UNESCO Clubs are groups of people of all ages and from all socio-professional backgrounds who share the UNESCO ideal and seek to spread it through various activities.
A Club is an association made up of members who share tasks and responsibilities. An elected Executive Committee, composed of a President, a Secretary and a treasurer coordinates the activities and represents the Club.
Club resources are made up of membership fees, profits from public events, grants and financial aid from the government, foundations and donors. In all activities, members work on a voluntary basis.
A Federation of UNESCO Associations, Centers, Clubs is a set of all of these who come together so that their activities are better coordinated, planned on a national, sub-regional, regional or global scale. It is governed by statutes which determine the goals, functions, criteria for admission and termination of membership, the main bodies, their functions and finally the finances.
The National Federation plays a role of coordination, promotion and follow-up of the flagship activities decided by the Associations, Centers, Clubs UNESCO during a specific period. It has its own program of activities like the Clubs it supervises, developed taking into account activities planned by the Clubs in the same period. At the continental level, the Federations are grouped into Confederations. In Africa, we have the African Confederations of UNESCO Clubs (CACU) At the global level, we have a supreme organ having its headquarters in the UNESCO buildings in Paris, it is indeed the World Federation.
UNESCO Federations and Clubs put forward respect for the great democratic principles based on human rights and on individual and collective freedoms. Three words characterize the activities of Clubs and those of their Federation: interdisciplinarity, cooperation and solidarity.
Promotion of the ideals of UNESCO; Promotion of respect for human rights; Civic and democratic training of members; Participation in economic and social development; Promotion of the culture of peace and tolerance; The search for the truth.
The functions of UNESCO clubs
Clubs have three essential functions: member training dissemination of information to members and the general public action: training and information only gain value if they lead to concrete activities.
The vocation of UNESCO clubs
The clubs intervene on global problems with local repercussions and thus contribute to thinking about the choices of a model of society. It is a real movement that reflects the growing role that civil society plays around the world and the influence that citizens can exert on socio-economic decision-makers. UNESCO Clubs are non-political, non-profit organizations. They must ensure that they do not turn into tourist agencies or trading houses. UNESCO club activities take place at two levels: national and international
Nationally
UNESCO Clubs promote this spirit which: connects man to his historic community connects people to their specific cultural values raises awareness of the need to preserve these values, to make their interest, dignity and originality perceptible. UNESCO clubs make each member a citizen actively involved in the economic and social life of their country.
On an international scale
UNESCO Clubs promote: cooperation and understanding between peoples club members seek to understand humanity UNESCO clubs collaborate with organizations that subscribe to the ideals of UNESCO.
Typology of clubs
UNESCO Clubs present a great diversity according to the category of members, the environment and the conditions in which they are called to work, briefly, there are three types of clubs: clubs operating in secondary establishments; student clubs; other clubs which are intended for an audience. The latter bring together people from various socio-professional backgrounds.
From August 7 to 9, 2001, a seminar was held at the Pastoral Center of St Paul for the resettlement and establishment of UNESCO Clubs in the country. During three days, different subjects were discussed, among others:
