Young People Advisory Group

What?

In February 2022, 10to19 formed a youth advisory group of 7 members to ensure active participation of young people in issues and programs that affect them. The youth board/group will review and input 10to19’s strategy, knowledge products and represent 10to19 at various platforms. The youth board consist of members between the ages of 17 and 22, from states across India.

Why?

Our learnings from our work in the past and also from our Ab Meri Baari campaign, and conversations with sector partners have pushed us to think about creating channels for young people to actively participate in and lead the design and implementation of solutions to address critical issues that impact them, as they have the most intimate understanding of their own needs and challenges. Hence, in an effort to further bolster the inclusion and centring of young people’s voices and realities within all aspects of programming, we have institutionalized this Young People’s Advisory Group that will input directly across the planning, communication and implementation of activities across the work that we do. 

How?

  • The group will meet 3-4 times a month for a total of 3-4 hours per week. Capacity-building sessions, discussion meetings and review sessions will be held during this time. 
  • Members will be required to speak at online and in-person (situation permitting) events and platforms to represent the 10to19 Dasra Adolescents Collaborative. This would be over and above the regular meetings and trainings.  
  • Members are expected to advise and input on the strategic direction and choices of the Collaborative and ensure adherence to its purposes by reviewing documents, providing recommendations, providing feedback, serving as test group etc.  
  • Members are expected to provide strategic support in designing interventions and meetings with various stakeholders by preparing dockets for advocacy events, hosting panels and meetings, being the face of 10to19 Dasra Adolescents Collaborative ensuring we are speaking not only on behalf of young people but with them.
  • Members are expected to help bring perspective from other peers in their network. Through media, social media and community/ peer engagement they would influence greater participation and organic reach of their peers in our campaigns and activities.
  • We hope to recruit/renew membership to the group every 6 months 

What will young people get ?

  • The group will meet 3-4 times a month for a total of 3-4 hours per week. Capacity-building sessions, discussion meetings and review sessions will be held during this time. 
  • Members will be required to speak at online and in-person (situation permitting) events and platforms to represent the 10to19 Dasra Adolescents Collaborative. This would be over and above the regular meetings and trainings.  
  • Members are expected to advise and input on the strategic direction and choices of the Collaborative and ensure adherence to its purposes by reviewing documents, providing recommendations, providing feedback, serving as test group etc.  
  • Members are expected to provide strategic support in designing interventions and meetings with various stakeholders by preparing dockets for advocacy events, hosting panels and meetings, being the face of 10to19 Dasra Adolescents Collaborative ensuring we are speaking not only on behalf of young people but with them.
  • Members are expected to help bring perspective from other peers in their network. Through media, social media and community/ peer engagement they would influence greater participation and organic reach of their peers in our campaigns and activities.
  • We hope to recruit/renew membership to the group every 6 months 

Meet the members

Anisha Sharma

Anisha is from Ranchi, Jharkhand. She is currently studying Fashion Design and has a keen interest in the social sector. She has witnessed child marriage and early pregnancy in her community and is very passionate about child rights. Hence she has decided to connect with the social sector and know more about child marriage and women rights.

Ayushi Burman

Ayushi has had prior experience of working with People for Change on curriculum development and designing fun sessions. She is currently pursuing B.Com Finance

Dimpymoni Dutta

Ayushi has had prior experience of working with People for Change on curriculum development and designing fun sessions. She is currently pursuing B.Com Finance

Phula Kumari

Ayushi has had prior experience of working with People for Change on curriculum development and designing fun sessions. She is currently pursuing B.Com Finance

Seba Rehmani

Ayushi has had prior experience of working with People for Change on curriculum development and designing fun sessions. She is currently pursuing B.Com Finance

Shempu Kumari

Ayushi has had prior experience of working with People for Change on curriculum development and designing fun sessions. She is currently pursuing B.Com Finance

Teena

Ayushi has had prior experience of working with People for Change on curriculum development and designing fun sessions. She is currently pursuing B.Com Finance

We are always looking for young minds from diverse experiences and backgrounds to be part of our Young People Advisory Group

If you or someone you know may be interested in being a part of the group

Reference Example for easy understanding

STEP 1 - List & Shortlist

IDENTIFYING THE PROGRAM’S GAPS/NEEDS/OPPORTUNITIES
TABLE 1

The policy gap(s) addressed by the program

The exclusion of young people in the decision-making process for policy issues surrounding adolescents

Community need(s) addressed by the program

Greater awareness and understanding of adolescent issues regarding their education, sexual and reproductive health, and early marriage

Opportunity for innovation addressed by the program

The opportunity to bring and work together with critical stakeholders on a single platform

IDENTIFYING PROGRAM ACTIVITIES AND OTHER PROGRAM PRACTICES
TABLE 2

Day-to-day program activities

Stakeholder management, vendor management

Periodic program activities

Monitoring, reporting, training of personnel

One-off program activities

Government advocacy, designing campaigns

Tools/frameworks/systems & processes/ways of working from the program

Systems Change Framework

IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL PROMISING PRACTICES ACCORDING TO THE GUIDING FACTORS
TABLE 3

Program practices

Is the practice impactful? If yes, list down why?

Is the practice sustainable? If yes, list down why?   

Is the practice scalable? If yes, list down why?  

Is the practice innovative and/or unique? If yes, list down why?  

Youth-led social audits and presenting youth-centric priorities directly to decision makers

Yes, as it allows young people to directly engage with decision makers and contribute to the decision-making process

Yes, as it equips young people with leadership skills. It is also cost effective due to the long-term gains it offers upon initial investment

Yes, as such training modules can be replicated across multiple initiatives by other practitioners & organizations. In addition, trained young people can also train other young people

Yes, as it follows an approach which centers its design and delivery around young people, in an end-to-end manner

+

+

+

+

+

STEP 2 - Substantiate & Calibrate

IDENTIFYING THE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE SHORTLISTED PRACTICES
TABLE 4

Promising Practice

Youth-led social audits and presenting youth-centric priorities directly to decision makers to: (i) create a platform for youth to exercise their agency (ii) effectively engage decision makers

Source

  • Verbal evidence from community
  • Verbal feedback from on-ground team members
  • Project report & surveys

Details

Community feedback of adolescents feeling confident, understood, and acknowledged

On-ground team feedback on creation of government champions for the project’s objectives

Project report and surveys observe greater youth involvement and efficacy in engaging directly with decision maker

STEP 3 - Develop into a recommendation

IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL BENEFICIARIES AND STAKEHOLDERS
TABLE 5

RECOMMENDATIONS

Promising Practice

Youth-led social audits and presenting youth-centric priorities directly to decision makers to: (i) create a platform for youth to exercise their agency (ii) effectively engage decision makers

The demographic it addresses

Adolescents from the age of 10 to 19 years

The gap/ need/ opportunity it addresses

The exclusion of adolescents and young people in the decision-making process for policy issues regarding adolescents and young people

Govt stakeholders

Holding consultations with critical stakeholders and young people from the inception of a program

Funders

Taking inputs from all stakeholders and young people before initiating a new project to ensure a deeper visibility and understanding of their demographic and its needs

Other Practitioners

Engaging young people in decision-making processes to adopt a more collaborative approach between stakeholders and young people

Community Stakeholders

Undertaking youth-led social audits and engagement with decision makers to engage directly with young people, understand their needs & concerns and influence change at the community level

STEP 4 - Document

STEP 5 - Objective Review

5

Objective Review

Outcome

Promising Practices and recommendations ratified by at least one member/ partner organization/ community/ MEL partners outside of ‘the team’

5

Objective Review

Objective

To validate the final promising practice and recommendation(s) by at least one person/ partner organization/ community/ MEL partners outside of the team.

Outcome

Promising Practices and recommendations ratified by at least one member/ partner organization/ community/ MEL partner outside of ‘the team’

4

Document

Outcome

2-3 promising practices documenting:

 

  • What gap/need is addressed
  • How it is addressed and the change that is created
  • The potential for replicating along with recommendations for implementing

4

DEVELOP INTO A RECOMMENDATION

Objective

To document the promising practices in a detailed manner

Outcome

2-3 promising practices documented in a concise format capturing:

  • What gap/need is addressed
  • How it is addressed and the change that is created
  • The potential for replicating along with recommendations for implementing

3

Develop into a recommendation

Outcome

Well-articulated recommendation(s) addressing:

 

  • Demographic to cater to
  • Gaps/needs/opportunities addressed by the practice
  • The change brought in by implementing such a practice

3

DEVELOP INTO A RECOMMENDATION

Objective

To construct a recommendation in a brief, specific and clear-cut format which would assist other initiatives in implementing the same

Outcome

Clear and comprehensive recommendation(s) addressing:

 

  • Demographic to cater to
  • Gaps/needs/opportunities addressed by the practice
  • The direct/eventual beneficiaries of the program

2

CALIBRATE & SUBSTANTIATE

Outcome

Obtaining qualitative and/or quantitative data to assess the promise of the shortlisted practices according to the five guiding factors

Arriving at first list of promising practices

2

CALIBRATE & SUBSTANTIATE

Objective

To substantiate the shortlisted practices by collating gathered data in the form of:

 

  • Feedback from the community
  • Verbal accounts of the ground team
  • Documentation reports
  • Other valuable data

Outcome

Obtaining qualitative and/or quantitative data to assess the promise of the shortlisted practices according to the four guiding factors

First list of promising practices

1

List & Shortlist

Outcome

Identifying:

  • Policy gaps
  • Community needs
  • Opportunities for innovation and other aspects that the program is addressing.

    Creating a list of program practices that are working on-ground in bridging gaps/needs/opportunities.

1

List & Shortlist

Objective

To identify gaps/needs/opportunities and to shortlist program practices that are impactful, sustainable, scalable, innovative and/or unique.

Outcome

  • Policy gaps

  • Community needs

  • Opportunities for innovation and other aspects that the program is addressing.

  • A list of program practices that are working on-ground in bridging gaps/needs/opportunities.