Young people are the experts of their own experience. We understand the value of inviting youth to participate in the creation and development of their own programmes.
Supporting a sustainable future
GOAL's NextGen Youth programme brings young people together from all over the world to deepen their understanding of Global Citizenship. We believe that deeper and longer-term engagement is the best possible way to support a generation of young people who are passionate about a fairer and more sustainable future.
Together, participants build skills in group facilitation, intercultural communication, project management, critical thinking, and more. Co-creation and youth participation guided the development of this programme, and this approach to participatory learning continues to guide its content and tone.
Youth projects
#Connected2 Climate and Food Systems: A Photo Exhibition
The 2021 Youth programme focused on global citizenship and the interconnected roles of individuals, organisations, and sectors engaged in international development. Through the pertinent themes of Global Food Systems and Climate Change, participants learned how each relates to global citizenship and development.
Based on their learning and individual interests participants produced materials in the lead up to the UN Food Systems Summit, COP26, and throughout GOAL’s #Connected2 campaign.
Their work has culminated in a resource booklet and exciting online photo exhibition that you can now visit from the comfort of your own couch!
The Global Citizen’s Journey: A Resource for Global Citizenship Education
The Global Citizen’s Journey: A Resource for Global Citizenship Education is as innovative and interactive as the group of young people that created it in 2020. When you work through the activities, whether you are facilitating or participating, you’ll develop the critical thinking skills to explore the realities and complexities of our interconnected world. And recognize the imperative for active solidarity at local and global levels.
Each activity was designed to be adapted to any context – we encourage you to incorporate aspects of your local context so that you can get the most out of every opportunity for discussion. It is our hope that these discussions bring you and your local community the confidence to act for fair and sustainable change.
For more info on the resource please contact Róisín via rmcatamney@goal.ie
Stay tuned for opportunities to join online activity sessions facilitated by the members of the Global Youth Network! We will have dedicated sessions for young people, as well as sessions for educators.
NextGen Youth Network
We want to stay connected to all the young people we engage with and continue to support them even after the programmes and projects they participate in conclude. This growing network of motivated and critically-minded young people offers opportunities to sharpen and hone the facilitation, communication, and collaboration skills they began building with us in our youth programmes.
The Global Youth Network connects the deeper Global Citizenship Education work of our youth programmes with awareness-raising campaigns. Recently, the Global Youth Network added their own letter to GOAL’s submission to the Irish Government’s Climate Action Plan 2021 Call for Expert Evidence, outlining their experiences of and hopes for Climate Action.
Twice a year, the Global Youth Network will offer a series of events based around the activities in the resource, “The Global Citizen’s Journey”. Young people aged 14-18 will be able to join their peers in a facilitated session from the resource.
