The aim of the 4 international trainings is to provide constructive knowledge and skills on the concept and practice of advocacy education, ranging from public speaking, presentation, advocacy strategies and other such skills. Through international cooperation, exchange experiences and good practices on how to initiate change (contributing to the legislative process, organising campaigns promoting youth interests, etc.) and to create a comparative perspective to highlight the difficulties in the Estonian situation and illustrate the Nordic and European
Each training session will follow the same structure, but will address the main themes at the different levels described above to ensure a comprehensive overview of the topic. The focus of the all trainings are on young people’s participation in society and how advocacy can be used to promote young people’s participation in order to make it more effective in creating change, and therefore also includes the specific skills needed to be a good advocate and to exchange perspectives and experiences to motivate young people to promote their own ideas.
Advocacy on Capacity building training
February 2023, Narva, Estonia
Methodology
The meeting is designed as a mutual learning process where participants can compare their approaches to advocacy in different European countries in a dialogical intercultural approach and environment. At the end of the seminar, participants will design activities and projects to promote sustainable development at national or regional level.
Agenda
02.02.2023, Thursday – Introduction
10:00 -12:00 Arrival and registration of Estonian and non-Estonian delegates in Tallinn
12.00 – 17.00 Visiting Tallinn City.
18.00 – 20.00 Practical game and group work task
20.00 – 22.00 Dinner + Formal opening of the International Training Meeting
03.02.2023, Friday – Youth Leadership / Capability Training for Young Leaders Part I
9.30 – 10.00 Purpose of the international training-meeting and division of the young people into working groups to work on one of the sections of the final outcome – the Youth Advocacy Statement.
10.00 – 11.00 Presentation “Advocacy – what is it?” – Anna Lisa Strakova, University of Tartu.
11.00 – 12.00 Leadership Training for Young Leaders Part I
– Self-leadership skills (Vassili Golikov)
– Self Communication Skills (Sandra Jaanika)
– Negotiation skills (Anna Liza Starkova)
– Change Management (Anneli Ohvril)
– Goal Setting and Planning (Triin Roos & ENL)
11.30 – 12.00 Questions and answers
12.00 – 13.00 Lunch
13.00 – 14.30 Youth Leadership / Capability Training Part II
– Self-leadership skills (Vassili Golikov)
– Self-expression skills (Sandra Jaanika)
– Negotiation skills (Anna Liza Starkova)
– Change Management (Anneli Ohvril)
– Goal Setting and Planning (Triin Roos & ENL)
14.30 – 14.45 Questions and answers
14.45 – 15.00 Coffee break
15.00 – 17.00 Workshops and practical exercises on youth advocacy (Based on the Youth Advocacy Workstream)
18.00-19.00 Gala Dinner
4.02.2023, Saturday – Practical part and strategic dialogue
09.00 – 11.00 Practical part: meeting with a youth advocacy expert/Visit to a youth advocacy-led NGO.
11:00-12:00 Keynote speeches and first dialogue session – structured dialogue on the topic with keynote speakers followed by a question and answer session.
12:00-13:00 Youth Advocacy Statement Process/Strategic Dialogue – During the day, participants will share their experiences and knowledge on the assigned topic and conduct the first group exercises/questionnaire.
13:00-14:00 Lunch
14:00-17:00 Process of preparing the Youth Advocacy Call (Youth, experts and youth associations and officials).
14:00 -17:00 Strategic Dialogue using the World Café method – group discussions to initiate a strategic dialogue (dialogue with power and policy makers who deal with youth issues and promote youth well-being in their daily work).
15.45 – 16.00 Coffee break
16.00 – 17.00 Synthesis of the results of the strategic dialogue and summary of the practice.
18:00-19:00 Dinner
05.02.2023, Sunday – Conclusions
10.00 – 12.00 Presentation of the results (overview of the training learnt and practical skills acquired).
12-00 – 13.00 Presentation of the youth advocacy appeal and the strategic plan.
13.00 -14.00 Lunch and conclusion.
Outcomes
The international training focused on developing the skills and capacities of youth leaders and raising general awareness of youth leadership, advocacy education, strengthening youth associations and civil society, and the involvement and participation of young people in decision-making processes.
The training was conducted by highly professional experts and young people who shared their own experience and knowledge with young people. Training themes were delivered by Vassili Golikov (Sillamäe Society for Child Welfare, Estonia), Anneli Ohvril (Let’s do it world, Estonia), Triin Roos (The Estonian National Youth Council, Estonia), Susanne Kallanvaara (Burgårdens Gymnasium, Sweden), Anna Liza Starkova (Lund University), Morten Hagevik (Porsgrunn Kulturskole), Laura Maria Rajala (Femina RY), Ivan Vasilevskikh and Alejandra Cordero Hansen (Copenhagen Business Academy students, Denmark).
The international training has taught youth the necessary knowledge in advocacy and practical experience through four key areas: youth leadership development, advocacy education, strengthening youth associations and civil society, and youth involvement and participation in decision-making processes.
The training framework was generate an advocacy document on youth participation and dialogue, which was serve as a basis for further activities and will be disseminated among partners and decision-makers at local and international level to ensure the sustainability of the project. The results of the work of the training sessions will be compiled in a single Youth Advocacy Statement, which will be disseminated among youth associations and partner organisations/agencies in the field.
Advocacy on Local level
March 2023, Gothenburg, Sweden
Agenda
30th March 2023 Working day I Leadership Training from theory into practice
Venue: Burgårdens Gymnasium (Skånegatan 20, 412 51 Gothenborg)
10.00 – 10.30 Youth Advocacy at local level (participative democracy in Schools, Universities, Youth NGOs and Local Governments) introduction of theory
10.30 – 11.30 Leadership Training for Young Leaders I
– Self-leadership skills (Susanne Kallanvaara)
11.30 – 12.30 Lunch
12.30 – 13.30 Practical approach in advocating the youth interests: key steps in advocacy and lobbying
13.30 – 14.00 Practical exercises
14.00 – 15.00 Strategic dialogue discussion: Youth Advocacy at the local level – how it works and what needs to be fixed? – Discussion between young people and experts (Young people, Local governments, Schools, Youth NGOs representatives)
15.00 – 16.00 Developing youth initiatives supporting youth competitiveness in the labour market, and empowering youth to be more sustainable.
16.00 – 17.00 Practical part: meeting with a youth advocacy expert/Visit to a youth advocacy-led NGO/ or Local Government institutions
17.00 – 18.00 Conclusion of the day
19.00 – 21.00 Dinner
31st March 2023 Working day II
Venue: Museum of World Culture (Museum of World Culture, Södra vägen 54, Göteborg)
10.00 – 11.30 Leadership training for young leaders II
– Leadership skills development (German Morris)
– Youth Leadership training – Goal Setting and Planning (Laura Maria Rajala)
– Communication and marketing skills (Vassili Golikov)
11.30 – 12.00 Sharing practical exercises on youth advocacy (Based on the practical experience of young people and organisations)
12.00 – 13.00 Working groups: – Development of Youth Advocacy Toolkit
How young people could advocate to support sustainable development goals in their community
– Discussions to initiate a strategic dialogue (dialogue with power and policy makers who deal with youth issues and promote youth well-being in their daily work).
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch
14.00 – 14.30 Question and Answers session (replying on youth advocacy questionnaire)
14.30 – 16.00 Discovering a joint problems of young people in advocating their rights and interests at local level
(Similar problems that could be resolved through joint effort and how to relate and use methods of advocacy to advance awareness on these issues)with experts, exercises and group work in order to use the Nordic cooperation angle to exchange experiences and best practices on how to initiate change (organise campaigns etc) and create a comparative perspective on developing solutions
16.00 – 16.30 Conclusion of the day
19.00 – 21.00 Dinner
1st of April 2023 – Conclusions
09.30 – 10.00 Presentation of the results (overview of the training learnt and practical skills acquired).
10.00 – 11.00 Presentation of the youth advocacy working groups and the strategic plan.
11.00 – 11.30 Conclusions
Departure
Outcomes
Advocacy on National level
Aprill 2023, Copenhagen, Denmark
Agenda
11.30 – 12.00 Coffee time
12.00 – 13.00 Practical approach in advocating the youth interests: key steps in advocacy and lobbying at the regional level.
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch
14.00 – 15.00 Strategic dialogue with stakeholders / discussion: “Youth Advocacy at the regional level – how it works and what needs to be fixed?”
– Regional power representative (Government) Denmark
– Youth NGO (Youth Association) Finland or Estonia
– Dansk Ungdoms Fællesråd (Danish Youth Council)
– Foreign Youth representative (from Nordic/Baltic Region) Norway or Sweden
– Stakeholder representative
15.00 – 17.00 Visiting/Meeting The Capital Region of Denmark / Meeting with Folkevirke NGO
– Getting to know how regional institutions are working and collaborating with Youth
– Discussion between young people and experts
– Sharing practical exercises on youth advocacy (Based on the practical experience of young people and organisations)
17.00 – 17.30 Conclusion of the day
18.00 – 20.00 Dinner at Dalle Valle Axel Towers Copenhagen
10.00 – 11.30 Training: Communication and Marketing in organisation (Laura Maria Rajala)
10.00 – 11.30 Working group: Development of Youth Advocacy Toolkit (experts contributions)
11.30 -11.45 Coffee time
11.45 – 13.00 Critical thinking and use of new media (Ivan Vasilevkikh and Vassili Golikov)
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch
14.00 – 14.30 Question and Answers session (replying on youth advocacy questionnaire)
14.30 – 16.00 Developing youth initiatives by empowering youth to be more sustainable and supporting youth competitiveness in the education field and labour market.
14.30 – 16.00 Discovering a joint problems of young people in advocating their rights and interests at local level
(Similar problems that could be resolved through joint effort and how to relate and use methods of advocacy to advance awareness on these issues)with experts, exercises and group work in order to use the Nordic cooperation angle to exchange experiences and best practices on how to initiate change (organise campaigns etc) and create a comparative perspective on developing solutions
16.00 – 16.45 Presenting results
16.45 – 17.00 Summary of the training
19.00 – 21.00 Dinner
09.30 – 10.00 Presentation of the results (overview of the training learnt and practical skills acquired).
10.00 – 11.00 Presentation of the youth advocacy working groups and the strategic plan.
11.00 – 11.30 Conclusions
Departure
Outcomes
Advocacy on International level
May 2023, Helsinki, Finland
Agenda
Venue for all activities: Scandic Helsinki Avia Congress (Robert Huberin tie 4, 01510 Vantaa, Finland)
3rd of May 2023 – Arrival day
All day arrival from (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Estonia)
4th of May 2023 – I Training day on youth advocacy international level
10.00 – 10.10 Lets recall what we have learned in Estonia, Sweden and Denmark
10.10 – 11.30 Youth Advocacy on EU and international level (Youth Advocacy for international organisations, stakeholders and policy makers, youth activists and networks) introduction of theory and practice (specifics of working international) – Vassili Golikov, SSCW
11.30 – 12.00 Coffee break
12.00 – 13.00 Practical approach in advocating the youth interests: key steps in advocacy and lobbying at the international level.
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch
14.00 – 15.00 Strategic dialogue with stakeholders / discussion: “Youth Advocacy at the international level – how it works and what needs to be fixed?”
– (National Youth Council of Finland) TBC
– Jenni Kauppila (UNA Finland)
– Balqis Khattab, IKF (Sweden)
– Ivan Vasilevskikh, Folkevirke (Denmark)
– Adéle Johanne Mathisen, Socialisti youth (Norway)
– German Morris, Peace Child Estonia (Estonia)
15.00 – 16.30 Four Groups: sharing practical exercises on international youth advocacy
(Each country present own experiences, based on the practical experience of young people and organisations in fields of youth work, education, culture, climate change, environment protection, etc)
16.30 – 17.30 Continuation of national youth project initiative development and conclusion of the day
19.00 – 20.00 Dinner
5th of May 2023 – II Training day on youth advocacy international level
10.00 – 13.00 Participation in the international conference “Nordic culture and arts transformation in frame of achievement of UN SDGs” by getting international experience in culture field and making practical advocacy.
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch
14.00 – 15.00 Debates “Fostering youth activism and advocacy is a dream, as decision makers do not believe in youth?”
- Representative of Norway (Aram Karim)
- Representative of Denmark (Christer Hansen)
- Representative of Sweden (Tala Alsaadi)
- Representative of Finland (Iida Aalto)
- Representative of Estonia (Ingrid Raudsepp)
16.00 – 17.30 Visiting The Finnish Development NGOs – Fingo and Finnish National Youth Council Allianssi in Helsinki
17.30 – 18.00 Conclusion of the day
18.00 – 19.00 Dinner
6tn of May 2023 – III Working day and Conclusions
10.00 – 11.30 Two Working groups:
– Development of Youth Advocacy Toolkit. How young people could advocate to support sustainable development goals and improve Nordic collaboration in youth field.
– Discovering ayouth participation during crisis (joint problems of young people in Nordic-Baltic region( based on recommendations for decision makers in the Nordic region (see materials) in advocating their rights and interests
11.00 – 12.00 Presentation of the results and conclusions
Outcomes
The International training on Youth Advocacy at an international level aims to provide young people with the necessary skills and knowledge to advocate for their rights and concerns effectively. The training was conducted by highly professional experts and young individuals who have previously shared their own experiences and expertise with young people.
The training covered various themes and topics related to advocacy work. Some of the experts who delivered these training sessions include Vassili Golikov from the Sillamäe Society for Child Welfare in Estonia, German Morris from Peace Child Estonia, Balqis Khattab from IKF in Sweden, Susanne Kallanvaara from Burgårdens Gymnasium in Sweden, Aram Karim and Adéle Johanne Mathisen from Socialist Youth, Jenni Kauppila from UNA Finland, Emilia Runeberg from Finnish Development NGOs – Fingo, Ivan Vasilevkikh from Folkevirke in Denmark, and Christian Hansen from Copenhagen Business Academy in Denmark.
One representative from each partner organization participated in the debates on the topic “Youth advocacy is utopia, as decision-makers do not believe in youth?” This discussion provided a platform for participants to explore challenges and perspectives related to youth advocacy and decision-making processes.
The training encompasses four key areas:
- Youth leadership development
- Advocacy Education
- Strengthening youth associations and civil society
- Promoting youth involvement and participation in decision-making processes
Additionally, perspectives on youth and labor and youth and sustainability were taken into account, providing a comprehensive understanding of the roles and opportunities for youth advocacy.
Youth participants had the opportunity to visit Finnish Development NGOs Fingo and gain practical skills from their advocacy work. Advocacy is a core component of Fingo’s work. By advocating for policies and actions that reduce inequality and promote human rights, Fingo seeks to bring about positive change in developing countries. They actively influence political decision-making processes at the national, European Union (EU), and international levels. Through their advocacy efforts, Fingo aims to find new and innovative solutions for addressing inequality and promoting human rights. By working with stakeholders at various levels, they contribute to shaping policies and initiatives that promote sustainable development and social justice.
By visiting Fingo, the youth participants had the opportunity to learn from a leading organization in the field of advocacy for reducing inequalities and promoting human rights. They gained practical skills and insights into effective advocacy strategies and an understanding of the importance of inclusivity and meaningful participation in decision-making processes.
A visit to Fingo would have provided valuable learning opportunities and inspiration for the participants to further their advocacy efforts and contribute to positive change in their communities and beyond.
The final training session summarized and reflected on previous sessions’ discussions and outcomes. It will also focus on international advocacy work, including understanding how it functions and identifying the key stakeholders to engage with to ensure that youth voices are heard.
Overall, the training empowered young people with the necessary knowledge and practical experience to engage in effective advocacy work at an international level. Focusing on various aspects of youth advocacy aims to strengthen the capacity of young individuals and youth organizations to promote their rights and influence decision-making processes.