Mines Action Canada's Global Youth Program 

A group of Mine Action Fellows at the 2024 Mine Ban Treaty Review Conference in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

The Mine Action Fellows are a network of dedicated and experienced youth leaders who Mines Action Canada (MAC) supports in various capacities. The program is open to any youth aged 18 to 30 who are working, volunteering, or interested in mine action with a particular focus on young women from affected countries.

Since being founded in 2017, the Mine Action Fellows program has grown to over 150 Fellows from 51 countries.

The program has four major components:

1. In-person Forums Alongside Multilateral Meetings

Small group discussions at MAC's 2024 Review Conference side event featuring Mine Action Fellow experts.

Forums give the Fellows the opportunity to learn how international meetings function, so that their valuable input can be heard by decision-makers. These Forums take place at the United Nations, meaning the Fellows actually attend the Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty and Cluster Munition Convention alongside diplomats and other civil society campaigners. Outside of the official meeting room, Mines Action Canada organizes a number of sessions for Fellows to deepen their learning. These sessions include hearing from experts on victim assistance, monitoring implementation, environment and mine action, risk education, and more. Mines Action Canada also ensures the Fellows have ample opportunity to speak with decision makers by setting up meetings with the Presidencies of the meetings, Ambassadors, and diplomats. The purpose of the Forums is to provide a space for youth leaders to develop their skills in advocacy and share their expertise in mine action. At the end of each Forum, the Fellows deliver a final youth statement which is drafted by all the participating Fellows and read at the Meetings of States Parties, providing another opportunity for them to have their voices heard. 

2. Monthly Online Capacity Building

Each month Fellows receive emails and other documents that provide information on relevant mine action news, improve professional skills and leadership development, and/or give updates on the Mine Action Fellows program. The emails are divided into cohorts, to ensure that as new Fellows are added to the program, they are receiving the same capacity building emails to bring them up to the same level as others, and Fellows who have been in the program for longer are receiving new content. The emails are important for consistent communication between Mines Action Canada and the Fellows, and sharing important news and helpful tips.

3. Small Grants for Community Level Action

A small grant in Iraq where risk education messaging was printed on school notebooks.

The small grant program is an opportunity for Mine Action Fellows to design and implement a project within their community using funding from Mines Action Canada. This program is useful because even if their application is not accepted, it is still a good training opportunity for Fellows to create a workplan, describe the impact of this plan, and develop a working budget. If their application is accepted, then they have the chance to take the lead on implementation. Fellows are already working or volunteering in their communities, so they have a great understanding of what activities are needed. It is an excellent opportunity for Fellows to develop their leadership skills and make a difference in their community. Each time we announce a round of small grants, MAC receives more and more applications from Fellows, showing that they can recognize the success of previous small grants and they are now interested in participating. The small grants program has awarded grants to a variety of projects such as organizing community workshops to raise awareness on victim assistance rights; printing accessible risk education messaging on tote bags and school notebooks; and hosting an inter-generational dialogue to discuss the intersection between mine action and climate security. 

4. Ways to Stay Connected with the Network

An important aspect of the program that cannot be overlooked is connecting youth from around the world who are all passionate about the same thing: a world free from landmines and cluster munitions, where survivors rights are fulfilled. Creating a network where the youth know they can count on each other for support and build friendships helps the Mine Action Fellows stay strong in their advocacy and work at home. To help foster this environment of collaboration, when Fellows join the program they have access to a Google Group, Facebook page, and WhatsApp group chat to stay in touch. Quarterly meetings where Fellows can come together online also provide the valuable chance for Fellows to see and learn from each other. The International Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munition Coalition also continues to be impressed by the passion, expertise, and resourcefulness of the Fellows, so they also provide the Fellows a chance to sign up for the global campaigner's mailing list and join in for regional meetings. 

Mines Action Canada is extremely proud of this youth program. It continues to receive high praise from donors, diplomats, civil society partners, and of course, the Fellows themselves. We see this program as essential for ensuring that youth have the chance to develop leadership skills and deepen their mine action knowledge, so they are better equipped for their disarmament careers. Seeing the program grow more each year is a testament to the success and recognition the program is receiving. MAC is excited for the future of the Mine Action Fellows program, and we hope you are too! 

To learn more about the amazing work the Mine Action Fellows accomplish, check out our recent annual reports on the program: 2022, 2023, and 2024.