Global Youth Action Network
Encyclopedia
The Global Youth Action Network (GYAN) is an international network of youth NGO
s spanning 180 countries, and headquartered in New York, near the United Nations. GYAN is a youth-led not for profit organization (registered in 2001, New York [USA], under section 501[c]3) that incubates global partnerships and increases youth participation in decision-making. GYAN has registered chapters in Brazil, Colombia, France, Ghana, Mexico, and South Africa, with teams working out of an additional eight countries.
GYAN is known for co-coordinating Global Youth Service Day, a program of Youth Service America, since its launch in 2000. These have grown into the world's largest annual celebration of young volunteers, with millions of participants. The organization has also worked to increase youth participation and channel youth voices into policy-making at international institutions, such as the United Nations
, where it holds Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and Affiliate Status with the Department of Public Information.
GYAN catalogs and helps to connect youth groups to each other, to information, resources and opportunities that empower their work for social change. Membership is open to any organization that does not promote hatred or violence towards others, and that is youth-led, youth-serving or youth-friendly. GYAN's 600 member organizations help determine future priorities for the Network, working to implement a "5-Level Model of Effective Youth Organizing", based on Integral theory
and 10 years of organizing experience.
Through a partnership with TakingITGlobal
, an active Internet community of student organizers, vounteers and activitists, GYAN has helped to catalog more than 10,000 youth organizations on-line. GYAN's YouthLinkExpress e-newsletter reaches tens of thousands of subscribing individuals, institutions and leaders in the youth development and other sectors.
GYAN works to educate and warn the public, especially young people in the social sector, about these hoaxes, and an alert regarding "hoax conferences" is featured on the GYAN website. GYAN has been the target of several such scams -- see, for example, the bogus web site at http://www.globalyouthaction.org.
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
s spanning 180 countries, and headquartered in New York, near the United Nations. GYAN is a youth-led not for profit organization (registered in 2001, New York [USA], under section 501[c]3) that incubates global partnerships and increases youth participation in decision-making. GYAN has registered chapters in Brazil, Colombia, France, Ghana, Mexico, and South Africa, with teams working out of an additional eight countries.
GYAN is known for co-coordinating Global Youth Service Day, a program of Youth Service America, since its launch in 2000. These have grown into the world's largest annual celebration of young volunteers, with millions of participants. The organization has also worked to increase youth participation and channel youth voices into policy-making at international institutions, such as the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, where it holds Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and Affiliate Status with the Department of Public Information.
GYAN catalogs and helps to connect youth groups to each other, to information, resources and opportunities that empower their work for social change. Membership is open to any organization that does not promote hatred or violence towards others, and that is youth-led, youth-serving or youth-friendly. GYAN's 600 member organizations help determine future priorities for the Network, working to implement a "5-Level Model of Effective Youth Organizing", based on Integral theory
Integral Theory
Integral Theory is a philosophy posited by Ken Wilber that seeks a synthesis of the best of pre-modern, modern, and postmodern reality. It claims to be a "theory of everything," and offers an approach "to draw together an already existing number of separate paradigms into an interrelated network of...
and 10 years of organizing experience.
Through a partnership with TakingITGlobal
TakingITGlobal
TakingITGlobal, which is also known as TIG, is a charitable non-governmental organization focusing on global issues by promoting awareness and engagement among global youth. It was founded in 1999 in Toronto, Canada by Jennifer Corriero and Michael Furdyk, who are the Executive Director and...
, an active Internet community of student organizers, vounteers and activitists, GYAN has helped to catalog more than 10,000 youth organizations on-line. GYAN's YouthLinkExpress e-newsletter reaches tens of thousands of subscribing individuals, institutions and leaders in the youth development and other sectors.
Mission
The Global Youth Action Network aims to:- increase youth participation and intergenerational partnership in decision-making
- facilitate greater collaboration among youth organizations
- create support and broader recognition for positive youth action
Vision
GYAN envisions millions of young people working together towards a more just, peaceful and sustainable world, where youth are seen as key stakeholders and are active participants in the design of their future. GYAN believes that critical issues facing the planet today demand every generation's attention and action, and that youth are instrumental in movements for positive social change.Programs
GYAN also helps to organize the following initiatives:- Global Youth Service Day
- Youth Movement for Democracy
- Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS
- Local Jam
- Chat the Planet TV
- Global Youth Action Awards
- Millennium Development Goals Youth Campaign
- G-Sync
History
The Global Youth Action Network evolved out of the United Nations Youth Assembly Project, proposed by 18-year old Benjamin Quinto in 1996, and the work of other young organizers, including Bremley Lyngdoh and Jonah Wittkamper. During the Hague Appeal for Peace (May, 1999, The Netherlands), and the United Youth Conference (July 1999, USA), young people helped to reshape the project and launch the Global Youth Action Network. GYAN opened its New York Headquarters in January, 2000, under the fiscal sponsorship of the One Day Foundation and Youth In Action, then incorporated the following year.Hoaxes
Internet hoaxes and phishing scams are now including youth conferences. These are promoted on-line, often via e-mail, promising free transportation and visa arrangements for participation in a conference, after a registration fee has been paid. Some scams now include elaborate bogus web sites and similarly named organizations.GYAN works to educate and warn the public, especially young people in the social sector, about these hoaxes, and an alert regarding "hoax conferences" is featured on the GYAN website. GYAN has been the target of several such scams -- see, for example, the bogus web site at http://www.globalyouthaction.org.
See also
- Youth ActivismYouth activismYouth activism is when the youth voice is engaged in community organizing for social change. Around the world, young people are engaged in activism as planners, researchers, teachers, evaluators, social workers, decision-makers, advocates and leading actors in the environmental movement, social...
- United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY Peacebuilders)
- TakingITGlobalTakingITGlobalTakingITGlobal, which is also known as TIG, is a charitable non-governmental organization focusing on global issues by promoting awareness and engagement among global youth. It was founded in 1999 in Toronto, Canada by Jennifer Corriero and Michael Furdyk, who are the Executive Director and...
- Peace Child InternationalPeace child internationalPeace Child International is a UK based charity focusing on sustainable development and youth empowerment.-History of the Organisation:Peace Child International began during the Cold War as a musical, based on Bernard Benson's The Peace Book, aimed at resolving conflict between the USA and USSR,...
- Higher Ground for HumanityHigher Ground For HumanityHigher Ground for Humanity is a non-profit organization located in Carlsbad, California. It is a humanitarian foundation which works in education, research, program development, and innovative partnering with other charities....
- Youth councilYouth councilYouth councils are a form of youth voice engaged in community decision-making. Youth councils exist on local, state, provincial, regional, national, and international levels among governments, NGOs, schools, and other entities.-About:...
- Youth movement
- Youth participationYouth participationYouth participation is the active engagement of young people throughout their communities. It is often used as a short-hand for youth participation in any many forms, including decision-making, sports, schools and any activity where young people are not historically engaged.-Coinage:Youth...
- Youth voiceYouth voiceYouth voice refers to the distinct ideas, opinions, attitudes, knowledge, and actions of young people as a collective body. The term youth voice often groups together a diversity of perspectives and experiences, regardless of backgrounds, identities, and cultural differences...
- National Youth Service DayNational Youth Service DayGlobal Youth Service Day , originally launched and known as National Youth Service Day in the United States, is a coordinated annual event which gathers young people around the world in conducting community service, service learning, and youth voice activities that benefit their communities, their...
- Global Youth Action Network Award
External links
- GYAN's Youthlink.org website
- YouthLinkExpress GYAN's e-Newsletter Subscription
- TakingITGlobal.org, strategic partner of GYAN
- Peace Child International, partner of GYAN
- Guide to Youth Movements
- GYAN Mexico web site (in Spanish)
- GYAN Sao Paulo web site (in Portuguese)
- GYAN France web site (in French)
- GYAN Ghana web site