The international youth volunteers raised the need to develop competencies important in diverse leadership positions in local, national or international contexts, within and outside the humanitarian circles, and strengthen their voices in the adaptation to changes in volunteering; a shift towards flexible volunteering and changing needs of volunteers. To answer this need expressed by the youth, the New Generation of Helpers – Youth Leadership Training Programme (YOULEAD) aims at fostering the confidence and competences of a new generation of helpers to influence positively their societies in order to prevent and alleviate human suffering, and to contribute to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.

The Red Cross of Cote d’Ivoire, Finland, Kenya and Zimbabwe partner in the YOULEAD project to increase their capacity in youth work through a jointly developed leadership training. Educational approach is built on non-formal training that uses experiential learning methods, such as simulations, exercises and specific skills development. The preparatory work for the trainings is done by a project working group with youth volunteers from each partner country by consulting a wider group of their peers and supported by the staff of the Red Cross. Both trainings have been piloted and and project manuals for the trainings have been produced in English, Finnish, French and Swedish which are shared in an online open access format so that the materials can be used and tailored to the needs of any interested actors in particular in the field of youth, volunteering and humanitarian and development cooperation sectors in Europe and beyond.

YOULEAD Youth Leadership training modules (Trainer's manual attached below)

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Finnish Red Cross Learning and development coordinator +358 40 626 5370 maija.erpestad@redcross.fi