In pursuit of promoting collaboration, learning, and the amplification of youth narratives and best practices, Dasra is thrilled to announce the National Youth Conclave, scheduled to take place in Delhi in February 2024. We’ve embarked on this journey with an ongoing series of events and initiatives designed for young people, paving the way for the grand culmination.
At the heart of our initiative lie three guiding principles:
We’re bringing adolescents together as a vibrant community, to co-create inclusive spaces where young people collaborate seamlessly with diverse stakeholders, and amplify their voices and aspirations to ignite lasting, sustainable change.
However, this dividend can only be realised when young people of different identities are given an supportive environment to enhance and exercise their agency. Through our initiative, we are co-creating safe spaces for meaningful dialogue and discussion for young people on issues that impact their lives.
We aspire to establish a holistic platform, weaving together a tapestry of diverse voices and perspectives. Our approach blends both in-person and virtual events engaging diverse stakeholders relevant to cultivating youth leadership, including youth leaders, youth centric/serving organisations (NGOs and multilaterals), government stakeholders, players from the private sector, social media influencers, and many more!
Create a space for young people to represent their work, share their insights, celebrate their accomplishments, and engage in collaboration
Share best practices by sector practitioners towards advancing youth agency within specific thematic areas
Connect young people to key stakeholders like government, donor community, and private sector decision-makers
The focus of this initiative will be to facilitate young people from diverse backgrounds to share insights on their overall aspirations and articulate what will help them achieve the same.
Some of the different areas of exploration could be:
And many more…
Co-host a session/event on a theme you hold expertise in between Sep 2023-January 2024!
Be the lead in holding a panel around a certain thematic area, bringing in the right people, holding relevant discussions.
Is there an amazing piece of research or learnings that you want to amplify to the world? We can help you!
Work with us to amplify youth voices in the digital and print space!
Alternatively, you can also reach out to us at sai@dasra.org or epcita@dasra.org
We believe that collective, urgent action is required to address the pressing issues faced by young people, and nurturing strong partnerships lies at the heart of this effort. Partner with us in a nationwide initiative that brings together more than 20 organizations across India to collectively spotlight the voices of adolescents and youth.
Reference Example for easy understanding
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
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
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
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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
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
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
Objective Review
Objective Review
Document
DEVELOP INTO A RECOMMENDATION
Develop into a recommendation
DEVELOP INTO A RECOMMENDATION
CALIBRATE & SUBSTANTIATE
Obtaining qualitative and/or quantitative data to assess the promise of the shortlisted practices according to the five guiding factors
CALIBRATE & SUBSTANTIATE
Obtaining qualitative and/or quantitative data to assess the promise of the shortlisted practices according to the four guiding factors
List & Shortlist
List & Shortlist
To identify gaps/needs/opportunities and to shortlist program practices that are impactful, sustainable, scalable, innovative and/or unique.
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.