Federico Matías Rossi
in ArgentinaFederico Matías Rossi
in Argentina-
23
COUNTRIES VISITED
About me
My past involvement started in 1991 when I became volunteer at Greenpeace. With 11 years old I worked at the Argentina’s office, mainly on campaigns such as Nuclear Energy, Pollution and National Constitution Reform (inclusion of “ecological” articles). For this NGO I worked on grass root until, in 1994 I had participated on the campaign group of the National Constitution Reform. It was a great experience on which we achieve our aim: the 56th article of the New Constitution of Argentina.
Simultaneously (1996), I had started working as volunteer at Amnesty International of Argentina. Here I, as a member of the Youth Team, had coordinated the North Zone Group (Grupo Zona Norte), where we work mainly on topics related to Urgent Actions and Human Rights education at schools. During 1999 and part of 2000 I became part of the Advocacy Team, helping on the NGO relationship with the Parliament.
While I was volunteer in this NGOs, I also started working in an internship at the United Nations Information Center for Argentina and Uruguay (UNIC) (1996-1997). Mainly analyzing documents and resolutions of all kind of topics, I helped the UN National Official in Argentina.
Then I became member of the reception committee for the visit of the UN Secretary-General Kofi A. Annan (1998). Also, in this important year (50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights), I developed my first “important” project, called: “50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Human Rights for Everybody”. The project, created and coordinated by myself for the UNIC and the Government of San Isidro (Buenos Aires) developed a course for teachers of primary and secondary level about Human Rights education, distributing didactic books and PC programs to all the schools and libraries of the district. Also, it was declared officially “Year for the Promotion of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”. As part of this, it were distributed 10.000 free copies to all the pupils of the district (between 8 and 18 years-old) and organized a picture exhibition at the Town Hall during December (anniversary month).
During 1999 I became Individual Service Contractor at the UNIC, working on the preparation of the only official periodic publication in Argentina, called “UN Bulletin” (Boletín ONU) and worked as member of the Secretariat of the COP4 (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).
At the year 2000 I worked at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, South Cone Office. Here, I worked mainly in press topics and the creation of ARCA Foundation (Fundación Argentina con ACNUR / Argentina with the UNHCR Foundation).
Also, during this period (once I finished my participation as volunteer in Greenpeace and Amnesty International) I became member of the Organización Argentina de Jóvenes con Naciones Unidas (Argentinean Organization of Youth with United Nations). In this NGO, created by youth and the UN Office in Buenos Aires, we developed UN Models at school and university levels (1998-2000).
In 2000 I was selected to participate at the Students’ Forum 2000 First Decentralized Activity: level MERCOSUR, in representation of Argentina. Also, in this year, I was selected as delegate at the International Youth Parliament 2000, Oxfam (Australia).
Since then, it started a new period in my life, which is related to my actual involvement to “more” youth related work, but always in near cooperation with UN and other NGOs.
This intense experience let me know Damián Profeta at the International Youth Parliament, Executive Director of the NGO “Vientos del Sur” (Southern Winds), who invited me to become part of the NGO first as Director of International Relationships (year 2001) and then as Director of Public Relationships (2002-2003). With this NGO and Partners for Democratic Change, in special relation with the International Youth Parliament/Oxfam (Community Aid Abroad) and with cooperation and support of the Inter American Development Bank (IADB) – Youth Section and the UNIC, I created and coordinate the project “Propuesta Joven” (Youth Proposal). This project –nowadays in it’s last stage- is working with 30 youngsters of between 16 and 23 years-old who from the debate of public policies with the Director of Youth Policies of the Buenos Aires Government representatives of UNICEF and of the Secretary of Environment of the National Government. Started developing four social projects in areas of Environment, Employment, Health and Human Rights. This innovative project makes youth empowerment a value through a completely horizontal and “participative” structure, where youth participants became active constructors of “Propuesta Joven”, involving themselves not only on theirs project planification (with our cooperation, but let them being autonomous, learning of this experience) but also on the conformation of “Propuesta Joven” itself. This project, thank to its results, not only generated interest at UNICEF, Buenos Aires Government, but also at several small and medium towns around Argentina and on the second main city -after Buenos Aires- Rosario.
Also, in parallel with my work at Vientos del Sur NGO, I am coordinator of “La Red Joven” (Youth Network) an horizontal, free of charge and open network which nowadays congregates around 100 young people around Argentina and some countries of Latin America, such us Brazil, Panama, Honduras, Uruguay, Chile and Colombia. This net has no authorities and as it principles has only one rule: toleration and respect. Through it we are promoting strengthen of networking on youth topics, a “forgotten” area on Argentina’s Government agenda (2001-nowadays).
In 2001 I was selected representing Argentina at the Students’ Forum 2000 Session in 2001 at Prague, organized by the Czech Government with The Nippon Foundation. During the year 2002 I was member of the NGO Market Team, main activity of the Students’ Forum 2000.
Also I was member of the Selection Committee of the International Young Professionals Summit 2001, and today I am member of the International Young Professionals Summit Foundation.
Also I am member of the Alliance for a Responsible and United World, endorser of the Hague Appeal for Peace and active member for Latin America of the Youth Campaign of peace Education. And had represented Vientos del Sur NGO at the Mesa de Concertación Juvenil de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires (Youth Concertation Table of the City of Buenos Aires), that have the aim of achieving the sanction of the Law for the creation of the Youth Council at the City of Buenos Aires (2001-2002).
In February 2003 I became Interim Founder Member of the Youth Advisory Committee of the Commission of NGO’s in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO) in representation of the Latin American and The Caribbean Region and of the IYP/Oxfam.
In the 41st. Session of the Commission of Social Development (ECOSOC) at the UN Headquarters in representation of the IYP/Oxfam I presented an statement to the Commission (see: www.un.org/youth).
Nowadays I am member of the International Advisory Board of IYP/Oxfam, Member of the YAC CONGO in representation of IYP/Oxfam and I am also Coordinator for Argentina of CONGO for the Consultations for Latin America and the Caribbean.
My past involvement started in 1991 when I became volunteer at Greenpeace. With 11 years old I worked at the Argentina’s office, mainly on campaigns such as Nuclear Energy, Pollution and National Constitution Reform (inclusion of “ecological”...
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Languages
Spanish, English, Italian
Age
44
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