OBJECTIVE The purpose of this presentation is to provide some elements that could be useful to foster youth integrity initiatives in other countries and at the international level, based in Ocasa’s experience

We identify ourselves with the truth as the axe of the transparency, our goal, and opposed to the dishonesty which we reject. ocasa TRUTH

Ocasa is a non political, non-partisan, non-profit organization created by a group of young Colombians who are concerned by the promotion of transparency, integrity and social audit in Colombia, because these two points are key factors in the consolidation of democracy, in the strengthening of good governance and in the development of our country.

APPROACH

Traditional approaches: youth are vulnerable Public policies: activities to provide services to change vulnerability, avoiding violent behaviors (young people = potential danger). Ocasa’s engagement: go beyond those approaches, demolish the myths, discover new means through which youth are able to participate, and channel that participation into concrete activities. Move from traditional interventions based on services provision to systematic change activities. OUR APPROACH

Mission Ocasa’s mission is to empower youth Colombians so they can participate in the building of a quality democracy, that answers effectively to the citizen demands, and where politic relations and the decision making process is transparent and respect the rule of law (it means, a legitimate democracy due to its results and procedures).

OBJECTIVES DIRECT 1.To promote the active youth participation in politic life and issues of public interest. (Participation). 2.To transmit tools that improve the capacity of youth to ask for accountability and follow up the politics, programs and projects that they care about (Accountability). 3.To promote among the youth the exercise of leadership and the capacity of politic incidence and working with others (Leadership and incidence).

OBJECTIVES INDIRECT (Are need to reach the directs) 1.To promote transparency in public administration and the effective access to information (Access to Information) 2.To promote the effective exercise or youth’s fundamental rights (politic, civil and social rights)

To achieve the progressive involvement of youth, Ocasa follows three strategic lines: 1.Raise awareness campaigns and trainings 2.Articulation and youth action projects 3.Incidence in the decision making and public policy

Raising awareness and training

RAISING AWARENESS

What would you do if you have an US dollar to live per day? FOOD TRANSPORTATION CHILDREN´S ALLOWENCE PUBLIC SERVICES CLOTHES

1.Informal talks – forums – socializing activities

2. Young people sharing experiencies

Networking

Blog 2. Young people sharing experiencies

Contest

2. Young people sharing experiencies Closing act Artistic performances related to our field of work

TRAINING

1. WORKSHOPS

ONLINE COURSES Using new technologies Reaching remote places virtually Open source tools (

MAIN PAGE

ONLINE FORUM

CHAT

Articulation and youth action projects

Articulation and youth action projects Sessions of project formulation: METAPLAN Problematics Problem and objective tree Analysis of alternatives of solutions and actores involved Schedule and budget Ex: Accountability program radio

Incidence in the decision making and public policy Public policy inputs Validate information Socialization activities, polls and focus group Ex: Soccer Tournaments

Incidence in the decision making and public policy Oversight activities Construction of local development programs Tools to do oversight of the implementation Ex: oversight of the construction of a sport tranning school

LESSONS LEARNT 1.To move from traditional approaches to youth, towards engagements that involve collective actions. 2.To demolish the myths about youth by opening further spaces for youth participation and actions in their fields of interest. 3.To use experiential education programs. 4.To use pear to pear methodologies. 5.To take a position of youth as key actors of the present time and not only as future leaders. 6.To build capacity in youth by making them aware and providing concrete tools so they can carry out specific actions. 7.To establish a wide range of partnerships to increase possibilities of success. 8.Be flexible, creative and adapt of changes. HAVE FUN

CHALLENGES 1.Measuring the impact. 2.Gather information on youth 3.Incorporate the media as strategic partners 4.Working in dangerous areas and deal with threatens that can affect youth or our team. 5.Teaching youth how to design viable projects 6.To overcome the ‘political illiteracy’: those who can read (even reality) but cannot comprehend what they are reading, have a critical thinking of their meaning, and communicate that thinking in order to change what it can be changed.