Call for Youth Speakers for the International Conference on Family Planning

Youth focus and youth participation is central to the International Conference on Family Planning. Today, one in four people on earth are aged 10-25. It is the largest population of youth in history.

Young people’s beliefs and decisions about family planning are critical to their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Too often, young people lack access to modern contraceptive methods of their choice. Some of the largest barriers to contraceptive use include cultural norms about family planning, lack of finance and political priority.

Many of the commitments made at the 2012 London Summit on Family Planning (FP2020) focus on increased family planning equity and access among youth populations. The conference in Addis Ababa will provide an opportunity to highlight what is needed to maximize young people’s sexual and reproductive health.

The International Conference on Family Planning is now seeking youth aged 18-25 years old to serve as speakers and/or moderators on youth-focused and other sessions at the conference. Young people who are selected will have conference registration and travel costs covered, and they will play an essential role in providing a youth perspective to the program.

This year in the spirit of using new technology to spread the word about family planning, the 2013 ICFP will be accepting applications for youth speakers through video submissions. All youth must complete their own video submission, but they may seek assistance from local organizations or other resources. At least one professional reference should be provided in support of the candidate’s qualifications.

The applicant must have experience in the field of family planning, and/or sexual and reproductive health, or adolescent health to serve as moderators and/or speakers at youth focused sessions.

Deadline for Applications: August 12, 2013

Rules and Guidelines

A. Eligibility

In order to enter the youth speaker video contest you must be between the ages of 18 and 25 on November 1, 2013. You can only enter the contest once.

B. Selection

A selection jury consisting of members from the ICFP International Youth Subcommittee will choose the winning entries. The top candidates will be chosen to speak or moderate at the conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Outstanding video submissions, whether or not from winning candidates, will be compiled and displayed at the conference and/or on the conference website.

The selection of youth speakers/moderators is separate from the selection of scientific abstract presenters. That is, while ICFP welcomes applications from young researchers who have submitted individual abstracts or preformed panels, this is not a requirement for becoming a youth speaker at the conference.

Submissions will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Clarity of family planning / adolescent sexual and reproductive health message,
• Ability to speak to and convey a message to an audience,
• Background and references,
• Interest and ability to learn and contribute to the conference, and
• Clarity of image and sound in the video submission (for transfer onto multimedia screen and visibility from a distance).

C. Video format

The video is to highlight your experience with family planning, and your creativity and ability to convey an important message to an audience. You may use photos, music, or other graphics, but you must speak during the video at some point as well.

The Submission must be your original work. You, the applicant, must hold all rights to the submission, including the copyright. You may get assistance from organizations or individuals (e.g. for equipment) long as the actual video depicts your unique qualifications.

The submission must be at least thirty (30) seconds in length and may not exceed five (5) minutes in length. In the case that a link to a longer video is provided, a start- and endpoint of a 5-minute time slot must be indicated.

The Submission must be in either English or French. If in another language, please use English subtitles.

In the case that you, after careful review of opportunities, do not have access to equipment or cannot for other reasons create a video, please contact Anna Kaagesten at youth@fpconference2013.org. Attempts will then be made to connect you with local organizations or other sources of support. You may also be able to use existing materials such as recorded speeches; however, it is encouraged that new material is added that specifically relate to the conference application.

D. Content restrictions

• The video must not contain material that violates or invades the rights of others, including, but not limited to privacy, publicity, tort, or intellectual property rights (including copyright, trademark, or patent rights).
• The video must not contain copyrighted music, images, footage, artwork, or videos not owned by you as an applicant,
• The video must not contain inappropriate, indecent, obscene, hateful, or discriminatory materials that violate international human rights.

E. References

At least one (1) reference (e.g. organization or professional individual) should be provided in support of your qualification as a speaker at the conference.

Download Youth Speaker Application Rules and Guidelines_EN
Download Youth Speaker Flyer_EN