The Youth Action Guide Training Model
Download the resources for training here
The Youth Action Guide Training Modules aim to support young people who advocate for social change by creating dynamic and interactive training events that build their skill and a sense of community among those trained around the world. In order to support cohorts of young people who want to work through these resources together, different training modules have been developed and the materials to deliver those trainings are available for all to use and adapt as they see fit. Below, you will find two training modules - one for virtual training and one for in-person training.
Clicking on the links will prompt you to create your own copy of a Training Script (in Google Docs) and a Collaborative Workspace/Slide Deck for participants (in Google Slides). Each training must reflect the group that is hosting it, as well as the participants’ backgrounds and hopes. Please adapt these materials to make the slides and content your own. Feel free to share your improvements with the UNICEF Team that will continue to update these materials by emailing [email protected].
Virtual Training Script and Virtual Collaborative Workspace
In-person Training Script and In-person Collaborative Workspace
Learn More About the Training Model
The training is designed to take place over a total of three days, with three modules designed to help the Youth Action Guide come alive in a series of participatory learning experiences. The training starts by focusing on the young changemakers and understanding their personal stories and connections to the advocacy issue, while also familiarizing them with key concepts and terms related to advocacy and the Youth Action Guide. We then move to discuss the people and resources surrounding the advocate, allowing the advocate to better form, join and interact with different networks and develop allyships, as well as learn skills to better communicate their advocacy issue and goals. Finally, we end the training by exploring the potential actions an advocate might take as part of their plan to act on their advocacy journey and help them begin to craft an advocacy plan for the next few months. We used the UNICEF Youth Action Guide as our source document which supports this training and is the core content source.
This training is aimed at advocates at the beginning of their learning journey with advocacy. The participant is expected to have some general background knowledge on, and experience with, advocacy, and will have access to the UNICEF Youth Action Guide prior to the module. Participants should already be committed to an advocacy issue and want to work towards the development of solutions around their issue. Each changemaker is expected to come to the training with their own personal experiences, areas of focus, and existing skills in advocacy to share. They will have different learning needs depending on goals and context. This training and the accompanying documents are not a step-by-step instruction manual as the journey of an advocate is not a linear one, but personal to each advocate.
Examples of who might participate in this training include:
- A student involved in a school club with a social change mission who attends this training independently and brings advocacy skills back to share with their peers.
- A young person personally affected by an issue who has been called upon to represent that experience in public spaces and wants build confidence to do that effectively.
- A young leader already active in national or international advocacy efforts who wants to be sure they have a well-rounded set of advocacy skills.
- A student who is focused on a school or community policy they want to change and wants to develop some advocacy skills to bring more people to their cause.
Adaptations of the Youth-led Action Training
Understanding that young changemakers often require tailored support based on their unique needs and the issues they champion, UNICEF has collaborated closely with young people and global partners to create targeted, context-specific training adaptations. These specialized resources are designed to equip youth advocates working in specific areas with the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to drive meaningful change. By addressing the diverse challenges faced by young leaders, this approach ensures that each advocate receives the support most relevant to their cause and community.