Jul/090
Non-Religious, Well Established, Mainstream Youth Movements and Institutions
* There is a need to recognize the universal validity of the non-formal education of young people, particularly through the work of world youth education organizations. Thus the Chief Executive Officers of seven of the largest worldwide, non-formal education organizations who today actively involve more than 100 million young people, have shared their vision of the non-formal education of young people into the next century. The Alliance of Youth CEOs comprises the Chief Executive Officers of the: World Alliance of Young Men’s Christian Associations (YMCA), World Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), International Youth Foundation (IYF), International Award Association (IAA)
http://www.intaward.org/partnership/big7.asp
* The Guide Movement was formally established in 1910, starting in the United Kingdom and then spreading world-wide. The first official international co-operation started in 1919, and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in its present form was established in 1928. Due to the size of the organization (136 member countries, and around 10 million members) it is divided into five regions where national associations can work together on common problems and opportunities. The World Association is a British-based charity, and the Europe Region a Belgium-based international non-profit organization. The movement is non-formal and educational, and focuses on encouraging the development of the intellectual, spiritual, physical, emotional, social and moral aspects of its members, based on the movements’ values. Its mission is to enable girls and young women to develop their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world.
http://www.wagggsworld.org
* The World Organization of the Scout Movement is an international organization composed of its national Scout organizations. The purpose is to contribute to the development of young people and help them develop their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potentials as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities. Scouting began with 20 boys and an experimental camp in 1907 organized by Robert Baden-Powell. The first world Jamboree took place in 1920 with 8,000 participants. Today the organization reaches 25 million young people in 216 countries (and territories).
http://world.scout.org
* The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with 178 member National Societies. It aims to assist the world’s most vulnerable people and focuses on health, disaster response and disaster preparedness. Young people represent a substantial part of the membership worldwide. A youth program was developed to involve young people as much as possible in the movement. It aims to promote healthy living, international friendship, and community service. A youth unit within the Federation’s Secretariat in Geneva assists National Societies to increase the involvement of young volunteers in their work. Technical support in the development of youth programs, fund-raising, identification of material and human resources, the youth unit aims to have young people recognized by National Societies leadership as equal partners who address the needs of the most vulnerable.
http://www.ifrc.org/youth
* The International Award is a self-development program open to all young people worldwide. It aims to equip them with life skills to make a difference to themselves, their communities and their world. To date over 5 million young people from over 100 countries have participated. It challenges and rewards young people for setting and reaching goals in for areas: Volunteer Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration.
http://www.intaward.org
* The World Young Women’s Christian Association unites 25 million women and girls in over 100 countries through 94 autonomous national YWCAs which links thousands of local YWCAs whose programs meet community needs identified by women. WYCMA bases its work on Christian ecumenical principles and welcomes women of all faiths. It promotes women’s equal participation, works for social and economic justice, and mobilizes women for action.
http://www.worldywca.org
* The YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) is a world-wide Christian, ecumenical, voluntary movement for women and men with special emphasis on the involvement of young people. It seeks to build a human community of justice with love, peace and reconciliation. Founded in 1844, it now works through 14′000 local associations and 45 million members in 122 countries. The National Movements form the World Alliance of YMCAs, an international organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, which has consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
http://www.ymca.int
* The International Youth Foundation is an association of 22 different grant making agencies in 22 different countries. It facilitates knowledge sharing between these foundations and makes various publications on the international situations of youth. In 1999 Nokia Corporation provided the IYF with a grant to design an internet youth portal. After hiring a team and consulting with Nokia and a number of young leaders the YouthActionNet project was started. It presents various tools and resources that are valuable for youth organizing.
http://www.youthactionnet.org and http://www.ifynet.org