Transcript AFSC Middle East Programs - Robert F. Wagner Graduate

Public Achievement
Youth are not only the pillars for the future,
but they are the citizens of the day
Feb - 2010
Facts about Youth ( Middle East)
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Youth forms the majority of the population
Bad Economic Situation ( Poverty, Unemployment ) High social
expectation from the community ( marriage, forming a family )
The heritage of taboo, prevents Youth to participate in
community development programs
To invite youth to participate in community development while
there are no community programs
The Arab societies are authoritative and the constructive
dialogue culture is narrow
ِAvailable options for the Youth
Youth
Interested
In social
Initiatives
exaggeration Indifference
passivity migration
Available opportunity for Youth to Do Something
Based on the understanding of the reality of the youth work & the
belief in the creativity of the young people there is an opportunity
For the positive
networking
between the
participants &
other stakeholders
For a creation and the
expansion of the area
" the specified " for
the participation of
the young people in
the society matters
Powers
Tribal and family Powers
Civil Society
Political parties ( National
and Islamic)
Elements in PA
Society
PA
groups
Individuals
Area for
Civic work
Institutions
Therefore….. There is Public Achievement
1.
It creates an area of freedom & choice in participation,
where the young people participates in the deliberations
and feel the security and the mutual respect to their
viewpoints
2.
Reinforcement of understanding and practice of
democracy & citizenship, where the participant
reaches a deep understanding of his/her rights and
his/her responsibilities, this yield to launch their
initiatives towards the contribution in the solution of the
raised social issues
3.
The Empowerment, where the young people are
trained to use the tools of a comprehensive& democratic
teamwork
The mechanism of the work in the Public Achievement ...
Invite coaches from the
ages of 19-25
partnerships with the
universities and Cbos
TOT
The skills:
credibility,
responsibility,
planning the work,
solution of the
problems, power
map, the solution of
the conflict
Participants are connected in
a learning process
The continuous work and
offering the support
The concepts:
The democracy, the
human rights the
diversity, the
citizenship, the
society organization,
the violence, the
social work
The mechanism of the work in the
Public Achievement ...
Start working with youth groups ion schools and
communities ( 2-3 hours per week for 6 to 7
months
Identify an issue, research, evaluation
Power map
Follow up action plan
Festival
Continuous work
Develop an Action plan
not violent, legal, with a public interest
ِSome Initiatives
 Develop youth centers – clubs – and
targeted to youth people – Electronic sites
 Facilities for Schools ( Labs, Play grounds,
library, build classes)
 Campaigns for social issues, family
planning , early marriage violence in
schools, poverty eradication steps.
 Societal projects : Water bumping devices
fro their communities, public library,
planting, entertainment programs and
activities
... Activities
... Initiatives
Youth Reshape the world around them
Young people today have few opportunities to really be involved in
shaping the world around them. In Public Achievement, they do.
People of all ages work with others, meet challenges and solve
problems. Learning from each other the meaning of citizenship and
democracy. Ordinary people do extraordinary things, Public
Achievement is a youth civic engagement initiative focused on the most
basic concepts of citizenship, democracy and public work.
Public Achievement draws on the talents and desires of ordinary
people to build a better world and to create a different kind of politics.
2003 till Present
Participants
Coaches
(Leaders)
2460
205
WEST BANK
2280
190
Gaza
132
10
Jordan
318
25
Morocco
Afghanistan, Iraq,
Lebanon, Syria
Gulf Countries
 Work with Young people rather than work for Young People
 Relation with Ministries of Education and Higher Education ,
Social Development ministries.
 Young who were engaged became community leaders ,
positional political leaders
 Young people became key players in the social change process
Public Achievement Program
Youth are not only the pillars for the future,
but they are the citizens of the day
Feb - 2010