Learning how to change the world

The youth led, international non profit organisation Youth Action for Change is offering two brand new online courses free of charge for 18-30 year olds. The two courses, “Youth and the MDGs” and “Critical and Ethical Consumerism”, will both start on March 13. The first is aimed at young people who are actively involved in making a difference in their communities and want to learn about the UN’s Millennium Development Goals, the second will provide students with the information and the skills required to be involved in building critical consumerism campaigns.

Free Online Short Course on “Youth and the MDGs”

Course Dates: 13th March – 8th April

Course Description: This course is designed for young people aged 18-30 who are actively involved in making a difference in their communities. The course aims to help its participants learn about the UN’s 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), their specific targets, and their importance as a framework for global development. The course will then focus on how young people can work towards contributing to the MDGs, what can be done locally, and the potential for young people to make a difference. The course will be led by young professionals from UNDP and UNFPA and will also draw on local experts from UNDP and other UN organizations and will combine theoretical and practical knowledge. The course will be restricted to 25 participants chosen by application – preference is given to participants who are active in their communities and who intend to use the course material to help them make a difference in their communities. Participants must be able to attend all sessions of the course and complete homework tasks in order to obtain a certificate of completion. Participants must also have regular internet access (at least 5 hours per week) to join course sessions. Students who may also be disadvantaged are also encouraged to apply. This course will help students in designing and implementing their own MDG related community development projects. The top 2 to 3 projects will receive small grants to support in their implementation courtesy of UNFPA.

 

Free Online Short Course on “Critical & Ethical Consumerism”

Course Dates: 13th March – 8th April (To be confirmed)

Course Description: This course is designed for young people aged 18-30 who are actively involved in making a difference in their communities. This course will provide students information and the skills required to be involved in building critical consumerism campaigns. Critical consumerism involves the use of consumer’s purchasing power to bring about social change – including more ethical production and business and sending potent messages to policy makers. Beginning with an analysis of the history of this social action and showing the differences as well as the contact points with boycott campaigns (which mechanism is probably more well-known) and the interrelations between critical and ethical consumerism, the course will go ahead trough the analysis of focal points in the actual creation of a critical consumerism campaign like the choice of the targets.

The course will be restricted to 25 participants chosen by application – preference is given to participants who are active in their communities and who intend to use the course material to help them make a difference in their communities. Participants must be able to attend all sessions of the course and complete homework tasks in order to obtain a certificate of completion. Participants must also have regular internet access (at least 5 hours per week) to join course sessions. Students who may also be disadvantaged are also encouraged to apply.

About the course sponsors:

Youth Action for Change is a global, youth-led organization inspiring and empowering young people worldwide to become active agents of change in their own communities, so as to be able to tackle the issues affecting them and the world at large.

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and youth to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity.

Youth Dividend is a dynamic youth led organization in Pakistan working to develop, inform, inspire and mobilize young people through leadership training, peer education, awareness raising, skill building, policy and  advocacy.  

To find out how to apply visit: www.younginnovationseurope.org