FYP Code of Conduct
Our Theory of Change
We believe personal flourishing drives collective transformation. Through these commitments, we build a movement that proves youth supporting youth changes everything.
Agency
Our power begins with self-love
1.I. We commit to radical self-love and self-actualization.
We fiercely prioritize our mental health and well-being, making self-love and self-actualization our highest priority while supporting others in doing the same, because we know systemic change begins with personal flourishing.
Individuals with higher levels of self-acceptance and self-actualization demonstrate greater resilience, lower rates of anxiety and depression, and increased capacity for social impact (Ryff & Singer, 2008; Maslow, 1971).
Read More: "The Body Is Not an Apology" by Sonya Renee Taylor & "Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs" research
2.II. We commit to mindful presence.
We engagestay fullyradically withpresent in our work,work stayand relationships, engage our full selves to every moment while remaining aware of our energy levels,levels and make conscious choices about our commitments.bodies.
Mindful practicingpresence presence,significantly weimproves buildmental deeperwell-being, connectionsreduces stress, and makeenhances moreboth intentional impact, staying grounded in the herepersonal and now.collective decision-making capacity (Kabat-Zinn, 2013; Brown & Ryan, 2003).
Read More: "The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook" by Kristin Neff & Christopher Germer
3.III. We commit to growth resilience.
We embrace challenges fiercely as opportunities,opportunities learnfor fromgrowth, setbacks,viewing andsetbacks buildnot as failures but as essential steps in our journey while building sustainable support systems. Understandingsystems that changehelp requiresus courage,bounce weback cultivatestronger.
Developing resilience and a growth mindset significantly improves mental health outcomes and developincreases ourlikelihood capacityof toachieving bounceboth backpersonal strongerand whilesocial supportingchange others'goals resilience.(Dweck, 2006; Duckworth, 2016).
Read More: "Growth Mindset" by Carol Dweck & "Grit" by Angela Duckworth
Authenticity
Because being real is revolutionary
4.IV. We commit to enriching work and meaningful engagement.
We choose to devote our time and energy to work that enrichgenuinely enriches our lives,lives and sayour communities, fearlessly saying no to what drains us.us Recognizingto thatprotect our capacity for meaningful impact.
Engaging in purposeful actionwork feedssignificantly ourincreases souls,life wesatisfaction contributeand inreduces wayssymptoms thatof energizedepression ratherand thananxiety deplete(Steger us.et al., 2012; Frankl, 1959).
Read More: "The Happiness Trap" by Russ Harris & "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl
5.V. We commit to authentic expression,self-exploration and expression.
We strive fiercely to explore, discover, and express our genuine selves, creating spaces where youth can freely find themselves and be themselves.
Authentic self-expression and identity exploration during youth significantly improve mental health outcomes and foster psychological well-being (Ryan & Deci, 2000).
Read More: "True to Ourselves" by Cameron Anderson & "Authenticity" by Stephen Joseph
VI. We commit to boundary protection,protection and self-advocacy.
We sharemaintain fierce boundaries that protect our genuine thoughts, honor our cultural practices,energy and createspace, spaceactively for unique voices. We firmly establish and maintain healthy boundaries, advocateadvocating for our needs,needs and supportempowering others into doingdo the same.
Strong thispersonal authenticityboundaries and effective self-protection,advocacy weskills buildare genuinefundamental trustto preventing burnout in youth advocates and sustainablemaintaining connections.long-term mental health (Cloud & Townsend, 2017).
Read More: "Dare to Lead" by Brené Brown & "Set Boundaries, Find Peace" by Nedra Glover Tawwab & "Boundaries" by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
Compassion
Because kindness transforms everything
6.VII. We commit to radical self-compassion.
We practice deepfierce kindness toward ourselves, embracing our humanityfull self including our imperfectionsstruggles, imperfections, and struggles.the Throughmessy mindfulreality self-acceptance,of gentlebeing self-care,young changemakers in today's world.
Self-compassion is strongly correlated with reduced anxiety and recognitiondepression ofwhile ourincreasing commonresilience humanity,and we build sustainable foundationscapacity for bothsocial personalconnection growth(Neff and& collectiveGermer, action.2017; WeMacBeth treat& ourselvesGumley, with the same understanding we would offer a dear friend.2012).
Read More: "Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself" by Kristin Neff & "The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion" by Christopher Germer
7.VIII. We commit to radical compassion for others.
We extend deep understanding and care to all people, recognizingespecially those who hold different views or in the case opposition. We recognize our sharedwe humanityare beyondall differences. Through non-violent communication, active listening,human and empatheticcompassion engagement,is wethe transformkey to bridge conflicts into connections and buildmake supportivereal communities.changes Wehappen.
Practicing allcompassion interactionsfor withothers curiosityenhances both personal well-being and kindness,community knowingresilience thatwhile everyonereducing carriesburnout their(Rosenberg, own2015; struggles.Klimecki et al., 2014).
Read More: "Nonviolent Communication" by Marshall Rosenberg & "The Art of Communicating" by Thich Nhat Hanh
Openness
Because growth requires curiosity
8.IX. We commit to critical awarenessthinking.
As Plato said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." We commit to critically examine everything we do as a community, every aspect of our work, and transparency.the
Weactions questionof assumptions,each evaluateteam information thoughtfully,member, and considerwe multiplerecognize perspectives.that Wewhat maintainwe radicalare transparencycreating intoday ourwill processeshave a significant impact on all youth tomorrow.
Developing critical thinking skills significantly improves youth mental health outcomes by enhancing decision-making capacity and decision-making,reducing fosteringcognitive trustdistortions throughassociated openwith dialogueanxiety and honestdepression communication.(Paul & Elder, 2020).
Read More: "Critical Theory and Social Justice" by Iris Marion Young & "Teaching Critical Thinking" by bell hooks
9.X. We commit to cultural humility and inclusive practice.
WeFYP respectis made of youth leaders from various countries and cultures, and we recognize that well-being and mental health mean different waysthings ofto being,different learncultures from other traditions, and build inclusive communities. Recognizing that diversity strengthens us,- we activelydon't just make space for variousthese expressionsdifferences, ofwe flourishingstrive actively bring in our diverse cultural perspectives and challengeepistemological ourdiversity to build systems that help all people and community flourish on their own terms.
Culturally responsive approaches to mental health and well-being lead to significantly better outcomes across different communities, with research showing up to 40% higher engagement and effectiveness when interventions honor cultural assumptions.perspectives (Sue & Sue, 2016).
Read More: "Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain" by Zaretta Hammond & "How To Be An Antiracist" by Ibram X. Kendi
Joy
Because joyJoy is a form of resistenceresistence*
10.XI. We commit to revolutionary joy, play, and purpose.
We make fierce space for play,play findand pleasureparty in our work, and celebrate our impact. Understandingrecognizing that joy itself is resistance,a weform buildof movementsresistance against systems that nurturewould happinessrather whilesee creatingus change.burnt out and disconnected. We integrate purpose and meaning into our work, recognizingrecognize that true joy comes from alignment with our deepest values.
Integrating play and joy into purpose-driven work significantly reduces burnout while increasing both personal well-being and movement sustainability (brown, 2019; Brown, S., 2009).
Read More: "Pleasure Activism" by adrienne maree brown & "Play" by Stuart Brown
"We practice these commitments not as rules to follow, but as pathways to liberation. Together, we prove that authenticity, agency, and compassion always triumph."