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This guide originates from a lively and ongoing programme of cooperation between The Alliance of Youth CEOs (composed of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, the World Alliance of Young Men’s Christian Associations, the World Young Women’s Christian Association, the International Award Association and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies) and UNICEF. They have joined together with other United Nations and non-governmental (NGO) partners (UNEP, UNDP, United Nations Programme on Youth, FAO, UNFCCC, Earth Child Institute) to build on and complement existing initiatives at global, national and local levels. The contributing organizations are committed to supporting children and young people to engage as members of society in ways that acknowledge and respond to gender roles.
The changing global environment puts young people’s communities at risk and threatens their collective and individual futures. This booklet is a guide on how you, as a facilitator, peer educator, project officer, teacher or youth worker, can support young people in non-formal learning settings, both in and out of school, to take action in addressing the challenges of climate change.
It aims to support you to focus the energy and ideas of children and young people into effective activism. This can take a range of forms, from practical projects such as tree planting or making solar cookers, to awareness-raising workshops or performances, community mapping and preparing for natural disasters.
While this guide includes suggestions and sample activities, its aim is to support young people to participate, give them a sense of empowerment, and build their skills and values, through whatever action they choose. The actions you take with your group will be determined by the challenges facing your community, the concerns and ideas of your group members, and the resources available to you.
This resource can be used with any group: large or small, formal or informal, girls, boys or mixed-gender groups. However, Climate change: Take action now! places special emphasis on the power and potential of girls and young women as catalysts for change in their communities.
