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<h1>YouthBank International Board Meeting in Istanbul</h1>
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<p class="byline">By Norman Leet, YouthBank International Consultant </p>
<p><img src="/uploads/551bbdb67e6a2.jpg" alt="" style="float: left; width: 395px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; background-color: initial;"></p><h5><em>Norman is the</em><em> Director of Evolve to Grow. He has been an independent consultant
specialising in organisational development and design for the last 25 years,
having clients in many different industries. He became involved with YouthBank
UK back in 2002 when it was originally setting up, supporting the CEO, staff
team and young people. He went on to volunteer in many different roles for YBUK
designing and delivering training, facilitating the young people on the board
and giving one-to-one support to all of the board members. He did this until
2011 when YBUK had to end due to lack of funding and has since been working
with YouthBank International.</em><strong style="font-size: 15px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: initial;"></strong></h5><p><strong style="background-color: initial;"></strong><strong style="background-color: initial;">Two years since the Berlin ‘Temporary Board’ first met
and how far we have travelled</strong></p><p>At the last time of writing we had just met in
Brussels and I had facilitated a meeting which set out a detailed set of action
for YouthBank International (YBI) and here we are two years later almost to the day
meeting in Istanbul thanks to the hospitality of TOG and Agata Fortuna, our
chair.</p><p>Whilst still a long way from where the Board and
Advisory Board would want the organisation to be, it is worth reflecting on some
of the achievements of an organisation where every member is a volunteer with
the very ‘special’ exception of Vernon, our leader and paid staff member.</p><p>There is now a Board in place, a bank account and we
are close to being a registered charity with a constitution and the governance
to enable YBI to grow and operate as an independent organisation. The new website improves constantly and now
has a library with content and a full survey of network members was recently
undertaken with the results currently being made available.</p><p>The order of business had a very familiar agenda with
the constant battle to consider how best to meet the growing needs of the
network. How best to respond to new
requests for support to start YBs from such countries as, Togo, Ghana, Japan,
India and others? How to support the new
and developing YouthBanks e.g. Youthprise USA, World Vision Honduras? How to support the existing network and
members more effectively and respond with useful tools and materials that meet
the needs coming out of the recent survey that all members participated in? The
team came away with some clear actions and will be contacting all YouthBank members to discuss all of these ideas.</p><p>There was also focus on next 18 months' work delivering
the Mott Foundation-funded work, a project of YEPP in which YBI is participating to see how social entrepreneurialism may fit with the YouthBank model and
offer a sustainable way forward and where next to seek funding partnerships.</p><p>As an external facilitator it never ceases to amaze
what a group of committed volunteers can achieve and all because they want
to see the YouthBank movement and family continue to survive, grow and remain
connected so as many young people as possible from around the world can share
the experience.</p><p><a href="http://www.youthbankinternational.org/profiles/view/jeremy-maarman"><img src="/uploads/551c3c7720b30.jpg" style="width: 349px; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" alt=""></a></p><p><em><a href="http://www.youthbankinternational.org/profiles/view/jeremy-maarman">Jeremy Maarman</a>, YBI Board member and YouthBank Coordinator at West Coast Community Foundation, South Africa, enjoying a break during the YBI Board meeting session in Istanbul.</em></p>
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