Education & Learning

A Youth Policy Summary of the United Nations #youthjobs Debate with Monique Coleman & Ronan Farrow

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Here Youth Policy brings you a summary of the Nov 4, 2011 Live Twitter Conversation on youth & employment, organised by the United Nations Youth Unit with UN Youth Champion, Monique Coleman, and U.S Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Global Youth Issues, Ronan Farrow. The summary is arranged thematically and in rough chronological order. Unanswered individual tweets are listed at the end.

A few hours ago, the live twitter conversation on youth & employment organised by the UN Youth Unit and featuring UN Youth Champion, Monique Coleman, and U.S Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Global Youth Issues, Ronan Farrow, ended.

As is usual in live twitter debates, it got quite hectic in between, and so we ploughed our way through the #youthjobs-hashtag-archive to trace and track the various conversations that took place. You find the various conversation threads below, roughly listed in the sequence in which they started. At the very end, we itemised tweets that didn’t trigger a response (just in case such loose ends are mwant to be picked up on…). Feel free to chime into the continuing online discussion on youth employment!

INTRODUCTION & OPENING

Welcome everyone to our twitter chat with Monique @gimmemotalk and Ronan @RonanFarrow, tune in and ask your question by using #youthjobs

— UNYouth (@UN4Youth) November 4, 2011

ON RONAN FARROW’S EXPERIENCE

@RonanFarrow You r a young person in a high-profile job promoting youth dev. Was this something you always envisioned doing? #youthjobs

— Sarah Huxley (@AidHoover) November 4, 2011

@UNpYouth Always expected public service. Youth focus from seeing youth in my travels as change agents for progress and for chaos #youthjobs

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

@RonanFarrow If you weren’t doing the jobs you are doing now - what other career path might you have chosen? #youthjobs

— Sarah Huxley (@AidHoover) November 4, 2011

@Moderator_SH1 What I'm doing now w music side projects. One strength of our generation-connectivity empowers to do many things. #youthjobs

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

ON MONIQUE COLEMAN’S EXPERIENCE

@gimmemotalk Have u come across any initiatives which rly struck u as advancing young women's opportunities & role in society? #youthjobs

— UNYouth (@UN4Youth) November 4, 2011

@UNpYouth It was incredible because this kept girls in school and empowered & employed women in the community #youthjobs

— Monique Coleman (@gimmemotalk) November 4, 2011

ON IMPACT ASSESSMENT & EVALUATION

@UNpYouth @gimmemotalk and @RonanFarrow, Has there been real process &impact evaluation studies to justify our strategies? #youthjobs

— Brian Kanaahe Bilal (@BrianBilalK1) November 4, 2011

@BrianBilalK1 Great point and big priority. Youth dev'mt is not new - programs we emphasize must have proven metrics for success. #youthjobs

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

@RonanFarrow w/ all ths policies & programmes, youth unemployment increases. Is it time 2 stp, reevaluate & set better goals #youthjobs

— Esther Agbarakwe (@estherclimate) November 4, 2011

ON WELL-EDUCATED UNEMPLOYED YOUTH

https://twitter.com/#!/YMrabet/status/132460537916301315

@YMrabet No easy answer, but be a self-starter. Use new tools & tech to link to private sector actors and opportunities. #youthjobs

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

@YMrabet Entreprenuership! Well educated young people can focus on creating jobs instead of just seeking them. #youthjobs

— Monique Coleman (@gimmemotalk) November 4, 2011

ON NEW APPROACHES

@UNpYouth Something is not right about how youth projects are planned and evaluated. What new approaches can we expect? Merci :) #youthjobs

— Brian Kanaahe Bilal (@BrianBilalK1) November 4, 2011

@BrianBilalK1 The UN promotes youth involvement in project design, implementation & evaluation. World Programme of Action Youth #youthjobs

— UNYouth (@UN4Youth) November 4, 2011

ON GOOD GRADES VS GOOD JOBS

Any great egs.you've seen helping marginalised youth make the jump from great grades to jobs?#youthjobs @RonanFarrow @gimmemotalk @UNpYouth

— Lisa Ross-Magenty (@LisaRossMagenty) November 4, 2011

@LisaRossMagenty More inspiring still: young entrepreneurs who struggled w grades. Hard work can make your record work for you. #youthjobs

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

Great grades is a great foundation. But then we need to help them get that first job! @theschoolbag @erinschrode #youthjobs

— Lisa Ross-Magenty (@LisaRossMagenty) November 4, 2011

education as key but not necessarily grades. Aren't we overestimating educ systems? @LisaRossMagenty @theschoolbag @erinschrode #edgeryders

— Noemi Salantiu (@NoemiSalantiu) November 4, 2011

ON GIRLS & YOUNG WOMEN

@gimmemotalk sum culture hinder young women in accessing education, jobs oppty than young men. wht do we work w/ such culture? #youthjobs

— Esther Agbarakwe (@estherclimate) November 4, 2011

@estherclimate We have to show people the benefit of investing in women & girls instead of criticizing them for not doing so #youthjobs

— Monique Coleman (@gimmemotalk) November 4, 2011

@estherclimate We also have to empower girls to recognize their value & potential! @girlup is amazing at this #youthjobs

— Monique Coleman (@gimmemotalk) November 4, 2011

@gimmemotalk I totally agree. we have to 'demonstrate' and not 'talk' that investing in girls pays #youthjobs

— Esther Agbarakwe (@estherclimate) November 4, 2011

@gimmemotalk @estherclimate @girlup Agree! Self-empowerment is very important! #youthjobs

— Atlantic Impact (@atlantic_impact) November 4, 2011

@gimmemotalk what are the baby steps to recognize our own value and potential? #youthjobs

— Sanra Refira (@sanrarefira) November 4, 2011

@sanrarefira 1st discover your passions! Your true interests always lead to a positive outcome #youthjobs

— Monique Coleman (@gimmemotalk) November 4, 2011

@sanrarefira 2nd figure out what you're good at & work to get even better #youthjobs

— Monique Coleman (@gimmemotalk) November 4, 2011

@sanrarefira Lastly, marry the two. See how your passions and skills can be applied toward social change #youthjobs

— Monique Coleman (@gimmemotalk) November 4, 2011

@Karanja_Anthony @gimmemotalk It time to see women as emerging Markets if we have to reduce youth um employments #youthjobs

— Esther Agbarakwe (@estherclimate) November 4, 2011

Raise up #women and girls and show our MASSIVE value on a global scale. @NickKristof's #HalfTheSky shows this, no @GimmeMoTalk? #youthjobs

— Erin Schrode (@ErinSchrode) November 4, 2011

@erinschrode Exactly so. @NickKristof nails that point. Young women are especially untapped resource & are a priority for USG. #youthjobs

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

ON REDEFINING (?) SUCCESS

@Gimmemotalk Did you meet successful young philanthropists on your World Tour? What impressed you about them? #youthjobs

— Sarah Huxley (@AidHoover) November 4, 2011

@Moderator_SH1 This generation is going to redefine "success". I don't think material possesions will be the measure of success. #youthjobs

— Monique Coleman (@gimmemotalk) November 4, 2011

@Moderator_SH1 Solving world problems & making a difference in one's community does more than focusing on personal gains #youthjobs

— Monique Coleman (@gimmemotalk) November 4, 2011

@sanrarefira @gimmemotalk how is this generation redefining "success"? agree: money &assets not good indicator. #youthjobs #edgeryders

— Noemi Salantiu (@NoemiSalantiu) November 4, 2011

@gimmemotalk I agree with you material success is no longer a driving factor, young people want to feel valued for their effort #youthjobs

— Rango (@Karanja_Anthony) November 4, 2011

ON THE VALUE OF WORK(ING)

@Karanja_Anthony @gimmemotalk many economists & philosophers agree that work is one way we natural express our inherent value.

— Leroy Lamar III (@leroylamar) November 4, 2011

@leroylamar what happens when there is no work? we lose value? :) #youthjobs

— Rango (@Karanja_Anthony) November 4, 2011

@Karanja_Anthony no. We just can express our value. We are inherently valuable.

— Leroy Lamar III (@leroylamar) November 4, 2011

@leroylamar I believe that our values can only be max if we reach deep inside us and make a meaningful contribution to the society.

— Rango (@Karanja_Anthony) November 4, 2011

@Karanja_Anthony I agree. Youth need jobs.

— Leroy Lamar III (@leroylamar) November 4, 2011

@leroylamar Let me ask if you were told to choose being employed or employing other which one would you prefer and why?

— Rango (@Karanja_Anthony) November 4, 2011

ON GLOBAL YOUTH PARTNERSHIPS

@RonanFarrow what are your views about global partnership among young people, cc @UNpYouth #youthjobs

— Rango (@Karanja_Anthony) November 4, 2011

@Karanja_Anthony Partnering youth around world key. Global youth share challenges; they can also share resources and solutions. #youthjobs

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

@Karanja_Anthony Check out @ConnectStateGov for the USG's resources on building those partnerships between US & intl youth. #youthjobs

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

ON DEVELOPING NATIONS

@UNpYouth @gimmemotalk @RonanFarrow What about unemployment problem in developing nations? #youthjobs

— Rajneesh Bhandari (@RajneeshB) November 4, 2011

@rajneeshb There are so many opportunities in developing nations if we choose to see the potential instead of the problems #youthjobs

— Monique Coleman (@gimmemotalk) November 4, 2011

ON AGEISM

@RonanFarrow @gimmemotalk Have you ever experienced ageism in your jobs, and how did you work to overcome it? #youthjobs @UNpYouth

— Sarah Huxley (@AidHoover) November 4, 2011

@Moderator_SH1 Constantly. But today's youth have underscored that we must take them seriously as political interlocuters. #youthjobs

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

@Moderator_SH1 I think this administration gets that; culture of ageism runs deep but they are committed to changing that. #youthjobs

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

@RonanFarrow Good to hear! Can you tell us…who has been your mentor or role model? And what advice have they given you? #youthjobs

— Sarah Huxley (@AidHoover) November 4, 2011

ON WOMEN’S EDUCATION VS SUCCESS

@gimmemotalk More #women than men go to uni in UK & US yet men dominate #economic & political leadership, why? cc @estherclimate #youthjobs

— Rango (@Karanja_Anthony) November 4, 2011

@UNpYouth Look at TechWomen, linking young women in dev'ing world to tech entrepreneurs in US. More such resource sharing key. #youthjobs

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

@UNpYouth Not enough is done to link even educated women to econ opportunity. Private sector must focus on mentoring young women. #youthjobs

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

@RonanFarrow @UNpYouth yes, Private sector should also see Women as emerging markets #youthjobs

— Esther Agbarakwe (@estherclimate) November 4, 2011

young women marginalised, culture of ageism, disabled joblessness. what are the keys? #youthjobs #edgeryders

— Noemi Salantiu (@NoemiSalantiu) November 4, 2011

@UNpYouth @gimmemotalk @ronanfarrow @GirlUp low self esteem of the youth undermines their potential mentorship can help overcome #youthjobs

— Nicole Marie (@NicoleMWayne) November 4, 2011

ON YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES

@RonanFarrow: Youth with disabilities continue to experience high unemployment, what can be done to tackle this problem. #youthjobs

— Amadou M. (@AM_Diallo) November 4, 2011

@UNpYouth @RonanFarrow @amdia Can we make youth Jobs a Human right issue? #youthjobs

— Esther Agbarakwe (@estherclimate) November 4, 2011

@estherclimate I think it should be constitutional #youthjobs

— Rango (@Karanja_Anthony) November 4, 2011

Yes, we have that already, but does it work? RT @Karanja_Anthony: @estherclimate I think it should be constitutional #youthjobs

— Esther Agbarakwe (@estherclimate) November 4, 2011

@estherclimate To some extent yes, but again I think more needs to be done #youthjobs

— Rango (@Karanja_Anthony) November 4, 2011

@Karanja_Anthony yes, more need to be done. We need to also define the 'more' and be more specific #youthjobs

— Esther Agbarakwe (@estherclimate) November 4, 2011

@amdia More countries must adopt legislation protecting disabled. @StateDept has office on this issue. Check @Disabilitygov too. #youthjobs

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

@amdia Grew up w/ disabled siblings & disabled joblessness is key concern for me. It should be for world too; untapped workforce. #youthjobs

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

ON SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Don't just need #entreprenuership to create #jobs, we need social entrepreneurship to sustain world! #Socent is key @UNpYouth @GimmeMoTalk!

— Erin Schrode (@ErinSchrode) November 4, 2011

@erinschrode Completely agreed! @yunus_centre has an incredible model for sustainable development. Social Business is key! #youthjobs

— Monique Coleman (@gimmemotalk) November 4, 2011

ON YOUTH AND THEIR (SELF-) PERCEIVED VALUE

@RonanFarrow Do you think that young people under value themselves to the point they can't achieve their full potential. #youthjobs

— Rango (@Karanja_Anthony) November 4, 2011

@Karanja_Anthony This is key.Youth are told they can't-recent events indicate they can. Our best entrepreneurs indicate they can. #youthjobs

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

@Karanja_Anthony @RonanFarrow achieving full potential is the goal of #Councilofeurope project. meet #edgeryders http://t.co/21Luui0B

— Noemi Salantiu (@NoemiSalantiu) November 4, 2011

@Karanja_Anthony Communities and parents need to send that message of empowerment and link their youth to examples of it. #youthjobs

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

@Karanja_Anthony Yes. Hopelessness is the greatest inhibitor for youth achieving their goals & aspirations #youthjobs

— Monique Coleman (@gimmemotalk) November 4, 2011

ON INSTRUMENTALISATION BY VIOLENT GROUPS

@RonanFarrow and @gimmemotalk: Disconnected and unemployed youth can be instrumentalized by violent groups. Thoughts? #youthjobs

— Annabell Merklin (@AnnabellMerklin) November 4, 2011

@AnnabellMerklin That's a great point. Helping youth find their purpose could be a form of violence prevention. #youthjobs

— Monique Coleman (@gimmemotalk) November 4, 2011

@AnnabellMerklin With the right tools, the teenaged insurgent can be an innovator and entrepreneur. I've seen this in action. #youthjobs

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

@AnnabellMerklin So youth are both opportunity & threat to stability. Up to intl community to harness power for good. #youthjobs

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

@AnnabellMerklin Often, youth driving conflict are not ideologically motivated - they seek livelihood and a way to be heard. #youthjobs

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

@AnnabellMerklin My own lens on this is working w youth in #Afghanistan & N. Africa who told me they took up arms to be heard. #youthjobs

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

@RonanFarrow brings up a great point! Its essential to listen to youth voices so they don't go to desperate measures to be heard #youthjobs

— Monique Coleman (@gimmemotalk) November 4, 2011

ON SURVIVING FAILURE

@gimmemotalk how to survive on failure and what should we do next? #youthjobs

— Sanra Refira (@sanrarefira) November 4, 2011

@sanrarefira We need to cultivate more coping skills amongst youth in order to deal with the rapid economic & social changes #youthjobs

— Monique Coleman (@gimmemotalk) November 4, 2011

@sanrarefira We mustn't look at failure as final! It simply shows us what won't work so we can figure out what will #youthjobs

— Monique Coleman (@gimmemotalk) November 4, 2011

https://twitter.com/#!/HADFEgypt/status/132470882739302400

ON YOUTH IN GAZA

https://twitter.com/#!/YMrabet/status/132471058283495425

@YMrabet harnessing the power of the Internet can be an empowering step- #youthjobs

— Nicole Marie (@NicoleMWayne) November 4, 2011

ON UN SUPPORT

#youthjobs How can we (UN) support policy makers in developing employment initiatives in partnership with youth? @UNpYouth

— nicola shepherd (@nicolashepherd) November 4, 2011

@nicolashepherd Need strong message from key donors to partner w/ youth, respond to youth populations. Current action not enough. #youthjobs

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

@RonanFarrow @nicolashepherd Well said! But I fear conventional routes of activism are not always helpful - long term? Thoughts? #youthjobs

— Sarah Huxley (@AidHoover) November 4, 2011

ON YOUTH LITERACY & ILLITERACY

@gimmemotalk There are many youths who are still illiterate in the developing nations, any solutions for them? #youthjobs

— Rajneesh Bhandari (@RajneeshB) November 4, 2011

@rajneeshb MDGs will adress the illiteracy part, but we need to factor individual gov't participation in ensuring quality edu #youthjobs

— Rango (@Karanja_Anthony) November 4, 2011

@rajneeshb Literacy is a critical step. Check out organizations like Room to Read, one the @StateDept 's numerous partners. #youthjobs

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

ON YOUTH EMPOWERMENT & AGENTS OF CHANGE

How to enable youth to be catalysts for positive change? #youthjobs

— Lisa Ross-Magenty (@LisaRossMagenty) November 4, 2011

Provide #education! THAT is the key to our future. RT @LisaRossMagenty How to enable #youth to be catalysts for positive #change? #youthjobs

— Erin Schrode (@ErinSchrode) November 4, 2011

@LisaRossMagenty Governments need to give space for youth political expression and foster investment that can lead to #youthjobs.

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

@RonanFarrow @LisaRossMagenty for example by fighting againt corruption

— Amadou M. (@AM_Diallo) November 4, 2011

@RonanFarrow Gov'ts are starting to make youth employment a priority but need more sustained commitment. #youthjobs

— nicola shepherd (@nicolashepherd) November 4, 2011

@gimmemotalk @UNpYouth @RonanFarrow "Nothing for us, without us." Govts/NGOs need to engage us when planning for us. #youthjobs

— Zambia Mourns (@ErasmusMweene) November 4, 2011

ON POWER, EFFECTS, INFLUENCE & IMPACT

We as #youth have opp to affect positive #change… so let's shake up status quo. I think the world will listen! Eh @RonanFarrow? #youthjobs

— Erin Schrode (@ErinSchrode) November 4, 2011

We have power to change the world in BIG ways. Recent #history inspires me! RT @RonanFarrow Youth are told they can't… they can #youthjobs

— Erin Schrode (@ErinSchrode) November 4, 2011

Great to hear twittocracy out on #youthjobs. More work needs to be done - but clearly we have tremendous energy in this community to do it.

— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) November 4, 2011

WRAPPING IT UP & THANK YOU

A big thank you for all the contributions and to Ronan @RonanFarrow and Monique @gimmemotalk #youthjobs

— UNYouth (@UN4Youth) November 4, 2011

Thanks so much to @RonanFarrow and @gimmemotalk and all the young people for the great questions and ideas #youthjobs @UNpYouth

— nicola shepherd (@nicolashepherd) November 4, 2011

Inspiring words from @gimmemotalk & @RonanFarrow this morning. Thanks for keeping the focus on #youthjobs. @UNpYouth

— US Mission to the UN (@USUN) November 4, 2011

INDIVIDUAL TWEETS

@RonanFarrow - Why is volunteerism so important to you, and do you feel it has helped you professionally? #youthjobs

— Hira Hur (@hirahur) November 4, 2011

@UNpYouth what are your views on the quality of education and how effective is it in preparing young people gain meaningful jobs. #youthjobs

— Rango (@Karanja_Anthony) November 4, 2011

@UNpYouth what is your take on young people instead of going into mainstream employment choose entrepreneurship. #youthjobs

— Rango (@Karanja_Anthony) November 4, 2011

@gimmemotalk accroding to you which country is investing the most interms of #youth development? #youthjobs

— Hira Hur (@hirahur) November 4, 2011

What types of teen jobs can be a great foundation for further employment (as an adult)? #youthjobs

— Nicole Marie (@NicoleMWayne) November 4, 2011

For marginalized youth getting that first job is the biggest hurdle! Any comments/advice?#youthjobs @RonanFarrow @gimmemotalk @UNpYouth

— Lisa Ross-Magenty (@LisaRossMagenty) November 4, 2011

@gimmemotalk what advice do you have for marginalized and/or indigenous youth in trying to access employment? #youthjobs

— UNYouth (@UN4Youth) November 4, 2011

Partnerships between #youth and adults in all sectors are critical!! We need to share #wisdom, experiences to grow and develop. #youthjobs

— Erin Schrode (@ErinSchrode) November 4, 2011

Youth from marginalized communities need to have opportunities to serve in other communities globally: Unbound transformation!!!! #youthjobs

— Global Potential (@globalpotential) November 4, 2011

@gimmemotalk @RonanFarrow @UNpYouth What resources are there for young ppl who lack experience interested in #entrepreneurship? #youthjobs

— Atlantic Impact (@atlantic_impact) November 4, 2011

@RonanFarrow Hmm..there is a lot of debate on the linkages between instability/conflict and youth unemployment. What's your view? #youthjobs

— Sarah Huxley (@AidHoover) November 4, 2011