Youth advisory council

Youth Advisory Council  

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.”  Margaret Mead

Mission

The Kibera Youth Advisory Council is a resource that participates with local governance representing the perspectives of youth from Kibera communities. 

Vision

Youth are informed and contributing partners in decision making for positive changes within the Kibera community. 

Values

The youth advisory council is honest, reliable, and efficient. Their relationships are reciprocal, inclusive, equitable, and representative.

Youth Council and its place in the Components of Good Governance

Participation

            Youth will be able to participate, influence or be involved in decision making.       

            Participation will help encourage compliance and ownership of decisions made.

Rule of Law

            Ensuring that youth have fair application of the law, and are treated equally to all

            persons. 

Accountability

            Youth are able to communicate with those who make decisions.

            Youth are also held accountable for their own decisions.

Transparency

            Decision making processes are open to youth review.

            Youth can understand the why, when, where, and by whom of decision making.

Equity

            Youth can ensure that they among all people have equal access to and control over resources. 

Responsiveness

            Decision makers are able to react to the needs of the youth through relationships built

            from the council.

Reason For

·         Youth participation is a vital ingredient in policy formation and priority setting. It helps ensure that policies are applicable, relevant and effective and developed through processes which are responsible, clear and open.  It seeks to distribute the responsibility of policy on all member of society, therefore building capacity and empowering people to participate in decision making.

·         Through incorporating diverse and representative viewpoints into the policy process new ideas can be integrated and problematic structures can be illuminated and challenged. Involving youth will decrease the intimidating world of officials. It will work towards clarifying priority youth needs. This collaboration will legitimize the role of local governance as partners and advocates of youth.                 

Identity

15 youth members, each representing youth from each of the communities of Kibera. For example one from Makina, one from Olympic, one from Darajani, etc.  These youth representatives will come from the current and established leadership of youth group within each community. The youth groups from one community will gather together and vote for one of their leaders to be on the panel. These youth will commit to serve one year terms on the council. These terms are renewable through a re-election process by the youth they serve.

Principles

§             Responsive and to Needs

§             Purposeful and Capable of making a real difference in the community of Kibera

§             Tailored to local circumstances, flexible to change, and reactive

§             Democratic leadership that is legitimate, act as advocates and are accountable.

Aims

·           Inform and educate both youth of the process and governance of youth issues.

·           Partner in problem solving towards effective resolutions

·           Improve Decisions by supplying information from youth to governance

·           Create opportunities for youth to shape and, in some cases determine policy

·           Legitimate decisions by ensuring the voices of those impacted by policy have been heard, considered and addressed

·           Involve youth in monitoring and evaluating the outcomes of decisions

·           Improve quality of youth/government relationships by restoring trust and engagement

Purpose

·         Represent youth cultures and values.

·         Combat youth apathy regarding governance.

·         Ensure that youth has a voice with local governance.

·         Establish and maintain relationships between youth and administration. 

·         Act as a resource for officials on issues concerning youth.

Activities

Coordination of Projects concerning Kibera Development

·                     Maintain a registry of all Non Governmental Organizations, Community Based Organizations, Development Projects, and Development Internships happening in their communities and Kibera as a whole.

·                     This will be undertaken with assistance from the Chief offices. All groups will be encouraged to register their name, purpose, and activities with the chief office on commencement for new groups and as soon as possible for established groups.

·                     Once a list has been compiled of all active groups/associations/organizations areas of similar work can be identified (for example a category can be made on groups working on youth issues, women’s issues, or orphans issues).

·                     This information will be made available to groups working in similar areas and encourage them to work together towards common goals for a larger impact.

Consult on Community Priorities

·                     Youth will come together with local administration (area chiefs) to discuss current  issues facing Kibera (for example violence, housing shortages, sanitationand  garbage removal) and establish common goals.

·                     Together input from administration and youth will be addressed and priority needs will be selected.

·                     Youth can then communicate these priority needs outside the council and back to their smaller communities, and youth groups in order to work together to tackle these priorities.

·                     Youth will also consult the registry of organizations working within Kibera and identify ones with skills, resources, or abilities that can assist in dealing with the  issue.

·                     Youth can encourage new groups to focus their efforts on identified priority items.