Participation Expert At Save the Children

The aim of the assignment is to guarantee the significant and quality participation of the girls and boys of the Youth Movement.

The Youth Movement for Save the Children is an active network throughout the national territory that permanently involves more than 500 young people between 14 and 25 years old engaged in promoting the rights of children and adolescents.

Specifically, the Participation Expert is responsible for the following actions:

“Lead4change group coordination and guarantor of the significant participation of the young people of the Youth Movement”:

The national coordination group of the Youth Movement (Lead4Change) was established in September 2022, is continuing its journey in 2023/24 and new participants are expected by September 2024.

The group involves around 20 participants between 17 and 25 years old and meets on average every 15 days online and 4 times a year in a residential manner in Rome (approximately in the months of October, January, March, June).

The group has the task of promoting and representing the values of the Youth Movement for Save the Children internally and externally: to this end, it participates in events and/or meetings with citizen groups and with the Change the Future editorial team. It also has the task of communicating externally by promoting, through participation in moments of representation, local and national activities and the positions of the Youth Movement.

The Lead4Change group also represents the point of contact and dialogue between the Youth Movement and the Save the Children organization and has the task of co-planning, with the coordination of the Youth Movement Area and other key interlocutors of the organisation, the activities at national (campaigns, consultations, festivals/summer schools, etc).

In particular, the main events scheduled for 2024 in which Lead4Change will be involved are:

co-planning and participation in Impossibile 2024,
dialogue and discussion with the organization (management and board) to establish the art. 6 of the Statute
co-planning and implementation of the “Diffuse Festival of the Youth Movement” with a series of mobilization events in the territories.
National mobilization and advocacy actions on: Climate – Inclusion – Gender Equity – Wellbeing.

During the empowerment process, the Lead4Change group will be offered the following “training experiences”:

– insights into the 4 priority themes for the Movement (Environment, Gender Equity, Inclusion, Wellbeing) as well as on rights education, community management, advocacy, campaigning in collaboration with partners and experts.

– Youth exchanges, territorial field visits and participation in events and festivals for discussion, strengthening and expansion of the youth activism network.

– Individual feedback moments with Save the Children coordination to evaluate the path and make it increasingly in line with the needs of the participants.

To this end, the expert:

He is responsible for the Lead4Change national coordination group and defines its educational and empowerment objectives. She takes care of the organisation, logistics and educational management of the meetings, in person and remotely (4 residential meetings per year + stable online meetings on a weekly basis).
He is responsible for the empowerment path of the Lead4Change group as well as for the co-planning of all actions of national and international importance involving the Youth Movement.
It is an internal (also in dialogue with the other Areas of the Organization), operational and educational point of reference for the involvement of the young people of the Youth Movement in all initiatives promoted internally and externally to the organization as well as conceived by the young people themselves. (for example: communication and mobilization actions, events, focus groups, consultations, training, empowerment and discussion activities between young people and the organisation…).

“Youth Space Project Manager”:

Inaugurated in May 2022, the Youth Space is located in Rome, on the ground floor of the Save the Children headquarters with the aim of offering a “physical” space to promote youth activism and participation. Animated by the Youth Movement groups with the support of volunteers in civil service, it is a space open to youth associations, schools and informal groups where events, exhibitions, workshops, live radio broadcasts, screenings and talks are held. The Youth Space also hosts specific mobilization actions planned as part of the GIFT – Giovani_Impegno_Futuro_Territorio project. Paths of youth empowerment, mobilization and protagonism for sustainable development based on the rights of minors and on the 2030 Agenda ” (AID 012618/02/3).

In this sense, the Youth Space permanently hosts the meetings and events promoted by the Youth Movement, both internal ones and those aimed at schools and open to young people in the area.

To this end, the expert:

He is responsible for the development and coordination of the Youth Space project at Save the Children headquarters, in close collaboration and synergy with the various programs of the Area as well as with all the organization’s projects that promote youth leadership. To this end, it is the point of reference for all activities relating to the Youth Space (internally and externally to the organisation), maintains relationships with experts/trainers, with volunteers in civil service and with the online organizations they frequent. and animate the Youth Space. It also guarantees visibility to the initiatives and coordinates promotional activities by interfacing with the Movement’s Communication and Mobilization Axis as well as with other areas of the organization.
As part of the “GIFT – Giovani_Impegno_Futuro_Territorio. Paths of youth empowerment, mobilization and protagonism for sustainable development based on the rights of minors and on the 2030 Agenda” (AID 012618/02/3), is responsible for the mobilization activities planned in the Youth Space/”Youth Hub – Officina 2030″ and mobilization actions in the territories connected to them.
Supports the implementation of annual programming, helping to pursue the programmatic and strategic objectives of the Area

FINAL RESULTS

Dialogue between the Youth Movement and the Organization has been strengthened through collaboration on initiatives promoted by the association and/or by the young people which involve their involvement at a local, national and international level
The training and empowerment path aimed at the Lead4Change group was defined, organized and implemented
The Youth Space project was consolidated, the collaboration network with youth associations, experts, schools and volunteers in civil service was strengthened and developed, the planning of activities on a monthly basis was defined and the implementation of the various activities and events was coordinated.
The significant participation of the young people of the Youth Movement is guaranteed in the initiatives promoted by the organization or created by them themselves

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Specialist, master’s or old degree in humanistic, educational/sociological/psychological disciplines aimed at the educational field.
Consolidated experience of at least 3 years in the management of complex projects/programs in Italy on the topics of youth participation and children’s rights.
Consolidated experience in group management and excellent knowledge of participatory methodologies.
Knowledge of the world of youth activism and participation and expertise on issues relating to the environment, inclusion, gender equity, well-being.
Knowledge of the Roman realities of youth activism (preferential)
Excellent knowledge of principles and tools, including digital ones, for the participation of children and young people
Knowledge of the English language (spoken and written)
Excellent knowledge of MS Office and digital communication tools

SPECIFIC SOFT SKILLS

Spirit of initiative and desire to get involved
Excellent ability to manage complex groups with participatory and innovative methodologies
Structured and precise approach, with excellent planning and organization skills
Excellent written and oral communication skills with different interlocutors
Ability to plan and implement educational projects
Creativity, flexibility and ability to find new languages and approaches to keep the boys’ motivation high
Excellent ability to work in a team and propensity for innovation

OTHER