Concept Note - YAF 2025

The Youth Advocacy Forum established as a global platform that offers international experience and great opportunity for the youth across the globe. Contributing to the development of youth from various cultures and geographies of the world, the forum aims to enable youth to gain knowledge in the fields of critical thinking and advocacy and to gain competence in these areas with ongoing training, within the scope of the training of national and international speakers who are experts in their fields.

Organized by the Turkish Green Crescent Society and supported by the International Federation of Green Crescent, the Youth Advocacy Forum is organized annually for young people advocating from all over the world.

This year we are organizing the 6th Youth Advocacy Forum under the theme “Building Safe, Just, and Peaceful Societies through Sport”. The Forum will explore how sport and values-based education can prevent violence, promote healthy lifestyles, and empower youth as agents of change.

Building Safe, Just, and Peaceful Societies through Sport

Organizer:

• Turkish Green Crescent

Co-organizer:

• UNODC

Supported by:

• International Federation of Green Crescent

What to Expect:

• Inspiring keynotes from high-level representatives, International Organizations, government institutions, academics, professional athletes and global experts in youth advocacy and addiction prevention
• Interactive workshops and group discussions on youth empowerment, mental health, and crime prevention
• Sport-based activities to develop life skills such as teamwork, leadership, and effective communication
• A platform to connect with like-minded young leaders from around the world and exchange ideas

Who Can Apply?

• Aged 18 to 30
• University students in Sports Sciences, Sports Management, Physical Education or a related field; or
• Individuals professionally engaged in sport-related fields
• With a background or interest in effective and science-driven prevention strategies around substance use and other risky behaviours, healthy life and youth work
• Must have working proficiency in English

Objectives

• Provide a platform for young people to meaningfully engage in a dialogue about substance use and other risky behaviours.
• Engage and learn with the global experts from the field to create pathways for realizing a sustainable and effective prevention plan and comprehensive system for substance use and other risky behaviour prevention.
• Promote the exchange of ideas and experience, mutual understanding, as well as equal rights and opportunities among young people.
• Enhance the capacity of young people on critical thinking, media literacy, active participation and advocacy.
• Increase the positive and meaningful participation of young people and youth organizations in society, as well as in decision-making processes at all levels including community, national and international venues.
• Empower youth to enable them to realize their rights & responsibilities for a healthy life, including abstinence from substance use, through education and skill development around the relevant topics.
• Foster youth action towards implementation of ideas brought forward by the young people for the benefit of the societies.
• Increase awareness of younger generations on the strategies of Big Alcohol, Big Tobacco, drug cartels, pharmaceutical companies, the cannabis industry and gaming and gambling industries.
• The new approach to legalization discussions: Decriminalization and Legalization in different countries, experiences from tobacco and alcohol use
• Encourage further cooperation, partnerships and good practice exchange among young people, youth workers, organizations and institutions dealing with youth policy in Sustainable Healthy Generations.