Other News and Events – July 2017

Global Youth Video Competition on Climate Change

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Development Programme/Global Environment Finance (UNDP/GEF) Small Grant Programme have teamed up once again with Television for the Environment to launch a video competition for the best youth climate projects happening around the globe.

There are two entry categories: Category 1: Climate friendly and resilient cities; and Category 2: Oceans and climate change.

The two winners will receive the following prizes:

• Round-trip travel to COP23 in Bonn, Germany, November 2017; and
• Position as a youth reporter for COP23, responsible for assisting the UNFCCC Newsroom team with videos, articles and social media posts.

The deadline for entries is 18 August.

Find out more on UNFCCC website.

Queen’s Award Recipient – Ashleigh Smith

One of the Minister for Youth’s Youth Week 2016 Awards recipients, Ashleigh Smith of Sticks ‘n Stones, was named as a 2017 Queen’s Young Leader Award winner and recently travelled to the Palace in London to accept the prestigious honour.

She was a recipient of a Change Maker – Community Safety Award at the Youth Week Awards in May 2016, while Sticks ‘n Stones itself received a Youth Champion Award.

Read about Ashleigh in the December 2016 edition of Youth Matters.

Visit the Stuff website for the full story on the 2017 Queen’s Young Leader Award presentation.

New Zealander of the Year Awards Nominations Now Open

Recognise and reward an individual or community organisation that makes you proud to be a Kiwi. Nominations for the New Zealander of the Year Awards, including the Young New Zealander of the Year category, are open from now until midnight on 18 September 2017.

You can nominate, in one or more categories, a friend, family member, community leader or even a community group or organisation. The ideal candidates are those inspirational New Zealanders who are achieving extraordinary things and making a positive difference to you and the lives of others. Get nominating!

Learn more on the New Zealander of the Year Awards website.

Making Sense of Evaluation: A Handbook for the Social Sector

Superu has recently released a useful handbook “primarily designed for people funding or purchasing social services, and providers of social services in New Zealand who need to understand more about how to measure and understand the effects of their programmes or initiatives. This can help people who are working with:

• programme design (and funding applications)

• management of programmes through good monitoring and feedback, including continuous improvement
• reporting on outcomes
• understanding what works, when and why.”

Download it from Superu’s website.

J R McKenzie Trust’s Peter McKenzie Project

J R McKenzie Trust’s Peter McKenzie Project will fund $15 million worth of good ideas for 20 years. The Peter McKenzie Project has launched to support ideas that can see a reduction in the number of children, whānau and families living in poverty. They need your big ideas to make this happen. This is about the long-term – they are prepared to offer funding over a 20-year period so that ideas can be developed, tested and brought to life.

Learn more by visiting the Peter McKenzie Project website.