We are excited that you and your colleagues want to form an Earth Charter Youth Group (ECYG)!
Anybody interested in Earth Charter values and principles is encouraged to form local Earth Charter Youth Groups to disseminate and implement the Earth Charter in their respective local contexts.

ECYGs can be created in all kinds of settings, including schools, universities, associations, neighborhoods, and places of worship so long as people want to work together based on the values embedded in the Earth Charter. All kinds of existing groups, clubs, associations, and youth NGOs that share the ethical vision of the Earth Charter are invited to join the global network of the Earth Charter youth network. We encourage groups to be gender balanced and to include representatives from various local ethnic, religious, and socio-economic groups.

First Steps Towards Creating an ECYG
• Find a group of interested people, or introduce the Earth Charter into an existing organization.
• Review the Earth Charter carefully and think about how you might apply it locally.
• Define concrete results you want to achieve and actions to get there.
• If you have questions contact the International Youth Facilitator, Youth Leadership Team Representative or established ECYGs in your region for advice and information.

Steps for Official Recognition of a Youth Group
• Identify a contact person for your ECYG. This person is usually the Coordinator for the Youth Group as well.
• Fill out the ECYG Application on the ECYG wikipage. If you have any questions you can contact the International Youth Facilitator at: youthcoordinator [@] earthcharter.org.
• Read and endorse the Earth Charter as a youth organization and ask all of your members to endorse it as well.
Remember to check the box “Add me to the youth network in order to receive updates on youth activities” in order to be included in our youth network.
• Each ECYG is asked to submit thorough documentation of its activities 1-2 times each calendar year to the ECYG wikipage. Documentation of your Youth Group’s successes and lessons learned are extremely important, as it will be made available to the EC youth network, Council Members, potential donors, and the general public for inspiration and reference.

The Earth Charter Youth Groups wikipage is the forum in which you will become an established ECYG. The wikipage contains profiles of all the ECYGs, resources for the ECYGs and important information.

Read also the Earth Charter Youth Toolkit to learn more about the activities you can do as a group.

ECYGs are encouraged to collaborate with one another, as well as with other organizations. When several ECYGs exist in one country, it is suggested to form a non-hierarchical, countrywide network and develop a common country vision. Reaching across national borders to form regional networks is also appropriate, especially when such regions encompass a river basin, mountain range, forest, desert, island, etc.

We will be happy to support you through the process of establishing your ECYG or helping your already established group incorporate the Earth Charter into its mission and activities! Please contact our International Youth Facilitator at youthcoordinator [@] earthcharter.org.