Oxfam International Youth Partnership
Oxfam International Youth Partnerships (OIYP)
The Oxfam International Youth Parliament or Partnership (OIYP) is an initiative of Oxfam International, managed by Oxfam Australia. It supports youth led initiatives, facilitates skills and capacity building programs and supports young people to advocate for their rights and freedoms and those of their communities. It is a network of youth working in development areas and taking social action in various issues.
Action Partners from all over the world gather at this conference currently held every 3 years, for which partial to full scholarships and financial aid are provided to selected youth to attend the conference, in the form of travel costs, food and accommodation cost, stipends, etc.
Action partners are also eligible to apply for small grants for youth projects they are working on from Oxfam International Youth Parliament during their period of partnership. They also form a network to share information with each other, participate in skills programs, and take part in OIYP's ongoing research agenda.
The action plans of these youth led initiatives are very diverse and in OIYP 2004 included a board game designed by an African delegate to educate other young people AbOUT HIV; a life skills education program for [...] workers designed by a Chinese delegate; a collective action plan from delegates in the peace-building group, and the creation of culturally appropriate modes of education to increase rates of Indigenous students remaining in schools developed by an Indigenous Australian delegate from Mt Isa. among others.
OIYP 2000
The OIYP initiative started in Sydney, Australia in October 2000. It was an initiave of Community Aid Abroad Oxfam Australia and strongly linked to the Youth Workshop of the Alliance for a Responsible and United World. It brought together 250 delegates aged between 15 and 28 from more than 150 countries. It also brought delegates from each state and territory in Australia. The delegates were advocates for significant issues affecting their communities and regions focusing on three significant areas: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty, Youth in Conflict and Cultural Activism.
OIYP 2004
The OIYP 2004 was held in Sydney, Australia from July 5 - 12, 2004. It was a gathering of 300 young activists and leaders from around the world. The age group was changed to 18 to 25 from this session onwards. Action areas of the partners included HIV/AIDS, Labour and Employment, Indigenous Rights, Sustainable Development and Agriculture, Peace Building, Human Rights, Health, Youth Culture & Empowerment, and Education. It was a two year program in which action partners developed their skills and network. The partners were also eligible to apply for small grants worth up to AUS$5,000 each of the projects they were working on in the 2 year period of partnership.
OIYP Kaleidoscope 2007
The OIYP 2007 scheduled to be held in Sydney, Australia in from 30th September to 8th October 2007 will include 300 delegates from 100 countries. This will bring the number of members of the OIYP network close to 900. It will start a partnership for a 3 year program till 2010. This will bring the number of members of the OIYP network close to 900.
Taste for Change
Taste for Change is an annual gala dinner held in Sydney, Australia to raise funds to sponsor OIYP partners and their projects. The event consists of dinner cooked by Sydney's top chefs and performance by artists. In 2006, $70,000 was raised from this event to support OIYP partners and their projects.
Major Supporters
- Oxfam International
- Oxfam Australia
- Oxfam Novip
- Cirque Du Soleil
- The King's School
- Vodafone Australia Foundation
- CISCO
Other Financial Supporters
- Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP)
- Lonely Planet
Taste for Change Supporters
- Cable Beach Resort
- Cook + Phillip Park
- Crumpler
- East On Byron
- Fernwood Women's Health Clubs
- Macquarie Bank Foundation
- The Next Step
- The Sebel Reef House and Spa