A project to create a Youth Climate Action Network including a YCC Alumni network.
The Youth Climate Action Platform is an innovative online network designed exclusively for youth who are interested in climate action, offering them a place to stay connected, share knowledge, and spearhead climate action projects.
Our platform aims to offer a suite of specialized tools and resources dedicated to empowering young people to make a tangible impact on environmental and social challenges.
Key features of the platform include a tool for project creation, helping members turn their ideas into projects. It also includes a member directory for fostering community, a resource library filled with materials focused on climate solutions, and a learning center offering courses and information to deepen understanding and skills in climate action.
The platform includes an integrated mentorship program, connecting users with experienced professionals in the field for guidance and support.
We offer a suite of collaboration channels such as Mastodon, Discord, SnapChat, and WhatsApp, with the aim to facilitate seamless communication and collaboration among users, ensuring they have access to a supportive network.
Through these tailored features, the platform not only helps young people continue their of climate advocacy and project development "after" their YCC work placement is over, but also cultivates a thriving community dedicated to climate action for years to come.
About
The Youth Climate Action Platform is an innovative online network designed exclusively for youth who are interested in climate action, offering them a place to stay connected, share knowledge, and spearhead climate action projects.
Our platform aims to offer a suite of specialized tools and resources dedicated to empowering young people to make a tangible impact on environmental and social challenges.
Key features of the platform include a tool for project creation, helping members turn their ideas into projects. It also includes a member directory for fostering community, a resource library filled with materials focused on climate solutions, and a learning center offering courses and information to deepen understanding and skills in climate action.
The platform includes an integrated mentorship program, connecting users with experienced professionals in the field for guidance and support.
We offer a suite of collaboration channels such as Mastodon, Discord, SnapChat, and WhatsApp, with the aim to facilitate seamless communication and collaboration among users, ensuring they have access to a supportive network.
Through these tailored features, the platform not only helps young people continue their of climate advocacy and project development "after" their YCC work placement is over, but also cultivates a thriving community dedicated to climate action for years to come.
Problem Statement
In a world increasingly affected by the repercussions of climate change, the engagement and empowerment of youth in climate action have never been more critical. Yet, young climate advocates face significant barriers that impede their effective participation and contributions to this urgent cause.
Firstly, the challenge of scaling networks to a size where they become meaningful and collaborative presents a substantial bottleneck. Many existing platforms do not adequately cater to the unique needs of youth-driven climate action, lacking in tools and features that facilitate effective project collaboration, knowledge sharing, and community engagement at a large scale. This limitation not only stymies the growth of youth climate networks but also hinders the potential impact of collective action.
Moreover, a stark gap exists in providing quality mentorship opportunities tailored to young individuals passionate about making a tangible difference in the realm of climate action and beyond. This absence of guided support and advice from experienced professionals significantly restricts the ability of young people to navigate the complexities of of the global poly-crisis effectively. By recognizing and addressing these pivotal challenges, the initiative to create a dedicated Youth Climate Action Platform aims to revolutionize how youth (as some of the most vulnerable members of society) connect, collaborate, and contribute to a sustainable future. Through leveraging the power of Language Learning Models (LLMs) and other social technology, the platform is uniquely positioned to scale community engagement, facilitate seamless collaboration, and bridge the mentorship gap, thereby enabling a new generation of climate leaders to emerge and drive meaningful change.
Objectives
Project Objectives for the Youth Climate Action Platform
Engagement and Empowerment: Onboard 10,000 young users to the platform in the first year, encouraging them to initiate or join at least one climate action project.
Community and Collaboration: Facilitate the creation of at least 500 new climate action projects within the first six months and establish a monthly active user engagement rate of 70%.
Education and Skill Building: Have at least 5,000 users complete a course or educational module in the first year, demonstrating improvement in climate literacy through pre- and post-assessments.
Mentorship: Pair at least 1,000 young users with mentors within the first year, with measures to assess the progress and impact of these mentorships on both project development and personal growth.
These objectives are designed to ensure that the Youth Climate Action Platform effectively engages young people, fosters a supportive community, enhances educational outcomes, and provides meaningful mentorship, ultimately empowering a new generation of climate leaders.
Leadership
The Youth Climate Action Platform is driven by a dynamic leadership team, embodying a blend of strategic vision and collaborative spirit. At the forefront is Ben Simoni, the Executive Director of Youth Climate Corps (YCC), who, along with Rik Logtenberg—a founding board member of YCC and the Executive Director of CanAdapt—spearhead this innovative collaboration. They are ably supported by diverse and talented teams from both organizations. YCC's leadership includes project leads who oversee specific initiatives focused on climate action, while CanAdapt's team is comprised of engineers and professionals with expertise in sector-based Adaptation and Low Carbon Resilience.
Key to our operational model are the Network Facilitators, who are the linchpins of our network, dedicated to fostering connections, hosting networking events, and managing our news services to keep our community informed and engaged. Furthermore, our Expert Committee plays a crucial role in guiding the platform's direction, offering mentorship, and connecting young individuals with meaningful projects and employment opportunities in the field.
Our leadership approach combines hierarchical and collaborative elements, allowing for efficient project management while also embracing a consensus approach for work groups and certain projects. Governance is overseen by the YCC Board, adhering to a distributive polycentric governance model that ensures decisions are made in a way that reflects the complex, interconnected nature of our work and the diverse voices within our community.