1. YABC
Youth as agents of behavioural change
Contacts at IFRC
Dr. Katrien Beeckman
Head, Principles and Values
department
Founder of the YABC initiative
E-mail: katrien.beeckman@ifrc.
org
Phone: +41 22 730 4601
Charlotte Tocchio
YABC Officer and trainer
Principles and Values
department
E-mail: charlotte.tocchio@ifrc.
org
Phone: +41 22 730 4657
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is a vol-
unteer-based organization with a membership of 186 Red Cross Red Crescent National
Societies world-wide, whose mission is to alleviate human suffering. The promotion
of a culture of non-violence and peace (CNV+P) is since 2010, one of our three priority
areas of work (Strategy 2020).
The IFRC believes that youth are a powerful source of change, whose energy and skills
need to be harnessed when pursuing lasting social change leading to a culture of non-
violence and peace.
The youth of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement strongly commit
themselves to inner change and the development of skills to promote harmony and
positive attitudes within communities.
Envisioning the call of youth to their National Societies and governments, the Youth as
Agents of Behavioural Change (YABC) intiative, created in 2008, is a global IFRC flagship
program on the promotion of a culture of non-violence and peace.
It aims to empower youth to take up a leadership role in inspiring a positive transfor-
mation of mindsets, attitudes and behaviours within themselves and their community
through non-formal skills-based and values-based peer education.
www.ifrc.org
Saving lives, changing minds

2. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Youth as agents of behavioural change /
“The YABC approach is
a complete mindset for
The YABC educational
leading your life. Without
this initiative, it would
approach
have taken me a life time It is rooted in a non-cognitive and participant-centred experiential learn-
to change myself.” ing methodology.
(Youth voices)
Through games, simulation and visualisation exercises, role-plays, arts,
etc., youth are therefore given the opportunity to make a journey “from
their heart to their mind”.
What does YABC focus on?
Interpersonal life skills to promote a CNV+P
n Empathy
n Active listening
n Critical thinking, non-judgement and dropping bias
n Non-violent communication and peaceful resolution of tensions
n Mediation and reconciliation
n Operating from inner peace
Awareness-raising, further understanding personal reflection on the-
matic issues essential to build a CNV+P
n The seven Fundamental Principles and their underpinning
Humanitarian Values
n Non-discrimination and respect for diversity (migrants, PLHIV,
elderly, disabled, etc.)
n Intercultural dialogue
n Social inclusion
n Violence prevention, mitigation and response
n Gender equality
Artistic platforms to raise awareness on and engage in building a CNV+P
within the community
n Music
n Theatre
n Dance
n Visual arts (drawing, video, sculpture, etc.)
n Sports and movement (Qi-Gong, breathing and relaxation techniques,
yoga, etc.)

3. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Youth as agents of behavioural change /
Youth voices after
a training of YABC
The YABC toolkit
peer educators:
“Thanks to the YABC
package today
It has been developed by RCRC youth and is based on or inspired from
experience, I opened
existing materials. It contains:
my eyes on the cultural
and societal norms that n 20 concept papers and 75 interactive activities on the seven RCRC
influence each one of Fundamental Principles and the underpinning Humanitarian Values,
us, and I understood as well as the interpersonal life skills and thematic issues previ-
the mechanisms of ously mentioned
discrimination, violence
and exclusion. It gave n 6 presentations on social mobilisation and the artistic platforms pre-
me a lesson of humanity, viously mentioned
peace, and love for my n 1 manual for peer educators
fellow human beings
that will last a lifetime.” n Guidelines on the community engagement activity cycle
“YABC does not just The YABC toolkit package will be available online, after its official
open our minds; it also launch at the 31st International Conference of the Red Cross and Red
develops our ability to Crescent Movement.
challenge our assumptions,
change our perspective
and think in a different
way which results for The YABC network so far
instance in finding potential n 1 500 sensitized or initiated youth (staff and volunteers) from 140
solutions to violence.” RCRC National Societies worldwide
n 250 peer educators from 60 RCRC National Societies
n 11 trainers of peer educators
What kind of impact has
YABC produced to date?
“YABC guides youth in
a true and very rich self-
At the individual level
reflection, enabling them As witnessed by participants in YABC
to learn about themselves.
n Engagement in a life-long process of learning
It unlocks their talents
and strenghtens their n Self-questioning and inner change
skills and beliefs that they
can do something useful n Deepened self-confidence
for their community.” n Strengthened ethical leadership skills (teamwork and cooperation, open-
Aurelia Balpe – Head, IFRC mindedness and mutual understanding, trust, humility and integrity)
Pacific delegation
n Enhanced self-resilience (management of stress, pressure, tiredness
and emotions)

4. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Youth as agents of behavioural change /
Youth as agents of
behavioural change
At the community level
As integrated/implemented by youth of the YABC network
“YABC is a need and an
experience that leads us n Sustainable development and vocational training for vulnerable
to take a critical look at youth (Sierra Leone)
oursleves. If this initiative
would be implemented n Regional campaign and micro-projects on migration issues (North
everywhere in the world, Africa: Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia)
the day to see a culture of n Service delivery during the civil unrests (Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Tunisia)
non-violence and peace
on earth is not far.” n Psychosocial support (Pakistan, Sri Lanka)
Youth voice
n Junior and youth clubs and centers in schools, colleges, universities
“In the past, I had violently and communities (Ghana, France, Lebanon, Macedonia, Switzerland)
bushed and forced a friend
of mine who is gay to ‘act n Leadership courses (Denmark, Philippines)
like a man’. YABC radically
n Disaster management (Egypt, Pakistan)
changed my vision and
made me realize how n First aid (Egypt, France, Pakistan)
much I regret it now.”
Youth voice
“I was the kind of person
who discriminated some
Official recognition and
people like those living with
HIV. The YABC experience outreach of YABC
totally changed me as well Within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement: General Assembly
as my mindset, attitude and decision, IFRC Youth Commission work plan and reports, Youth
behaviour towards others.” Declaration presented to the International Community, Red Cross Red
Youth voice Crescent regional commitments and declarations (Amman, Dubrovnik,
Johannesburg, etc.)
External: UN Human Rights Council statements (2009-2011): weblink,
Redtalk (7th July 2011), UN High-Level Meeting on Youth (side event, NY,
July 2011), Word Peace Festival (workshop, Berlin, August 2011), CNV+P
YABC Summit for Africa, Europe and the Mediterranean where delegates
from external youth or CNV+P organizations are invited (training, Italy,
September 2011).
You want to contribute…
How can you help?
n Funding the translation of the YABC toolkit package into Arabic,
Russian or Spanish
n Funding YABC initiation workshops or trainings of peer educators
n Funding YABC micro-projects furthering a culture of non-violence
and peace within the community
n Funding travels of YABC coordinators or Red Cross Red Crescent
National Societies’ peer educators to build capacity of other youth