New youth challenge launched calling on young innovators to design solutions to #ENDViolence against and among children
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The Youth Challenge forms part of Generation Unlimited – a new global initiative to get every young person into school, learning, training or employment by 2030
Skopje, 2 October 2018 – A new challenge calling on young innovators from across the country to design solutions against violence, bullying and cyber bullying was officially launched today.
Winning applicants will contribute to the success of the global Generation Unlimited, which is a new, ambitious partnership – launched at a high-level event during the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly – aimed at getting every young person into quality education, training or employment by 2030.
“Young people are some of the best inventors, creators and innovators out there,” said Ms Elspeth Erikson, UNICEF Deputy Representative. “We hope this challenge will inspire incredible ideas from this country to contribute to the global initiative to help tackle some of the pressing challenges facing young lives today.”
The Youth Challenge - which this year takes place in 16 countries worldwide, including ours, calls for applications from young people to create solutions that will support the three key pillars of Generation Unlimited: secondary-age education; skills for learning, employability and decent work; and empowerment. In our country, the focus will be on solutions to #EndViolence against and among children.
Around the world up to 1 billion children experience some form of violence. Half of the world's teens experience peer violence in and around school. It’s not different in our country, where half of the children aged 2-14 experience physical punishment in the home. And where 8 in 10 parents report using violent methods (psychological or physical punishment) to raise children.
Violence among peers is also happening every day. As many as 42% of thirteen to fifteen-year-old boys and girls report being bullied at school and/or having been involved in a physical fight.
And bullying is also happening online, where the perpetrators remain anonymous, but the consequences devastating.
Young, creative innovators are encouraged to apply for the youth challenge having in mind the specific goals:
- How can we create support system, platforms and connect role models - for victims that will make it easier for them to report and seek help from professionals and peers?
- How can we reduce bullying, cyberbullying and violence among young people in and around schools including public spaces and public transport?
- How can we change perceptions and attitudes among adults (e.g. parents, teachers, etc.) towards meaningful engagement of adolescents and young people in their communities?
Successful applicants will be invited to take part in design workshop in Skopje from 16th until 18th of November. Following the workshops, the five most promising ideas will be selected and awarded up to USD 1,000 each in funding and provided with mentoring to support the projects’ implementation.
In spring 2019, shortlisted projects from each country will be submitted to a global judging process. These projects will receive a further USD 20,000 investment, along with a tailored mentorship programme from Generation Unlimited partners to support them to scale.
The youth challenge in our country is being implemented with support from UNICEF and SmartUp Innovation Lab.
With 1.8 billion young people in the world, Generation Unlimited is a dynamic global partnership that draws on the expertise of young people, representatives from governments, multilateral organizations, the private sector and civil society to inspire urgent investment in education, skills training, and empowerment for the rapidly growing global population of adolescents and young people aged between 10 and 24 years old.
Generation Unlimited brings together partners to co-create and support solutions that are proven and have the potential to deliver results at scale, and to develop a platform to share knowledge and learning and provide young people with a space to engage and co-create.
With more than 200 million young people of lower- and upper-secondary school age currently missing out on school, instead of contributing to equitable progress, young people – especially the most disadvantaged – could face futures of compounding deprivation and poverty, unless urgent action is taken.
Generation Unlimited – which contributes to the implementation of the United Nations’ Youth 2030 Strategy – will complement and build on existing programmes that support adolescents and young people.
More information about the youth challenge can be found on https://genunlimited.mk/
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About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org.