UNAOC Young Peacebuilders in MENA Programme 2017 – (Fully-funded to Amman, Jordan)

Deadline: August 31, 2017
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is pleased to launch the Call for Applications for the Young Peacebuilders in Middle East and North Africa programme. The Young Peacebuilders in MENA edition is designed to engage young women and young men from the MENA region in an intercultural dialogue and peacebuilding experience.
The aim is to support the growth of networks of young peacebuilders who are equipped with the tools to address stereotypes, prejudice and polarization in order to build more inclusive and peaceful societies in their communities and globally. Up to 20 young women and young men affiliated with youth-led and youth-focused organizations will be selected to participate in an intercultural dialogue and peacebuilding experience.
Programme Details
• Part 1: online phase (2 months). Participants access the course through an online collaborative platform provided by UNAOC. UNAOC and other trainers facilitate the first few modules of the curriculum, giving an opportunity to participants to get to know each other prior to their first in-person meeting. They also start getting exposed to tools and concepts, engage in discussion and start reflecting on their individual and joint action. Time commitment: 2 to 3 hours per week to complete the modules (some work can be completed offline).
• Part 2: face-to-face workshop (1 week). All participants travel to Amman, Jordan to complete modules and field visits with trainers and facilitators. They also work together on the development of the group final products and their own action plans. Time commitment: one week (5 working days + 3 days for travel, arrival and departure activities).
• Part 3: online follow-up phase (3/4 months). Participants stay connected through the online platform, improve their final products and report on the implementation of their action plans. Each participant must commit to complete three follow up actions in the months following the workshop. This part consolidates the network and follow-up mechanisms, ensuring the members of the group continue to support each other after the end of the programme.
• Part 4: results sharing symposium (1 day). Participants are invited to participate in a symposium during which they share their experience, lessons learned, achievements and recommendations with a broader audience of practitioners, policy makers, media and the general public. They also engage with this audience on topics related to intercultural dialogue, peace and security. Time commitment: 3 days (1 day symposium + 2 days for travel, arrival and departure activities).
Implemented in collaboration with Generations For Peace, the aim of this programme is to support the growth of networks of young peacebuilders who are equipped with the tools to address stereotypes, prejudice and polarization in order to build more inclusive and peaceful societies in their communities and globally. It is part of UNAOC’s educational programming for young people, which seeks to enhance the ability of young people and their organizations to foster mutual respect, understanding and long-term positive relationships between peoples of different cultures and religions.
Benefits
As an official policy, the organizers of Young Peacebuilders programme do not require payment of any participation fee. All selected youth participants will be provided with
• Round-trip travel (international or domestic flight, economy class) to Amman, Jordan for the face-to-face workshop as well as to the city of the symposium;
• Shared accommodation (double-rooms), with a participant from the same gender, in the city of the workshop and the city of the symposium;
• Meals and coffee breaks during the official duration of the workshops in Amman and the symposium;
• Shuttles or reimbursement of transportation to/from the airport and hotel in Amman and city of the symposium.
Eligibility
This is a call to youth aged 18-25 from MENA wanting to build inclusive societies through understanding and respect among cultural and religious communities. To be eligible, you must fulfill the following requirements:
• Be between 18 and 25 years old
• Be a citizen of a MENA country and do you currently live in this region (Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, State of Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen)
• Have interested in taking part in an intercultural learning experience with other young people from MENA and develop joint actions to promote peace
• Have a strong interest in growing their ability to act as agents of peace in their community, region and beyond.
• Be part of a youth-led organization, network or initiative
• Have a desire to increase your ability to contribute to peace and social inclusion in your community, country and region
• Be in the beginning stages of your involvement in this type of work and want to learn more
• Have a good command of English: You should understand English very well; possess intermediate to fluent levels of English, which you to participate to the conversation and input.
• Hold an international passport valid until at least November 1, 2018. Failure to provide a copy in due time will result in cancellation of participation.
• Have never taken part in a programme of UNAOC (Summer School, Youth Solidarity Fund, Intercultural Innovation Award, Plural+, PeaceApp, Youth Event at the UNAOC Global Forum, Fellowship Program)
If you meet the requirement, apply now for a chance to be selected for a fully funded participation to the UNAOC Young Peacebuilders in MENA programme.
Selection Criteria
1. Motivation and contribution to the programme
2. Interest in themes
3. Experience and potential
4. Outreach
5. Future impact and follow up
Application
In order to be considered complete and valid, application package must include the following and be submitted through the online application system available at apply.unaoc.org:
• An application form, completed and certified by the applicant;
• A copy of the identification page of your international passport.
Word/character limit for each question in the application form needs to be respected. The application system automatically counts words and characters.