Selection criteria for applying youth:

• Age 16-18 (internationally 12-24), allowing training and initial experience in the local community to happen before moving on to work, university or college environments
• Being motivated for training to play positive constructive role within own youth community
• Have demonstrated in some way social engagement in the youth community
• Willingness to take own actions within own local youth community after the training
• Willingness to continuously report tav Hogent Prevention research group for continuous adjustment
• Be interested in participating in the annual youth meeting of United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime in Vienna (regional, Flemish or Belgian initiatives will also be taken for this purpose).

Sustainability:

Since we invest in the training of young people, they will reap the benefits in the long term, for themselves, their families, their friends, their fellow students, ... Some will continue for years (follow-up meetings are planned) others will quickly drop out. The evaluation will bring more clarity here.

Once the trainers are trained, they can continue to train young people after the project for several years who, with the support of the Rotary Club, can do the same thing over and over again, allowing the group of young people connected to the Rotary Club to grow year after year and their positive impact on the local community to keep increasing.

Connecting young people with Rotary clubs: 

The project originated in the collaboration of UNODC, WFAD and Carlton Hall Consulting.

The group that met in Vienna (base of UNODC) is rather an elite group. They bear all costs themselves and can do so. In conversation with Carlton Hall, Regina Mattson (CEO WFAD) and Wadih Walouf (UNODC department prevention coordinator), this was confirmed and it was clear that Rotary could play an important role here in opening up opportunities to all social strata.

Young people involved in the project through Rotary (children, grandchildren of members, students of schools or youth movements the club works with, their friends, etc.) will feel supported in developing their own project. In this way, we abandon the idea of attracting young people to our clubs to help achieve our goals. No, we use our club, our resources, experience and expertise to support young people to do their thing.

Pilot in Flanders before rolling out globally:

With the interested clubs, we will do some try outs in Flanders, which after evaluation by HoGent and adaptation based on that, can be broadened for Belgium to disseminate from 24-25 European and international.

Training: 

Clemens Steyaert, prevention officer at Vagga, a center for mental health in Antwerp, who is himself an expert by experience regarding this project, was found willing to develop the training program from Vagga and to do the training of the young people.

Budget:

–        Early 24: youth recruitment: several meetings with stakeholders possibly costing drinks and snacks

–        Beginning 24 Cost scientific follow-up +/- 5,000 euros to be divided among the participating clubs in proportion to their participants

–        April-May 24: training youth: the cost of some training days: catering and trainer (750€ per day, max 1,500) to be divided among the clubs according to the number of participants.

–        June 24 cost per young person per own project

–        24-25: cost younger participation in international UN meeting in Vienna: cost of flight and hotel (+/- 500 euros per participant)

Rotary Maldegem and the municipality of Maldegem are discussing a joint commitment of 4,000 euros.

Johan Maertens

Board Member / Technical Officer Cadre RAG AP Chapter Belgium
info@rag-ap.org