challenges with data, both in Ireland(storms) and with our African based participants but the big win of the day was to have all the voices in the space.  Another great outcome was around building links and connection with African based collaborators, a key part of our project objectives and a contribution we hope to make to the youth sector.  

Prince Amankwah Gaisie from Ghana left us with an important question at the end of the session on why the active engagement of women in public spaces doesn’t translate to greater political representation in Irish parliament.   We know that childcare is an issue not specific to Ireland, so it doesn’t explain the lack of female representation,  leaving us with an important point to ponder on. 

Since the meeting, elections have taken place in Sierra Leone with a new Gender Equality and Empowerment Bill in place, the challenges of female representation are significant but female leaders are stepping forward to represent their communities in the national government. 

Thanks to Vicky Donnelly, Galway One World Centre for her quiz on inequality, which we adapted for the session. 

The session ‘Dear Poverty’ hosted by the Young People’s Committee (YPC) on 17^th October 2023.

Thanks especially to the members of the 2022/23 YPC for hosting this GYWLN session. The YPC facilitated this interactive event, explaining their own work in the YPC, and leading a spoken word exercise to explore people’s personal connection with poverty.  This personal connection is key to supporting wider conversations on poverty as something that links individual experience with systemic inequality, and how looking at the different intersecting layers of our identity can explain how poverty impacts people differently.

The YPC launched their resource ‘Dear Poverty’ for One World Week on 24^th November, 2023, which you can access here.

The 14^th December gathering of the Global Youth Work Learners Network Online was a very rich and inspiring learning and networking space,  ‘Food Choice, Food Security and the Monday Morning Sausage Roll’ brought in analysis and lived experience insights from Kildare, Uganda, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Dublin and beyond. 

Thanks to our panellists-Lavina O’Reilly, Newbridge Youth Training Centre, Caitlin Breen, Airfield Youth Board, and Darragh Wynne, GOAL, and to all of the fantastic contributors from this global network of youth leaders and educators.

We really do hope to continue this conversation in 2024, and develop further analysis and tools to support direct engagement by young people in shaping the future of food and farming, as a local and global issue.

Please see the Monday Morning Sausage Roll Case Study here which links local and global food security issues.

Watch the video of the session here:

The 29th February gathering of the Global Youth Work Learners Network (GYWLN) looked at Climate Justice & Access to Water. The discussion brought in lived experiences from the Global South, as well as ideas of activities and games that can increase young people’s understanding and appreciation of Climate Justice and access to clean, safe water.

Huge thanks to our panellists:
· Rahmina Paullete: Youth Activist and founder of Kisumu Environmental Champions, Kenya
· Áine O’Driscoll: Youth & Education Officer, Trócaire
· Shannon Baker: Youth Worker, Sphere17 Regional Youth Service

You can watch the full session below.

Title: African Youth Goals 

Young Voices of Africa: African Youth Goals Exploration 

19th April 11-12:30   

As part of our continued commitment to empowering youth workers and young people, and to forge connections, we had a GYWLN session to explore the African Youth Goals with members of the Young Voices of Africa (YVA). Thanks to Kelvin Akpaloo (Co-Founder), Alhassan Kallon (Co-founder, Sierra Leone) and Nike Monisola Awoyemi (Ireland, representative for the diaspora).  

The African Youth Goals (AYG) is a project initiative being led by YVA comprising of 15 goals covering a range of diverse challenges and rights-based issues faced by young people and the wider community across the continent of Africa and the African diaspora. The AYG takes inspiration from the European Youth Goals.  

As a group we asked the following questions:  

• What’s important to you about having these goals?  
• Where do you think these goals could support your work on a personal, local, national or global level? 
• Where do these goals fit strategically into the wider framing of youth work? 
• What support would you need for the implementation of the goals with your organisation?  

A great outcome was around building links and connection with African based collaborators, with a focus on the African Youth Goals, building connections is a key part of our project objectives and a contribution we hope to make to the youth sector. To keep up to date, you can follow @young_voices_of_africa on Instagram 

Watch this space for the development of the African Youth Goals. 

You can watch the full session below:

The June session of the GYWLN asked, ‘What does colonialism have to do with me?’, and young Irish people of African descent played a central role.  Their voice and testimony are a reminder of the importance of learning from young people, their experiences and insight are really valuable and something we need to create space for and amplify.   Thanks to Love and Care for People for the work in highlighting injustice, and centring the voices of young people.
   

Huge appreciation for our panelists: 

Ini Usanga, from the youth organisation, Love and Care for People (Cork). 

Dr Momodou Sallah , De Montfort University, UK. 

Dr Hilary Tierney, Maynooth University.

And to all of the fantastic contributors from this global network of youth workers, youth leaders and educators.

We really do hope to continue this conversation throughout 2024 and develop further analysis and tools to support direct engagement by young people in shaping and addressing inequality, and to continue to review what a decolonial approach means for the youth sector, and for our shared work.

For those of you who couldn’t attend (or those who want to review the session) here is a video of the session: 

Please find the powerpoint attached here, and it includes links to resources, and also training opportunities with the Intercultural and Equality Team at NYCI.  

The video from Love and Care for People is included in the resource list, please email me directly if you would like to make contact with Ini to discuss her organisations work further.  

At our November GYWLN session, we gathered youth workers and advocates to explore how we can support young people in securing meaningful, dignified work—a crucial issue on a Local, National and Global level. This conversation provided insights on the many challenges youth face, particularly in rural areas, and offered practical strategies for youth workers to support their communities.

A huge thanks to our panelists;

The Young Voices of Africa, Kelvin Akpaloo (Co-Founder), Alhassan Kallon (Co-founder, Sierra Leone) & Fatima Elzahra Ismail (YVA Women Forum President): shared a powerful perspective on youth unemployment in rural Sierra Leone’s amputee camp. Emphasising that vocational training can act as a pathway to autonomy, enabling young people, marginalised and under-served communities to break free from systemic barriers, which in turn benefits their communities as they contribute to local economies and societal resilience. Their voice underscored the global nature of these issues and the need for solidarity.

Jennifer Smith from Meath Partnership: shared about inspiring impactful work through the *You. Stand. Out.* program. Jennifer highlighted efforts to address rural isolation and promote local heritage as a means to empower youth with job skills that contribute to their communities.

John Farrell from the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU): discussed the latest employment charter for young adults, providing practical actions to drive systemic change in the youth employment sector.

For those of you who couldn’t attend (or those who want to review the session) here is a video of the session: 

Youth Voice: Advancing the Youth Development Agenda

21st November 2024 11:00-12:30pm

As part of our 2024 One World Week event, this online session was an absolutely inspiring gathering centred on advancing the youth development agenda. The discussion highlighted best-in-class practices for amplifying young people’s voices, leaving participants deeply moved and equipped with actionable insights.

Key Takeaways:

• Authentic Action: Nafula emphasised the importance of “walking the entire mile” to avoid tokenism and urged us all to reflect on how we can drive meaningful change at individual, organisational, national, and global levels.
• Youth Inclusion with Substance: Benjamin underscored the need to go beyond including young people based on age alone, instead supporting them to bring substance and value, with youth workers playing a pivotal role.
• Empowerment Over Programming: A powerful reminder that young people don’t need to be “programmed.” They are capable; our responsibility is to enable and facilitate their participation.
• Evidence-Driven Policy: Hermis highlighted the importance of using evidence to influence policies, ensuring that youth participation creates real impact and value.
• Resilience and Innovation: Diana celebrated the resilience and innovation of young people, inspiring us to strive for excellence in youth participation practices.