Global Youth Connect: Participate in a GYC Human Rights Program

2008 Programs

Bosnia Delegation
Program full -- no longer accepting applications

Iraqi Refugee Solidarity Initiative
Application Deadline:
March 21, 2008

Rwanda Delegation
Program full -- no longer accepting applications

Venezuela Delegation
Application Deadline:
ASAP -- only a few spots left!

Iraqi Refugee Solidarity Initiative

We are currently seeking applications from American youth activists (ages 18-30) who are interested in participating in an Iraqi Refugee Solidarity Initiative. Ten U.S. participants will be selected to join in the program activities described below and will work together with Iraqi and Jordanian youth over a period of six months to help address the Iraqi refugee crisis in Jordan. Application Deadline: March 21, 2008

About this Initiative: Since 2003, more than 4 million Iraqis have been uprooted as a result of the violent unraveling of their country. Of those, approximately 2 million are internally displaced within Iraq and another estimated 2 million have sought refuge in surrounding countries. According to the latest estimates, more than 750,000 Iraqis have settled in Jordan, which according to UNRWA (the UN Palestine refugee agency) already hosts approximately 1.7 million Palestinian refugees, making this small country host to the largest refugee population in the Middle East. As conflict and violence continue in Iraq, the humanitarian crisis faced by Iraqi refugees, in Jordan and other countries, has remained largely ignored by most of the world outside of the Middle East.

With this context in mind, Global Youth Connect, the Jordanian Community Development Center in Sweileh, and the Jordan Red Crescent have joined together to launch an Iraqi Refugee Solidarity Initiative. Through this initiative, GYC, CDC and JRC will help build and support a community of youth activists interested in working together to address the Iraqi refugee crisis in Jordan.

Program Activities: This joint initiative will bring together 30 youth (ages 18-30) from Iraq, Jordan and the U.S. with the goal of better understanding the root causes of the crisis, placing it within a larger regional and global context, and identifying concrete ways in which they can take steps towards addressing the situation. The initiative will take place over a 6-month period, incorporating a series of distinct yet interconnected elements, including: a peer learning community in Jordan, community engagement and outreach, and an evaluation and reflection retreat.

Peer Learning Community
July 25 - August 18, 2008
The first phase of the initiative will bring together 30 participants from Iraq, Jordan and the U.S. (10 from each country) for three weeks in Amman, Jordan. As part of a peer learning community, participants will engage in dialogue, build skills in conflict transformation and human rights activism, and engage in a joint fieldwork project and action planning.

Community Engagement & Outreach
August 19, 2008 - January 2, 2009
After the initial three-week learning community in Jordan, participants will spend several months organizing creative, follow-up activities in their own communities to address the Iraqi refugee crisis.

Evaluation & Reflection Retreat
January 3-4, 2009
At the end of the program, participants will once again come together to evaluate and reflect on their action efforts, reconnect with other participants and identify next steps. For U.S. participants, this weekend program will take place at a retreat center in upstate New York.

Program Costs: While GYC and its partner organizations in Jordan will help underwrite the costs of this program, U.S. participants will be expected to contribute and/or fundraise $2,500 to help cover the costs of running this program. In addition to this, participants will need to cover their international airfare and some other expenses associated with their participation in the program. Please see program information packet for more information. We also strongly encourage interested applicants to review the fundraising guide for ideas on how to generate donations and make their participation in the program possible.

Detailed Program Information & Application
Background Information on Iraqi Refugee Crisis in Jordan
Testimonials from Past Participants
GYC Fundraising Guide
Frequently Asked Questions

Please do not hesitate to contact us at 845-338-2220 or contact@globalyouthconnect.org if you have any questions, concerns or would like additional information. Thank you for your interest!




	Participate in a GYC Program 2008 Programs Bosnia Delegation Program full -- no longer accepting applications Iraqi Refugee Solidarity Initiative Application Deadline: March 21, 2008 Rwanda Delegation Program full -- no longer accepting applications Venezuela Delegation Application Deadline: ASAP -- only a few spots left! Iraqi Refugee Solidarity Initiative We are currently seeking applications from American youth activists (ages 18-30) who are interested in participating in an Iraqi Refugee Solidarity Initiative. Ten U.S. participants will be selected to join in the program activities described below and will work together with Iraqi and Jordanian youth over a period of six months to help address the Iraqi refugee crisis in Jordan. Application Deadline: March 21, 2008 About this Initiative: Since 2003, more than 4 million Iraqis have been uprooted as a result of the violent unraveling of their country. Of those, approximately 2 million are internally displaced within Iraq and another estimated 2 million have sought refuge in surrounding countries. According to the latest estimates, more than 750,000 Iraqis have settled in Jordan, which according to UNRWA (the UN Palestine refugee agency) already hosts approximately 1.7 million Palestinian refugees, making this small country host to the largest refugee population in the Middle East. As conflict and violence continue in Iraq, the humanitarian crisis faced by Iraqi refugees, in Jordan and other countries, has remained largely ignored by most of the world outside of the Middle East. With this context in mind, Global Youth Connect, the Jordanian Community Development Center in Sweileh, and the Jordan Red Crescent have joined together to launch an Iraqi Refugee Solidarity Initiative. Through this initiative, GYC, CDC and JRC will help build and support a community of youth activists interested in working together to address the Iraqi refugee crisis in Jordan. Program Activities: This joint initiative will bring together 30 youth (ages 18-30) from Iraq, Jordan and the U.S. with the goal of better understanding the root causes of the crisis, placing it within a larger regional and global context, and identifying concrete ways in which they can take steps towards addressing the situation. The initiative will take place over a 6-month period, incorporating a series of distinct yet interconnected elements, including: a peer learning community in Jordan, community engagement and outreach, and an evaluation and reflection retreat. Peer Learning Community July 25 - August 18, 2008 The first phase of the initiative will bring together 30 participants from Iraq, Jordan and the U.S. (10 from each country) for three weeks in Amman, Jordan. As part of a peer learning community, participants will engage in dialogue, build skills in conflict transformation and human rights activism, and engage in a joint fieldwork project and action planning. Community Engagement & Outreach August 19, 2008 - January 2, 2009 After the initial three-week learning community in Jordan, participants will spend several months organizing creative, follow-up activities in their own communities to address the Iraqi refugee crisis. Evaluation & Reflection Retreat January 3-4, 2009 At the end of the program, participants will once again come together to evaluate and reflect on their action efforts, reconnect with other participants and identify next steps. For U.S. participants, this weekend program will take place at a retreat center in upstate New York. Program Costs: While GYC and its partner organizations in Jordan will help underwrite the costs of this program, U.S. participants will be expected to contribute and/or fundraise $2,500 to help cover the costs of running this program. In addition to this, participants will need to cover their international airfare and some other expenses associated with their participation in the program. Please see program information packet for more information. We also strongly encourage interested applicants to review the fundraising guide for ideas on how to generate donations and make their participation in the program possible. Detailed Program Information & Application Background Information on Iraqi Refugee Crisis in Jordan Testimonials from Past Participants GYC Fundraising Guide Frequently Asked Questions Please do not hesitate to contact us at 845-338-2220 or contact@globalyouthconnect.org if you have any questions, concerns or would like additional information. Thank you for your interest!	WHERE WE WORK International Bhutanese Refugees Bosnia Cambodia El Salvador Global Guatemala Jordan Nepal Rwanda Venezuela United States Hudson Valley - New York


GYC : 668 Aaron Court, Kingston, NY 12401 : (845) 338-2220 : contact@globalyouthconnect.org