Restless Development

Restless Development is a non-governmental organization, known previously as Students Partnership Worldwide (SPW.) Its mission is to place young people at the forefront of change and development.

Restless Development operates in 74 countries across Africa and Asia, as well as in the USA and UK. The organization works with young people and provides volunteer placements in the areas of civic participation, livelihoods and employment, sexual rights and leadership.

The organization provides training and support to young people and creates opportunities for young people to be part of policy and decision-making processes.

History

Restless Development was founded as Students Partnership Worldwide in 1985 by Jim Cogan, the Deputy Head of Westminster School.[1] It was originally a gap year programme for school leavers from Westminster School to work as teachers in India or Zimbabwe. Former volunteers include British filmmaker Louis Theroux and Jamie Drummond, co-founder of ONE Campaign.

In 1992 SPW started recruiting local volunteers and this became a significant focus of SPW's operating model.

Between 1991-2000 SPW expanded its work to Nepal, Tanzania, Uganda and South Africa and there was an increasing focus on the HIV/AIDS epidemic. From 2000 onwards SPW began to use only local volunteers to deliver programmes.

Between 2000-2006, SPW expanded to Zambia and Sierra Leone.

In 2010, SPW re-branded and became Restless Development.[2]

In 2011, Restless Development joined the consortium of organizations for the International Citizen Service, a program funded by The UK Department for International Development (DFID) providing overseas volunteer placements for young people to work alongside national volunteers.

From 2011-2016, Restless Development led a 'Youth Consortium' involving Warchild and Youth Business International that held a Programme Partnership Arrangement (PPA) with The UK Department for International Development (DFID).[3]

Policy and Advocacy

Restless Development is a member of Stop AIDS, with responsibility for coordinating the campaign Youth Stop AIDS! (formerly known as the Student Stop AIDS Campaign[4]). When the campaign started in 2003, a significant number of campaigners were former Restless Development volunteers.

Since 2012, Restless Development has been in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

From 2014-2016, Restless Development was Organising Partner of the UN Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY).[5]

Awards

2017

  • Transparency Award (Winner) from Bond for NGO effectiveness and accountability.[6]
  • Campaign Award (Finalist) from Bond for the Youth Stop AIDS! Missing Medicines campaign.

2018

  • Outstanding International NGO of the Year - Sierra Leone NGO Awards

See also

References
  1. Coles, Alf (2007-12-07). "Obituary: Jim Cogan". the Guardian. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
  2. Plummer, John. "Case study: Restless Development". www.thirdsector.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
  3. "[Withdrawn] Programme Partnership Arrangements (PPAs)". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
  4. "Who we are | Youth Stop AIDS". Retrieved 2021-09-22.
  5. "Children and Youth .:. Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform". sustainabledevelopment.un.org. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
  6. Robertson, Laura (2016-01-12). "Transparency Award". Bond. Retrieved 2021-09-22.
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