The Youth Initiative Program (YIP) is a new social entrepreneur training for young people, aged 18 to 25, who want to create a positive social change in the world. It will take place in August 2008 in Jarna, Sweden and it is a course in how to bring your own initiative into being. Planned by an international group of young people in co-operation with the Youth Section at the Goetheanum, and the Vårdinge Folk High School, YIP will give an overview of the relationships between human beings, the world we live in, and how we influence each other. YIP lecturers include:
- Benji Leogardo (facilitation)
- Eric Utne (business/entrepreneur)
- Frank Chester (sacred geometry)
- Greg Kielberger (facilitation)
- Helene Bank (political history/economics)
- Marcel de Leuw (study of man)
- Nicanor Perlas (civil society)
- Nicolai Fuchs (agriculture/technology)
- Orland Bishop (mentoring)
- Regine Andersen (science and ethics)
- Robin Scmidt (portfolio)
- Tormod Bjørnstad (communication)
- Ulrike von Schultz (cooking and nutrition)
- Valentin Vollmer (portfolio)
- Vidar Vetterfalk (games)
Learning to know yourself and the world Change-makers from globally active initiatives, businesses and organisations will give an understanding of the ‘big picture’: the world situation and the global society. Participants will learn social skills like leadership, facilitation and self-management, and artistic activities will train personal creativity and help you reflect on the theoretical work. Hands-on experiencesHow do you bring your own initiative into being? A good start is experiencing how others do it, applying what you have learned. Four weeks of the year will be spent abroad, taking part in the work of an existing socially and environmentally sustainable project or organisation. Another four weeks will be spent as an intern in a local Swedish business or initiative, helping to expand their work. Through the combination of theory and practical work, learned skills can be put straight into practice. The process and results will be recorded and certified through a Portfolio. At the end of the year this will serve as a documentation of your YIP year in addition to the Swedish Folk High School diploma. Requirements and informationThe Programme starts in August 2008. It is an intensive, full-day programme, with just a few breaks throughout the year. Participants must be between 18 and 25 years old, and be able to speak, read and write English. The Participants will be housed together. More information is available at www.yip.se or by email to info@yip.se