Youth Policy

This policy is to be reviewed every 2 years. 

Policy Review due by:

YOUTH POLICY

Adopted by the 5th session of the General Assembly held on ………… in Funafuti. To be reviewed by the next session of the General Assembly in _______.

INTRODUCTION

The Red Cross Red Crescent humanitarian commitment to prevent and alleviate human suffering with which young people identify themselves. Young people are the heart and soul of any community and through their actions young people can make a significant difference and contribution to meeting the needs of the most vulnerable people.

Tuvalu Red Cross Society recognises this and has developed this policy to assist with the development of youth. This policy establishes the process to expand the motivation, idealism, enthusiasm, skills and energy of young people for the benefit of the Society.

Youth participation encompasses the active and effective engagement of young people along with the necessary and relevant input of other members of society. As such the roles of relevant partners involved in the Tuvalu Red Cross Society in ensuring that this principal age is recognised and supported, is described in this policy. 

The terms ‘youth’ and ‘young people’ in the Tuvalu National Youth Policy cover people in the age range from 5 to 35 years. This includes children (5-14), adolescents (12 to 17 years old), and young adults (18 to 30 years old) married or single.

TUVALU RED CROSS YOUTH PROGRAMME

The youth and volunteer do not have a department but under the department of communication and is a core component of Tuvalu Red Cross Society. Its goal is to strengthen the ability of Tuvalu Red Cross Society to provide efficient and effective services to young people in Tuvalu and, in return, to ensure their participation in Red Cross Programmes implemented in the community and Services. 

Traditionally children and adolescents are expected to be included/seen as ‘beneficiaries’ of Tuvalu Red Cross Society activities and programmes. They now will be provided the support and opportunity to serve and contribute to addressing the needs of the most vulnerable in Tuvalu Community through active engagement with the Tuvalu Red Cross. 

The inclusion of ‘young adults’ in the Society’s programmes and activities have mainly revolved around project delivery and a limited extent ‘management’. Young adults will be provided the relevant levels of support to further increase their involvement with the Society. 

Various strategies are currently being used by the Tuvalu Red Cross Society to ensure that young people are both ‘recipient’ and ‘benefactors’ of Red Cross Programmes that are related to the needs of young people and to the work being carried out by the society. 

POLICY STATEMENTS 

Young people have a key role to play in the provision of the Movement’s Services 

• Young people are a large part of the Tuvalu Red Cross Society volunteer workforce-directly involved in service delivery.
• Young people are skilled peer educators & advocates
• Young people are significant agents of change

Young people are an important target group both in the membership and in the wider community

• Young people should be able to feel a sense of belonging within TuRCS
• Young people face social issues but with support, are part of the solution to those issues
• Resilience of young people is built through opportunities to take action

Young people have a role in the Leadership and Management of the Movement today

• Young people have a right to independence within the organisation
• Young people bring unique skills to TuRCS which add value and complement the skills of older members
• A number of strategies are needed for participation at all levels & to enable young people to provide advice to TuRCS on a range of issues.
• A number of strategies are needed for participation at all levels & to enable young people to provide advice to TuRCS on a range of issues. 

TODAY’S LEADERS OF THE YOUTH PROGRAMME ARE THE RED CROSS MOVEMENT OF TOMORROW’S LEADERS

• Young people are both learning and acting in partnership with more-experienced members through the provision of on-the job-learning hence laying foundations for the future of TuRCS. 
• Young people need opportunities to practice new skills to sustain interest and to share responsibility

YOUNG PEOPLE NEED NURTURING

• At all levels, TuRC should consult with young people to see what support is appropriate and required
• With support young people can develop their potential
• Support is required to gain & practice skills, to enable peer support and to ensure sustainability of programs and the organisation
• The contribution of young people involved within the Society need to be valued otherwise the Movement will not reap the benefits of their involvement

STRATEGY

In accepting this policy, each of the partners in the TRCS Youth Program have a number of tasks to perform:

Young people will:

• Be directly involved in delivering services as volunteers for the Society
• Benefit through the delivery and experience of programme activities and information obtained within the TuRCS.
• Have a say in decisions that affect them as beneficiaries of programs, as volunteers or as program participants
• Work with more experienced members of the Society to gain and practice skills
• Be given opportunities to express their skills and idealism at all levels of the Society and to implement the activities that they have learned during trainings at allocated areas of responsibility in their work as volunteers
• Use their unique skills as peer educators and advocates to further the programs of the TuRCS and to disseminate information about the Society to peers
• Demonstrate and promote mutual respect for the other stakeholders
• Take responsibility and initiative by developing or participating in the development of policies and programmes for youth members. 
• Strive to complete the minimum requirements and standards required of volunteers in the TuRCS Volunteer Recruitment Process.
• Advocate the 7 Fundamental Principles not only to the Branch but their Communities as a whole
• Respect the community they live in and the community to serve

BRANCH YOUTH LEADERS WILL:

• Be active ambassadors of the Red Cross movement, knowing their responsibilities and having a passion for volunteering
• Serve as the 4th (fourth) elected executive member of Branches, and will be provided with executive training to be able to carry our his/her duties
• Appoint a team of youth volunteers who equally represent islands within their given Branch territories to act as Branch Youth Commissioners within the Branch. 
• Develop Branch Youth activities that are in line with the national youth action plan.
• Provide opportunities for young people to develop and utilise their skills
• Train apprentices to serve as assistants during their terms of service for the sustainability of youth programs in the Branch 
• Assist in training young people, specifically in clarifying roles and responsibilities of youth volunteers within Branch levels
• Ensure the adherence of Branch programmes to the standard objectives of the Volunteer Recruitment Process. 
• Assist in training older Branch members to recognise and use the skills of young people in service provision and decision making, particularly in the cooperation of youth ideas in programme planning and implementation
• Assist the Branch to contribute to programmes within their community involving young people.
• Establish clear communication structure at branch level, right up to the divisional level. 
• Act as liaison between young people and our stakeholders until such time as young people are trained and supported to represent themselves and the TuRCS
• Work in stronger collaboration with stakeholders at divisional level to improve youth programmes.
• Encourage and enable young people to work with other members at all levels.

BRANCHES WILL:

• Recognise the skills and contributions of young people and facilitate their involvement in all aspects of Branch activities
• Support youth ideas, decisions and views in all levels within the Branch
• Provide appropriate training on policies and strategies that advocate for the proper integration of youth activities and plans in all Branch programmes.
• Support Youth Officers in their role as the 4th (fourth) member of Branch Executive membership, as well as ensure the democratic election of Youth Officers by Youth Volunteers in the Branch
• Support Branch Youth Commissioners in youth related activities within the Branch.
• Ensure the coherent and effective implementation of the Volunteer Recruitment Process for Youth Volunteers
• Be involved in delivering services with youth members
• Encourage young people to be part of the solution to their issues, ensuring youth engagement and involvement is strengthen in all aspects of Branch development and the resilience of their communities
• Provide support to young people to reach their potential, through trainings and youth development opportunities
• Provide appropriate identification, equipment and protective wear for the task or role youth volunteers are asked to do.
• Allow youths to meet on a monthly basis so as to ensure the consistent running of Youth Programmes activities
• Identify and modify programmes to be more inclusive of young people as participants and volunteers
• Revise current structure to ensure accessible support to, and from, young people
• Recommend strategies and structures which enable youth participation at all levels
• Demonstrate mutual respect for all other stakeholders

NATIONAL OFFICE YOUTH PRESIDENT WILL:

• In consultation with Branches, Branch Youth Leaders and young people, develop programs models to allow young people to learn about the Red Cross Mission and Principles and which provide opportunities to act on information in local communities
• Regularly review and evaluate youth programs to assess their performance and include feedback from young participants and volunteers to continuously improve program format
• Provide appropriate and accessible training to all branch youth officers and other branch personnel who work with young people
• Develop programmes and activities, in consultation with the branches, to create opportunities for trained personnel to utilise the knowledge received from trainings 
• Support Branch level trainings on policies and strategies that advocate for the proper integration of youth activities and plans in all Branch programmes
• Ensure the proper adherence of Branches to the Volunteer Recruitment Process and appropriate selection and coaching of Youth Volunteers through the process. 
• Provide resources to assist trained personnel with their work, including areas of work and training with other TuRCS stakeholders
• In consultation with Branch Youth Leaders’ to develop a national youth plan of action that is relevant to all branches
• Carry out Branch quarterly visits so as to ensure Youth programs run consistently with national youth plan of action
• Convene regular meetings with Branch Youth Leaders and Branch Youth Volunteers to encourage peer to peer networking and support
• Develop strategic and sustainable partnerships with other stakeholders
• Facilitate the involvement of young people in decision making at all levels
• Ensure Branches are incorporating the proper integration of Youth activities and plans, in live with the adoption of Youth Leaders as the 4th (fourth) member of Branch Executives
• Facilitate the process of establishing the National Youth Commission and the incorporation of gender balance within the Commission. 
• Provide appropriate Programs updates to Branches when necessary
• Support initiated fundraising activities for the Programme in all level of the Society. 
• Liaise with components of the Movement to provide a standard definition of youth for the National Society, to access resources and support for programs and to provide policy support for youth participation at all levels of the Society

THE SECRETARY GENERAL WILL:

• Regulate the implementation of the Policy
• Liaise between National Board and National Youth Coordinator
• Support and guide the establishment of the National Youth Commission
• Ensure the Youth Department is well resources financially and provided with policy direction to facilitate their work
• Enable safe environments of dialogue and discussion with TuRCS management in regard to Youth issues and concerns
• Provide recognition and opportunities for young people to participate at all levels within the Society

THE NATIONAL BOARD OF TuRCS WILL:

• Support the development and function of the National Youth Federation
• Support the development of policies aimed at youth participation within the society;
• Provide recognition and opportunities for young people to participate in all levels of the Society
• Visit Branches along with Programme personnel, when necessary to further support programme implementation at Branch and Community levels.

THE NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL OF TuRCS WILL:

• Support the development of policies aimed at youth participation
• Provide guidance on engaging young people in all levels of the Society
• Support the National Youth Council
• Provide counsel and support when necessary within their branches to Youth Commissioners, Youth Volunteers at large

THE NATIONAL OFFICE (Departments other than youth) WILL:

• Encourage and support the participation of young people in all TuRCS programs and services and support
• Provide appropriate support to the National Office Youth Focal Point in regard to its programmes plans and activities
• Recognise the skills of young people that enable them to have a role in decision making about programs and services that affect them as beneficiaries, participants and/or volunteers
• Support young people in their endeavours to recruit peers and deliver programs
• Ensure young people have equitable access to training and representation across all TuRCS Programs and committees
• Support Branch Youth Commissioners and Branches through the provision of criteria for National Programs and appropriate resources
• Act as liaison points between the Board and young people for programs outside the youth area until such time as youth representation on the Board may be established and supported.