YABCYouth as agents of behavioural change

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is a vol-unteer-based organization with a membership of 186 Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies world-wide, whose mission is to alleviate human suffering. The promotion of a culture of non-violence and peace (CNV+P) is since 2010, one of our three priority areas of work (Strategy 2020).

The IFRC believes that youth are a powerful source of change, whose energy and skills need to be harnessed when pursuing lasting social change leading to a culture of non-violence and peace.

The youth of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement strongly commit themselves to inner change and the development of skills to promote harmony and positive attitudes within communities.

Envisioning the call of youth to their National Societies and governments, the Youth as Agents of Behavioural Change (YABC) intiative, created in 2008, is a global IFRC flagship program on the promotion of a culture of non-violence and peace.

It aims to empower youth to take up a leadership role in inspiring a positive transfor-mation of mindsets, attitudes and behaviours within themselves and their community through non-formal skills-based and values-based peer education.

www.ifrc.orgSaving lives, changing minds

Contacts at IFRCDr. Katrien Beeckman Head, Principles and Values department Founder of the YABC initiative E-mail: katrien.beeckman@ifrc.org Phone: +41 22 730 4601

Charlotte TocchioYABC Officer and trainer Principles and Values department E-mail: charlotte.tocchio@ifrc.orgPhone: +41 22 730 4657

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent SocietiesYouth as agents of behavioural change /

The YABC educational approachIt is rooted in a non-cognitive and participant-centred experiential learn-ing methodology.

Through games, simulation and visualisation exercises, role-plays, arts, etc., youth are therefore given the opportunity to make a journey “from their heart to their mind”.

What does YABC focus on?Interpersonal life skills to promote a CNV+P

n Empathy

n Active listening

n Critical thinking, non-judgement and dropping bias

n Non-violent communication and peaceful resolution of tensions

n Mediation and reconciliation

n Operating from inner peace

Awareness-raising, further understanding personal reflection on the-matic issues essential to build a CNV+P

n The seven Fundamental Principles and their underpinning Humanitarian Values

n Non-discrimination and respect for diversity (migrants, PLHIV, elderly, disabled, etc.)

n Intercultural dialogue

n Social inclusion

n Violence prevention, mitigation and response

n Gender equality

Artistic platforms to raise awareness on and engage in building a CNV+P within the community

n Music

n Theatre

n Dance

n Visual arts (drawing, video, sculpture, etc.)

n Sports and movement (Qi-Gong, breathing and relaxation techniques, yoga, etc.)

“The YABC approach is a complete mindset for leading your life. Without this initiative, it would have taken me a life time to change myself.”(Youth voices)

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent SocietiesYouth as agents of behavioural change /

The YABC toolkit package todayIt has been developed by RCRC youth and is based on or inspired from existing materials. It contains:

n 20 concept papers and 75 interactive activities on the seven RCRC Fundamental Principles and the underpinning Humanitarian Values, as well as the interpersonal life skills and thematic issues previ-ously mentioned

n 6 presentations on social mobilisation and the artistic platforms pre-viously mentioned

n 1 manual for peer educators

n Guidelines on the community engagement activity cycle

The YABC toolkit package will be available online, after its official launch at the 31st International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

The YABC network so far n 1 500 sensitized or initiated youth (staff and volunteers) from 140 RCRC National Societies worldwide

n 250 peer educators from 60 RCRC National Societies

n 11 trainers of peer educators

What kind of impact has YABC produced to date?At the individual levelAs witnessed by participants in YABC

n Engagement in a life-long process of learning

n Self-questioning and inner change

n Deepened self-confidence

n Strengthened ethical leadership skills (teamwork and cooperation, open-mindedness and mutual understanding, trust, humility and integrity)

n Enhanced self-resilience (management of stress, pressure, tiredness and emotions)

Youth voices after a training of YABC peer educators:“Thanks to the YABC experience, I opened my eyes on the cultural and societal norms that influence each one of us, and I understood the mechanisms of discrimination, violence and exclusion. It gave me a lesson of humanity, peace, and love for my fellow human beings that will last a lifetime.”

“YABC does not just open our minds; it also develops our ability to challenge our assumptions, change our perspective and think in a different way which results for instance in finding potential solutions to violence.”

“YABC guides youth in a true and very rich self-reflection, enabling them to learn about themselves. It unlocks their talents and strenghtens their skills and beliefs that they can do something useful for their community.”Aurelia Balpe – Head, IFRC Pacific delegation

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent SocietiesYouth as agents of behavioural change /

At the community levelAs integrated/implemented by youth of the YABC network

n Sustainable development and vocational training for vulnerable youth (Sierra Leone)

n Regional campaign and micro-projects on migration issues (North Africa: Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia)

n Service delivery during the civil unrests (Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Tunisia)

n Psychosocial support (Pakistan, Sri Lanka)

n Junior and youth clubs and centers in schools, colleges, universities and communities (Ghana, France, Lebanon, Macedonia, Switzerland)

n Leadership courses (Denmark, Philippines)

n Disaster management (Egypt, Pakistan)

n First aid (Egypt, France, Pakistan)

Official recognition and outreach of YABCWithin the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement: General Assembly decision, IFRC Youth Commission work plan and reports, Youth Declaration presented to the International Community, Red Cross Red Crescent regional commitments and declarations (Amman, Dubrovnik, Johannesburg, etc.)

External: UN Human Rights Council statements (2009-2011): weblink, Redtalk (7th July 2011), UN High-Level Meeting on Youth (side event, NY, July 2011), Word Peace Festival (workshop, Berlin, August 2011), CNV+P YABC Summit for Africa, Europe and the Mediterranean where delegates from external youth or CNV+P organizations are invited (training, Italy, September 2011).

You want to contribute… How can you help?

n Funding the translation of the YABC toolkit package into Arabic, Russian or Spanish

n Funding YABC initiation workshops or trainings of peer educators

n Funding YABC micro-projects furthering a culture of non-violence and peace within the community

n Funding travels of YABC coordinators or Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies’ peer educators to build capacity of other youth

Youth as agents of behavioural change“YABC is a need and an experience that leads us to take a critical look at oursleves. If this initiative would be implemented everywhere in the world, the day to see a culture of non-violence and peace on earth is not far.”Youth voice“In the past, I had violently bushed and forced a friend of mine who is gay to ‘act like a man’. YABC radically changed my vision and made me realize how much I regret it now.”Youth voice“I was the kind of person who discriminated some people like those living with HIV. The YABC experience totally changed me as well as my mindset, attitude and behaviour towards others.”Youth voice