Positive youth development (PYD) in action—stories about the application and impact of a holistic, youth centered approach—is the embodiment of this issue. This is what YouthPower is all about: expanding the evidence base for what works in positive youth development and applying improved approaches across programs and sectors. We hope that these stories inspire you and that these resources support your work with young people and their families, communities, and governments so that youth can reach their full potential.

We encourage you to think ahead to March, which offers opportunities to raise awareness on key issues important to the lives of young people, such as HIV/AIDS stigma on Zero Discrimination Day (March 1) and challenges for young women on International Women's Day (March 8). YouthPower.org has added new resources and events that can help your work creating an AIDS-free generation, promoting gender equity, and ending stigma and gender-based violence. 
 
Lastly, stay tuned for a special announcement in March as we launch a new prize competition to recognize innovations that advance young women’s economic empowerment.

-YouthPower Learning Team
 

UPCOMING EVENTS

February 7, 2018: Deadline for submission: RFP 401-05-01 YouthPower Learning Website Development
February 8, 2018: YouthPower Learning Gender and Positive Youth Development Community of Practice Meeting and Webinar 
February 13, 2018: Webinar: "Mining Youth Data for Actionable Insights: The 2017 Global Youth Wellbeing Index"
February 14–16, 2018: 2018 Winter Youth Assembly: Innovation and Collaboration for a Sustainable World
February 28, 2018: Call for papers: Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health in Central African Region
March 1, 2018: Zero Discrimination Day (see 2017 campaign)
March 8, 2018: International Women's Day
March 15, 2018: Deadline for session proposal submissions for AEA's Evaluation 2018
Stay tuned for YouthPower Learning Prize activity in March!

Mitra Kunci provides Indonesian youth with valuable training and experience" 

​Caribbean youth harness power of geo-mapping

Bank, nail salon, veterinary clinic, police station, hardware store, soup kitchen: a team of young people walk through the streets of Soufrière, Saint Lucia, collecting information on the town’s landmarks and assets and building up a map of their community.

What are these young people doing on behalf of the Community, Family and Youth Resilience program? They are learning important work and life skills while they conduct an asset mapping exercise for their community. How will this data, entered into Open Street Map, help Soufrière reduce crime and violence and increase opportunities for highly vulnerable youth? Read more
 

Youth-targeted, market-driven vocational training with Empleando Futuros

Empleando Futuros is using a Participatory Occupational Analysis methodology to develop youth-targeted, market-driven vocational training curricula. Starting with a two-day workshop, co-led by the National Institute of Professional Training (INFOP), practitioners, supervisors, and human resource leaders representing the targeted positions identify the key knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for entry-level staff. INFOP then develops a certified training curriculum based on this market-driven guidance. 
 
Taking a different approach to develop a training curriculum for restaurant operators, Empleando Futuros joined with Grupo INTUR, Honduras’ largest fast-food, casual dining and convenience store operator with over 200 years of practical experience. The curriculum included input from young employees with similar profiles as project beneficiaries.

More from Empleando Futuros:

• Fact sheet: Tertiary Prevention Services: Reducing Risk among the Most-at-Risk Youth 
• Fact sheet: Instituto Nacional de Formación Professional Institutional Strengthening

 

​Aprendo y Emprendo training prepares youth for success on Nicaraguan islands

Shiera Richarson (left) graduated from the Aprendo y Emprendo professional certification program in the tourism sector, which teaches key job and soft skills, including positive customer service, collaboration and quality management. 

“I have learned to make decisions for myself, to solve situations myself and to discover that there are things that I can solve without bringing the issue to management,” she says. “In the future, I see myself as a hotel manager in Corn Island.” Read more
 

NEW RESOURCES ON YOUTHPOWER.ORG

YouthPower Learning Resources

• Webinar: White Dove" radio project presentation
• YouthPower Learning Peace & Security CoP meeting
• YouthPower Learning Brief: PYD Approaches to Mitigate Sexual Violence and Coercion Among Adolescents: Building Choice, Voice, and Agency for Prevention and Response

Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL)

• Navigating Ethical Challenges in Qualitative Research With Children and Youth Through Sustaining Mindful Presence

Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance

• Baseline study: ​USAID West Bank Youth Cohort Study
• Education Inequality and Violent Conflict: Evidence and Policy Considerations

Economic Growth, Education, and Environment

• “Teaching Gender to Secondary and Tertiary Students” Online Training Course
• An Examination of MOOC Usage for Professional Workforce Development Outcomes in Colombia, the Philippines, & South Africa
• Evidence Gap Map on Adolescent Well-being in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Protection, participation, and financial and material well-being

 Gender

• Toolkit: Gender-Based Violence Quality Assurance Tool
• Engaging Men and Boys in Family Planning: A Strategic Planning Guide

 Health

• Journal article: Improving retention in HIV care among adolescents and adults in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review of the literature
• Journal article: Interventions to improve antiretroviral therapy adherence among adolescents in LMICs: A systematic review of the literature
• Technical tool: International technical guidance on sexuality education (UN)

Find more resources and events at YouthPower.org.