Bay Area Youth Environmental Coalition

Mission

Inspire and connect youth locally and globally in support of a sustainable world that works for all.

Youth for a New world is service learning initiative with a purpose to educate, motivate and lead youth to local and international actions that further the realization of an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just human presence on Earth. YNW seeks to awaken the latent idealism, compassion and wisdom in young people and their adult mentors by making them aware of the critical social, ecological and spiritual issues which define this period human history, and by enabling avenues for service to further a new world society.

YNW Strategies

YNW connects youth with others in their local region and in the global community around a variety sustainability themes such as controlling greenhouse gases, socially responsible business, energy alternatives, media democracy, learning from indigenous wisdom, living a life of purpose, social and environmental justice, sustainable food and water and much more. In addition YNW promotes links between youth and local leaders, businesses, service organizations and non-profits through which service and learning is possible. Youth are also made aware of partner activities around the world which offer service opportunities, and YNW encourages youth immersion learning in other cultures.

Youth for a New World will eventually consist of multiple regional networks around the world, each made up of partner organizations of schools, municipal and church youth groups. For example, the pilot program in greater Seattle will begin with three schools. This greater Seattle network could grow to include as many as 40-50 partner organizations. The initial model developed in Seattle will be able to be taken to any community in the USA or the world willing to sponsor a local YNW network.

A main goal of Youth for a New World is to empower future global leaders who look with unbiased eyes at the core problems in society today and don’t retreat into self-indulgence, apathy or denial but, instead, open their hearts and minds and take compassionate action with others, young and old. YNW is a global village—youth, parents, teachers, community leaders—working together, and is not just adults “doing for youth.” It is our plan at all levels of the organization and its affiliate networks to have youth assume key leadership roles on governing boards, advisory councils, as trainers of adults and other youth and as social entrepreneurs.

A suite of trainings, media, curriculum, networks and social, web-based architecture will provide Youth for a New World a powerful set of resources for local communities anywhere who have the will and time--but not their own resources--to engage their young people in making the world a better place. YNW provides the model, workbooks, videos, open-source web-programs that allow communities anywhere to get their local initiative quickly up to speed.