Goa Symposium

Ronil Beach Resort, Goa, India
29th October – 2nd November, 2007
Convened by International Council on National Youth Policy (ICNYP) with support from the Bank of I.D.E.A.S. (Australia) and the Goan Heritage Action Group

Central to the building of strong, healthy and inclusive communities and nations is the active participation of young men and women. So often this participation is adult defined, lead and structured. In reality, it is quite tokenistic in terms of the scope and level of youth responsibility and leadership. The frustration of many young people was expressed well by South African Mathagonda Magapi – ‘we as young people always yearn for something that we never really get – a feeling of control of our situation, and of our lives’.

The International Council on National Youth Policy is totally committed to supporting the full and meaningful participation, leadership and empowerment of young people in the design, implementation, evaluation and re-orientation of youth strategies and action plans. ICNYP encourages the creation of supportive environments and programs at the community and national levels which enable young women and men to be proactive in facilitating positive change. ICNYP recognises that across the globe there are many exciting examples of where young people are designing and leading initiatives which are making a difference in terms of community and national life.

This International Symposium seeks to bring together such young people with youth policy and program makers to share experiences, ideas and aspirations and to identify what motivates and sustains successful youth designed and lead actions.

This Symposium seeks a balance of 75% youth activists (15 – 30 years old) and 25% youth policy and program makers (all ages). The focus of the Symposium is listening to the experiences and ideas of young people who have ‘stepped up’ and have made a significant impact on their societies through their actions. This Symposium seeks to take the advice of Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General – ‘Normally when we need to know about something we go to the experts, but we tend to forget that when we want to know about youth and what they feel and what they want, then we should talk to them’.

The critical outcome of the Symposium will be a clear understanding of the type of policy and practice environment that supports and sustains young men and women to design, implement and monitor initiatives that make a real difference at both the community and nation building levels.

Symposium Objectives:

To listen to the voices and stories of young men and women about their experiences regarding participation and empowerment.
To expose youth policy and program makers to best practice and thinking regarding youth participation and empowerment.
To gain a deeper understanding of the processes and methodologies to maximise youth participation in development.
To develop guidelines, tools and a Declaration on youth empowerment and participation.
To build an ongoing network of people interested in ensuring youth participation as the fundamental basis for youth policy and practice.
To enrich National Youth Policy and Action Plan formulation processes.
To create a unique international networking experience.
To exposure participants to the richness of Goan and Indian culture and youth development experiences.

YOUTH PARTICIPATION DECLARATION
November 1, 2007
Goa, INDIA

We, as young people of the international community, developed this declaration from a unified voice as a declaration of youth participation. Young people make up over half the total population of the world. It is in harnessing the assets of creativity, energy and talent found in young people that will continue the social and economic development of countries.

All Young people can lead the way in youth participation in both a formal and informal environment, and in a culturally appropriate way. This process is one in which young women and men influence, develop and share control and responsibility over decisions, plans and resources, which affect them and their world.

Youth participation is real when all young people are given the same opportunities, and are treated with equality in their community; when what young people say, think and do is valued and respected and taken seriously; and when the wider community trust the young people, and empower them to fully participate in society. This is when true national freedom and equity is achieved.

Youth participation is working when;

1. Basic human rights for all are achieved through a changing world. This change enables a community to be mutually supportive and connected, with relationships between young people and local, national, international, organizations.

2. Young people are empowered to take action. Empowerment is a process of capacity building which enables young men and women of all cultures to participate effectively and fully in society.

3. There is a National Youth Policy and Action Plan that is formulated, implemented and evaluated by young people.

4. Young people have made a commitment to act and the wider community has made a commitment to support young people’s actions.

5. Laws and programs are changed/developed and adopted to provide opportunities for youth participation and youth-led initiatives.

6. The capacity of young people is built through formal and informal education.

7. Stakeholders on a national and local level are encouraged to support and contribute to youth initiatives.

8. Legitimate and transparent representation, in addition to consultation, of young people with actual decision-making power.

9. Achievements and experiences of youth are celebrated to challenge negative stereotypes and messages.