Generation Unlimited – is a dynamic partnership that draws on the expertise of young people, representatives from governments, multilateral organizations, the private sector and civil society to inspire urgent investment in education, skills training, and empowerment for the rapidly growing global population of adolescents and young people (10-24) – which will reach 2 billion by 2030.

In countries where the working-age population grows larger than the dependent population, there is a potential for a demographic dividend, and when the population is constructively employed, overall productivity rises, standards of living improve and investment in human capital increases.

With more than 200 million young people of lower- and upper-secondary school age currently missing out on school, instead of contributing to equitable progress, young people – especially the most disadvantaged – could face futures of compounding deprivation and poverty, unless urgent action is taken.

Generation Unlimited – which forms part of the United Nations’ Youth 2030 Strategy – will complement and build on existing programmes that support adolescents and young people.

The Challenge – which will take place this year in 16 countries worldwide, will be calling for applications from young people to create solutions that will support the three key pillars of Generation Unlimited: secondary-age education; skills for learning, employability and decent work; and empowerment, with a focus on girls.

Successful applicants will be invited to take part in a design workshop in [city] in [month]. Following the workshops, the five most promising ideas will be selected and awarded up to USD 1,000 in funding and provided with mentoring and implementation support.

In spring 2019, the most promising projects in each country will be submitted to a global judging process, which will identify five projects[MN1] , which could have greatest impact for young people. These projects will receive a further USD 20,000 investment, along with a tailored mentorship programme from Generation Unlimited partners to support them to scale.

How can we expand access to remote learning for young people with disabilities who

have limited opportunities due to lack of accessible infrastructure around them, lack of

accessible learning materials and stigma around their disability.

Young people who…

• Are aged 14-24 (on September 24th 2018)
• Are starting to work on a new idea or project. For example, for this particular challenge young people cannot apply if:

• • They have already received funding to develop the idea
  • They are already a registered company or community organization
• Can commit to attending:
  • The pre-bootcamp training session (COs to add dates)
  • The bootcamp (COs to add dates)
  • If selected for local seed funding and mentorship, can commit to implementing their idea, which could last until February / March 2019
  • If selected for global seed funding, could commit to ongoing implementation
• We welcome diversity!

We welcome teams that are gender equal and include diversity of all kinds of identity – gender, sexuality, ethnicity, disability

Young people who wish to apply are encouraged to form teams and submit an application.

The workshop will be conducted between 20 November- 1 December 2018 in the Adolescents and youth Innovation Labs in Dushanbe

The main content of the Youth Challenge is centered around a 3 day bootcamp which will include the phases of understanding the problem, designing the solution, building and testing, making it real, and pitching the idea. The bootcamp is dynamic, interactive, and immersive whereby a lot of teamwork, and collaboration is expected.

The Young people are encouraged to come to the workshop location if they live in the city. Those who are from the districts and towns of the country will be informed additionally on the logistic arrangements.

Yes, UNICEF is non- discriminating organization and always tries to put accessibility as the requirement while choosing the location for any events.

UNICEF in Tajikistan will be covering the administrative and logistics arrangement for the workshop. The arrangements will include 3 time meal and soft drinks and water.

The workshops will be conducted in local language, which are Tajik and Russian.

A broad set of knowledge, skills, work habits, important and applicable in academic subject areas, and in educational, career, and civic settings. These skills include problem solving, analytical thinking, creative thinking, research skills, communication and leadership skills, perseverance, civic awareness etc.

The trainers and facilitators are responsible for taking young participants through a process in which they can build on their strengths, develop relationships, navigate successes and failures and develop technical skills. In short, trainers and facilitators will play a key role in the bootcamp, particularly in the support towards personal and professional development of young participants.

Yes, the certificates will be awarded to the participants of UPSHIFT training.

UNICEF will cover the cost of accommodation for those participants coming from districts and towns of the country.

Young people who wish to apply are encouraged to form teams and submit an application. Applications will be reviewed by a panel including [x y z]. We will firstly check whether all of the information is there and, if not, follow up with the team. We will then consider a number of different areas:
• Does the application clearly state a problem that, if solved, would help to advance the priorities of Generation Unlimited (around education, skills, training, employment and empowerment)
• Does this problem disproportionately affect marginalized or disadvantaged youth? (e.g. gender, disability)
• Is there a lack of existing solutions to address this problem?
• Is the team motivated to solve this problem?
• Can the team commit to the bootcamp and subsequent implementation?
• Does the team come from a disadvantaged background?

Seed funding, library of technology, access to working spaces, Mentorship, networking, liaison with institutions/accelerators/incubators

To add more information once judging process documentation is completed

Money can only be spent on items to implement their project and that teams will need to report back on how they have used the seed funding and what impact their project is having for other young people.

To add more information once judging process documentation is completed

• By youth for youth:

• • Young people’s ideas and creativity are the cornerstone of this Challenge
  • Adults play a facilitating and empowering role within the Challenge  – through their communication style, during the bootcamp and subsequent mentorship; they should not seek to influence or steer the ideas and project
  • Where possible, youth are engaged as facilitators and mentors, as well as Challenge participants

• We are all equal:

• • We welcome teams that are gender equal and include diversity of all kinds of identity – gender, sexuality, ethnicity, disability
  • By design, we will actively engage participants from marginalised communities and create inclusive and accessible environment for all

• We are all working together:

• • There is no automatic entry for specific young people or groups into the Challenge. There is a transparent application process.

• A learning approach:

• • We will embed real-time learning in everything we do to implement the contest, in the same way that we seek to embed this mindset in supporting young people to develop their ideas and projects

• We can do it!

• • Things won’t always go as planned – this is a learning opportunity; not a failure
  • We see no limits to the potential of young people

For assistance during the application process, please contact us at: dushanbe@unicef.org or at: +992 446000190