<p>Yeah if you want to get into letter writting and stuff, I write for a major magazine sometimes here, as a contributor. I could base a feature article on it?</p>
<p>OK I'm creating a Yahoo! Group and I'm about to PM/email everybody with the information.</p>
<p>Basically what I'd like to start off by doing to talking to everybody and getting their location. Then I'd like to help every member to organize a group in their location. </p>
<p>THEN, once we've established the basic thing, I'd like to discuss our cities and our countries; the governments, the politics, and the problems. It'd be cool if we could research the most pressing issues and try to consolidate our efforts into addressing them as best we can. I've kept in mind that I live in the US and social reform might not be as (insanely) simple as it is here. For instance, in my city (Houston), if there were a local problem (for instance, homelessness, even though the homeless are treated wel enough here) we could petition for the city council to address that issue and try to raise funds to help them. I think it'll be AMAZING if we could do that on an international scale.</p>
<p>And also, I'd like to try to promote international unity between youths of verious nationalities. I'm trying to think of ways to accomplish that right now.</p>
<p>The UN thing was an amazing idea, but we'll definately have to make an impact first. UNICEF encourages kids to start UNYAs or United Nations Youth Associations; but, for the most part, those usually end up being a collection of kids in towns or cities that get together to discuss politics. The UNYA's don't interact internationally, which I think should be the most important focus of a youth arm of the United Nations. Then there are UN Youth delegates, but it's insanely difficult to become one and when there is one, I'm pretty sure there's only one.</p>
<p>And frankchanel, that sounds really awesome. Where are you exactly?</p>
<p>OK, I've just added everybody in the thread as a friend, so if you didn't get my request, PM me.</p>
<p>Anyways, I'm about to PM all of you.</p>
<p>interested, PM please!</p>
<p>Go ahead.
Godspeed.</p>
<p>Good luck with this endeavour - because it's a bit hard to believe that your brainchild will be able to achieve what many others have failed to. Most of the issues that will probably be raised can be just picked up from any random list. Important and pressing? Yes, but I don't see much hope in petitions and campaigns unless you manage to gather huge support in whatever areas you manage to reach to. You'll need quite a <em>lot</em> of volunteers in each region to make it significant.</p>
<p>It seems that everyone here is really idealistic, just that I've seen many well-planned, well-funded international youth movements fail to make a lasting impact on the society at any level past individual communities/neighbourhoods. Take up some realism.</p>
<p>Then again if you succeed, good luck :) Plus you'll be the proud and (really busy) president of some huge huge international youth movement. Hint hint. How much time are you willing to invest? Or is this a smoke grenade?</p>
<p>FYI, there are a number of other organizations quite similar to the new one that OP wants to create...</p>
<p>take a look at:
Global Youth Action Network: Global</a> Youth Action Network
Student World Assembly: Global</a> Youth Action Network</p>
<p>like the previous poster said, the OP is very idealistc and I applaud him/her for that, but to actually make a difference you'll have to be different from the countless other "youth think tank" organizations that already exist and have existed for quite some time.</p>
<p>now, if you REALLY want to take action, and are not primarily motivated by resume concerns (not that the OP necessarily is), i would suggest joining the youth branch of a well-established organization with the resources to give you a voice to make change, right from the start. amnesty international is one that comes to mind; but there are countless other organizations, depending on your interest. if you want to combat hunger, join oxfam. if you'd like to protest genocide, look into the Save Darfur movement.</p>
<p>bottom line is, the best way to really impact the world (IMO) is to focus on an area that you're truly passionate about and hit the ground running, not create yet another forum (although they're certainly nice). good luck!</p>
<p>whoops, this is the link for the Student World Assembly: Student</a> World Assembly --- Promoting Global Democracy, Human Rights and Activism</p>
<p>Yup, I agree. But, you never know what to do unless you try! Though one should take account of the other active organizations and keep track of their struggle and maintenance, we are gonna need it.</p>
<p>it is only cyncial people that stop others from accomplishing good in the world.</p>
<p>realistic--yes, but being idealistic isnt a bad thing. especially when you are young.</p>
<p>Kashiva -- can you tell us exactly how these past endeavours have failed, so that we can avoid their mistakes?</p>
<p>"I don't see much hope in petitions and campaigns unless you manage to gather huge support in whatever areas you manage to reach to."</p>
<p>That is the point of an awareness campaigne. Buying advertising space in smaller, independent news publications (these types of publications are very common in Houston and are read by the more Bohemian, downtown set; this is a group known for its support of humanitarian efforts); seminars (I was thinking maybe we could hold one at Rice University - a friend's father works in the psychology department) and contacting partnership organizations (World Affairs Council in Houston, the Houston Amnesty office, and the United Nations Association - Houston).</p>
<p>"It seems that everyone here is really idealistic, just that I've seen many well-planned, well-funded international youth movements fail to make a lasting impact on the society at any level past individual communities/neighbourhoods. Take up some realism."</p>
<p>This is not a "movement", it's an organization whose aim is to foster international ties and understanding, first and foremost; and secondly, I like to think that I make an international impact here in Houston with the kids and organizations that I work with now. If I could expand that kind of humanitarianism and activism to global enclaves, I think it will be great.</p>
<p>And in response to Cogito, I'm also pretty sure that I have the resources to make change. If I were simply a suburbanite with no connection to the world beyond my subdivision, I doubt I could take on an endeavour such as this one. But (even though I do reside in the suburbs of Houston) I have access to a global city, the 4th largest in nation, with activist young adult friends, a couple young businesspeople (the paperwork to become an official nonprofit is not for the layperson) and fine educators at my personal disposal. </p>
<p>One of my parents actually works with the International Baccalaureate and has traveled pretty extensively (not like all the time, but over summer and during breaks) and has friends in the Middle East and Europe who work with the Baccalaureate and who I'm sure would be happy to help foster a youth organization such as this one. </p>
<p>In fact, until this very moment, I hadn't thought of that. Right now I'm working on gaining 501c3 status for the organization so that we can work to have international chapters incorporated. I'm working with a young businessman who owns a couple small businesses and is interested in helping develop a nonprofit. Today I'll ask my mother if, perhaps, she can contact a colleague overseas and see if they'd be willing to help start a chapter at their school?</p>
<p>I'm totally brainstorming in a message, lol, but I'm just reeeeally excited and pumped up. And yes, I am willing to put in the work. I meet with a lawyer next weekend to talk about Incorporation and location and while we are waiting on those (not so) minor details, I'll be working with the interested member to discuss getting people together in their cities/towns so that when it comes time to incorporate internationally (not going to be simple), we'll be prepared.</p>
<p>A dash a cynicism is necessary, I suppose.</p>
<p>I think you are a bit ambitious here, NEvitablyWharton. You must realize that there are already excellent organizations in place worldwide giving voice to youth and creating opportunities for action on current affairs, a la the United Nations Youth Associations.</p>
<p>The other thing that you must understand is that you will probably be unable to set up a significant membership, seeing as you are just a kid and not a massive organization. =) </p>
<p>Are you doing this for the kudos, so that you can put this down on your resume, saying that "I founded a massive international organization"?</p>
<p>Sorry for my cautious cynicism.</p>
<p>
[quote]
it is only cyncial people that stop others from accomplishing good in the world.
[/quote]
IMO, It is ''them'' who help one succeed!...</p>
<p>NEvitably Wharton--you seem like a very driven person, kudos to you for that!</p>
<p>all i'm suggesting is that instead of having such a broad scope for your initiative, perhaps you should focus in on a specific problem that you want to attack. from my experience, trying to focus on all the problems in the world in one fell swoop will almost inevitably be a disappointment to you. </p>
<p>my advice is, use your obvious drive and energy and hone in on a problem! that way, you'll see some real achievements very soon :)</p>
<p>Oh of course! LOL, I'm not trying to go after multiple issues at a time; we would hardly accomplish anything. From my experience with international aid projects (raising money, awareness campaignes) I know that making differences requires many months (and sometimes years) of focus and planning. It's never even crossed my mind to take on multiple projects at a time, ever.</p>
<p>In fact, I have lots of ideas for projects and I've not been under the impression that we'd do multiple ones.</p>
<p>The first step in tackling a project is finding an organization to partner with that works specifically in the area and with the issue that you're concerned with addressing (I actually have another smaller organization that works with an NPO in Africa; that organization is specifically geared towards improving education in small central African communities). I've done this with my aforementioned organization and had the idea that if we could start an NPO with international chapters and international members, that it would add a whole new dimension of meaning to the act of activism. I think that it would embody the ideals that spurred me to start the African Education Initiative and take the idea of international-mindedness and global communityhood to a level beyond that of my current organization. That is why, as I mentioned before, the primary aim of this organization will be to foster a srong sense of connection between global members. I hope that we will be more than chapter Presidents and IYCC members, but global friends. The difference that I'd like to make is not necessarily changing the world, but changing my fellow IYCC members' perspective of the world around them and its inhabitants; it is also my hope that these new perspectives will make my members realize the importance of proactivity and spurr the kind of activism that has become my life.</p>
<p>I don't want to join an existing organizations for the above reasons; because I have a desire to take far more action than could be taken in said organizations and not to revel in existing global connections but to foster NEW ones.</p>
<p>My parents implanted these viewpoints in me at an early age and I can assure you that this would be something that I'd pursue regardless of the existence of college admissions. I was just complaining to my friend about how much school is getting in the way of this, or else I could meet with the lawyer during the week and have the paperwork and particulars done much sooner. Unfortunately, we can only work (primarily) on weekends, a fact that will greatly extend the time it takes to gain status. But no matter, because we can be spending that time organizing ourselves in Singapore, Russia, Australia, etc (I LOVE the myriad nations we're getting!). :D</p>
<p>sounds interesting. count me in! :)</p>
<p>I'm Interested...</p>