A checklist of ideas for individuals and organisations

• Organise an event

• ‡Use the 2014 theme of Youth Empowerment through Soft Skills to run a workshop or training session to help young people build skills such as team-work, self-confidence and resilience.

• ‡Organise a performing or visual arts competition or workshop involving music, filming, radio presenting, DJ-ing, music production, theatre, painting, drawing, badge making, fashion, or photography.

• ‡Volunteer or fundraise for your organisation, a charity or a worthy cause. Debate policy

• ‡Hold a workshop, conference or consultation on the role and contribution of youth work to national development.

• ‡Conduct research on the challenges facing youth workers in your country and share your report with the Commonwealth Youth Programme and national media.

• ‡Review and share your thoughts on a Commonwealth Code of Ethics in Youth Work or develop your own national code of ethics for youth work professionals.

• ‡Lobby for a meeting with the Minister of Youth, or other senior officials, to discuss youth work issues in your country.

• Celebrate excellence

• ‡Nominate an outstanding youth worker for the Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards 2014.

• ‡Organise a youth worker recognition award for your community or country to promote outstanding youth workers at home.

• ‡Write a case study on a successful youth work project in your country and share it with the Commonwealth Youth Programme and national media.

• Educate and inform

• ‡Produce a youth magazine or newsletter featuring articles and opinion pieces by young people, interviews with local community figures or political leaders, or music and movie reviews.

• ‡Run a social media campaign using Facebook, Twitter or blogging sites to publicise events, educate people about the role of youth workers or the importance of soft skills. Use the hashtag #YWW14 to link with other events around the globe.

 Social media tips