Changing your world

14 November 2008

Y Care International's Changing Your World - Campaigning and Lobbying Skills for Young People course is a three-day residential event open to young people from YMCAs across the UK and Ireland.

The course offers young people the opportunity to learn a range of practical skills for campaigning and lobbying, as well as meeting other young people who want to make a change for good. It is fun and interactive, with plenty of time for discussion and campaign planning. We have been running the course three times a year since 2004. 

Changing Your World is for any young person, regardless of previous experience. It aims to build their confidence and skills so they can go out and make a difference in whatever area they think needs to change.

What are we doing?

Course trainers Kelly Drake and Lord Rupert Redesdale encourage participants to become involved in campaigning on international issues. Participants learn the skills and confidence they need to become active citizens and advocates for change.

The interactive course runs three times a year at a London training venue. It includes a day spent meeting MPs and Peers in the Houses of Parliament so participants can quiz them about strategies for successful campaigning and how to make the greatest impact.

Course participants receive a campaigning toolkit to accompany the course. The step-by-step guide is full of information and ideas on how to make lobbying and campaigning fun.

YMCA Ireland has adapted the course and is running it in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Outcomes

At the end of the course Y Care International supports participants to go back to their YMCAs, put into practice what they have learnt and run the campaigns they have planned. Many YMCAs that have been on the course stay involved in YCI campaigns, particularly MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY, the Year of Action on HIV and AIDS and Youth Justice in Action.

Others have run local campaigns at their YMCAs and in their local communities around issues they feel passionate about.

The next course is on 2nd - 4th February 2009.
Find out more at: www.changingyourworld.org.uk

"We knew Changing Your World would equip and inspire our group to go one step further in understanding how they can effect change"
Mandy Parker, youth worker

"We came away feeling motivated, confident, and seeing our place in the world differently."
Jackie Small, support worker

"The recent 'Change your world' course certainly set of a wave of enthusiasm amongst the residents and staff at our YMCA.  They loved it and many of them came back aspiring to be politicians!! They have already announced intentions to get involved in campaigning" Rodney Akko, youth worker

This course is run in partnership with YMCA England.

To find out more, or to register your YMCA on the next course, email us at