Building on the Funders Toolkit for Child and Youth Participation, the learning journey will support funders to move from principle to practice, strengthening organizational culture and practice around child and youth participation in philanthropy. Through creative and interactive methodologies, funders will, over the course of six weeks, develop practical knowledge and experience on how to support meaningful child and youth participation in their work. The learning journey will consist of four bi-weekly workshops exploring practical steps for safeguarding and wellbeing, compensation, making the case internally, and funding youth-led movements. Co-hosted by Georgia Booth and Ruby Johnson, the Toolkit authors, alongside the ECFG CYP working group, the What’s Possible team, and partners and leaders from the field, this journey will draw on collective practice and expertise from funders, practitioners, activists, and youth-leaders.
We hope that all participants will join the journey in bravery, solidarity, and vulnerability. We therefore ask that you commit to participating as fully in the journey as you can. We understand that conflicts will arise, and will record workshops for this purpose, but strongly encourage all participants to engage deeply in learning and strive to attend all four sessions. While there are four separate topics, we have designed each session to build on the last and create space for learning and exchange.
We expect that this journey will take 6 hours of workshop time and an optional 2 hours for self- directed exercises, for a total of 6-8 hours over the course of six weeks. We hope that participants will:
We hope that all participants will join the journey in bravery, solidarity, and vulnerability. We therefore ask that you commit to participating as fully in the journey as you can. We understand that conflicts will arise, and will record workshops for this purpose, but strongly encourage all participants to engage deeply in learning and strive to attend all four sessions. While there are four separate topics, we have designed each session to build on the last and create space for learning and exchange.
We expect that this journey will take 6 hours of workshop time and an optional 2 hours for self- directed exercises, for a total of 6-8 hours over the course of six weeks. We hope that participants will:
- Attend four 90-minute virtual workshops, every other Wednesday between 18 October and 29 November 2023 (click here for the time in your timezone);
- Reflect on and complete (while encouraged, this is up to you - we won’t be checking homework 🙂) activities and exercises between workshops as you work to develop tools for your organization to strengthen its participatory practices;
- Provide feedback through participation in workshops and brief post-workshop surveys.
Limited space available! All funders welcome; priority given to ECFG members & the What's Possible cohort.
We’re delighted to share that registration for the ECFG learning journey on child and youth participation is now open! This learning journey for funders will explore what child and youth leadership and partnership means in practice and offer meaningful ways to practice child- and youth-centered funding and participation in philanthropy.
In our final workshop, we will reflect on the highest form of participation, directly funding youth-led movements and young activists. This will include an overview of the state of youth movements globally and how powerful (and underfunded) they are. In this session, we’ll hear directly from youth-led movement leaders and offer final tips as you embark on your journey.
Session 4: Putting it all together - funding youth-led movements - 29 Nov
As we reflect on real examples from the sector, we will explore common questions that come up around compensation: How much financial compensation should you pay and at what stage in the process? How do you balance compensation with low participation? How do you practically transfer money to informal groups and individuals? What are legal and safeguarding risks to consider? What are examples of non-financial compensation?
Session 3: Practical Steps for Compensation Policies and Practices - 15 Nov
Bringing a lens of care and wellbeing, and grounded in an understanding that all safeguarding issues are rooted in power, privilege, and conscious or unconscious bias, we will explore what a trauma-informed approach to participation looks like and identify practical strategies for safeguarding, including working with children under 18. We will explore what it means to “do no harm” while balancing safeguarding and agency, and practicing child-and-youth-friendly embodiment practices.
Session 2: Practical Steps for Safeguarding, Care, and Wellbeing - 1 Nov
In our first workshop, we will welcome participants, provide an overview of learning materials and the overall scope of the journey, and launch into communications and evidence building. We will explore internal barriers within our organizations and deepen our understanding of what will move people. Participants will develop key messages and a plan for how to engage their relevant audience (e.g. senior leadership, the board, donors, etc).
Session 1: Making the case & building your vision - 18 Oct
if the above link does not work, please try copy and pasting the following URL into your browser: https://airtable.com/appAlQYRcXkink09v/shrCSXScBTgVOSXYF?prefill_Event=Weaving%20Collective%20Practice%20Workshop%201&hide_Event=true
All funders, with priority given to ECFG members and the What’s Possible cohort.
We suggest each organization send 1-2 representatives and encourage you to reflect on who makes sense for your journey, but participants could include any of the following profiles:
- A staff member who is leading or working on child and youth participation
- A staff member who is less involved / has had less experience with child and youth participation, but would like to incorporate best practices
- A junior staff member for whom this could be a professional development opportunity
- A senior leadership representative with decision-making power
- A staff member who works on internal processes such as grants, finance and/or human resources
You may also wish to invite colleagues from specific functions depending on the session. We suggest the following, though all are welcome:
- Session 1: Communications and advocacy colleagues would be useful to help craft messages as well as anyone in the executive governance team.
- Session 2: Safeguarding colleagues, risk management colleagues (with or without direct experience engaging children and youth) and any staff working directly with children and young people.
- Session 3: Finance and grants colleagues would be useful - anyone with a role in practically moving money in your organization.
- Session 4: Everyone! This is a great learning session no matter what function you sit in.
Every other Wednesday (click for the time in your timezone) between 18 October and 29 November 2023, for a total of four 90-minute virtual workshops.
We hope that all participants will join the journey in bravery, solidarity, and vulnerability. We therefore ask that you commit to participating as fully in the journey as you can. We understand that conflicts will arise, and will record workshops for this purpose, but strongly encourage all participants to engage deeply in learning and strive to attend all four sessions.
We’re currently exploring language and interpretation options for this series. Please let us know in your registration form in what language you would be most comfortable accessing the sessions and written materials in, and please let us know if not having that language available would hinder your ability to participate.
