Lusine Manukyan
I am an Improvement and Innovation a adviser at the Local Government Association and an alumna of Newcastle and Cambridge Unis.
I am passionate about helping local communities improve places and lives
Location United Kingdom
Activity
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During elections, how do you know which stakeholder/political party to influence in prder to achieve your goal?
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Great @GinikaNsofor - do you have an example of where you've seen these moments being used?
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Good point @Abdur-RahmanOmokunmiOlalekan Do you think there are cases where withholding some information is the right thing to do, or is it always unethical to do so?
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Great stuff @LotannaUgochukwu - small wins are certainly important. They help you stay focused and also allow you to build evidence of your ability to succeed. When someone asks why should I trust that you'll be able to pull this off, you can point towards your small (and soon big) wins!
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Why is that?
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Well put @WilliamsotokpaOtsai. Have you got examples of how you would do this in practice?
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That's excellent @HeatherStill - it looks like you are very passionate about the issue.
There is always more that can be done to bring evidence to life. Case studies, stories, videos, etc. can be used to back up the dry data that is required by the 'procedure'. That being said, number can still have a big impact if presented in the right.
And engaging...
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This can definitely be quite challenging - how do you think you could overcome this? Do you work in the sector or is this something you've picked up from your general observations?
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Lusine Manukyan replied to Mike M
How can you prevent this from happening @MikeM ?
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Looks like a very comprehensive list @ReaBerenyi - it's excellent that you've already thought about the different considerations when it comes to a project involving individuals. There'll be other opportunities to discuss this later, so do keep thinking about it.
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Interesting idea @ReaBerenyi. What might be the ethical considerations for this kind of evidence gathering process?
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That’s great @MorakinyoBeckley - can you think of an example where using a human story could help you?
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Thank you @HarunaAbubakar!
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Lusine Manukyan replied to Tshireletso Baloi
Do you have another definition that is clearer? What does it mean to you?
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Lusine Manukyan replied to Gita Tondok
Interesting perspective @GitaTondok. Have you seen this being implemented in a specific way?
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@SalamiMusa I would agree with @GoldaHelenMarieSani in that it would still be a policy which would impose rules and guidelines. Whether it's a good policy is a whole other question!
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I guess it depends on whether you are thinking about an individual or a larger organisation - context is very important when thinking about policy. As you go through the rest of the course, think about in which context you might see a policy being applied (i.e. government, private organisation, civil society, individual).
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Good summary @GABRIELCHIKPAKWAME :)
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@PeterAjanson is definitely right - it can come from your personal, lived experience, from things you are passionate about, or from volunteering, etc. It really is about things you believe in.
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@GitaTondok you are doing some excellent work Gita! Have you tried raising awareness with the parents and giving them examples of where parents playing their part has made a difference? If so, how have they reponded and what could be the barriers to them accepting your perspective?
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
It's so inspiring to read about all of your passions from gender equality to climate change, from access to education to the eradication of poverty and youth engagement. Keep using these passion to drive your ideas for a better world and turn them into reality!
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Indeed @MelineHovhannisyan - do you have an example of where purpose was used to create a powerful change?
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Lusine Manukyan replied to Eilish Cox
I agree that it’s not an easy question to answer. Have you thought about an example where the person does not necessarily share your view of the world or similar to you, but has a clear passion and has achieved change (even if it’s a Passion/change you disagree with)?
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You can also click on the “follow” button next to our names. @CaraPetersen @SaidatSododo @Keren-happuchEjebe @AnthonyAberefa @AdrianaSilva and others - can you check if that worked?
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You can click on our profiles and click follow if I am not mistaken :)
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Great to hear @HadizatuAdamu
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That’s right @MaritzaMendezZ - the course is open to people from across the globe and because it’s virtual, anyone with internet access and a device can take part :)
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Lusine Manukyan replied to Olivia Al Farsi
That’s excellent. I find that change only tends to happen when you involve a variety of stakeholders and engage partners from across the spectrum.
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Hey guys, my name is Lusi and I am an alumna of the 2019 Future Leaders Connect programme run by the British Council. I’m really looking forward to helping you get through this course over the coming weeks and hopefully pick up some news ideas from you too, so get sharing!
In my day to day, I work for the Local Government Association in the UK, supporting...
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@AnthonyEri absolutely. I think there are issues around youth empowerment in every country, although, living in the UK, I'd say brain drain is less of an issue. Youth inclusion in government policymaking can still make a great difference to the future of young people in the UK and beyond.
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
I just love hearing her speak! She's so eloquent and clearly cares about the issue and real impact, not just piecemeal solutions.
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
I think making your goals clear is the most important thing. You can't develop policy if you are unsure about what you want to achieve or what your end goal is. Although all of these aspects are important.
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The course has significantly helped me develop this policy vision because I started off slightly less focused and with a much wider agenda that was maybe less feasible. Thinking about evidence, stakeholders and tactics has been very helpful in achieving this.
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
I want all young people to enjoy their lives, reach their full potential and make a good transition to adulthood. Young people should have a voice and a chance to be involved in shaping the world around them because they will be living in it. They should be able to achieve their ambitions, develop positive relationships and make worthwhile contributions to...
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Exactly. If the support for a policy position is already there why not capitalise on it? Certainly the attitude of many successive governments...
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Too true.
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This is great stuff! We certainly have similar ideas about the role of young people in the present and the future of the world.
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@AnthonyEri Thanks Anthony :)
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So brilliant - amazing to see a young woman leading such a high profile campaign and succeeding in bringing about change.
The most inspiring part for me was her ability to galvanise so many organisations behind the campaign. This is definitely key to creating change - having others backing your policy idea and bringing them along with you on the journey. I...
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As someone working in the local government sector, I found this very helpful.
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Loved hearing this story. Jayathma is so eloquent and really able to explain the true issues and how she was able to overcome them. The most useful part was the need to have follow up bilateral conversation to really get to the crux of the issues that people had with the policy and to negotiate things that go the policy through and approved by all of the...
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I do agree that power cannot be underestimated and what particularly struck me is the idea of power as a skill - knowing when and how to use it becomes very important. What was missing for me, perhaps is the power of unusual voices. I am thinking of Malala Yousafzai and Greta Tunberg for example, who are both young women who were able to exert significant...
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
There are so many examples of how this behavioural science can work in local communities. A simple example is the use of prizes for completing surveys, which significantly increases the number of people who do so.
Another one is to do with using personalised messages to increase payments for bills. In the UK, in one case the most effective message included...
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
Stakeholders who are engaged and have influence - these are the policy-makers who have direct power to change the course of action through their recommendation to the current government.
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
These stories are so inspiring! It's amazing to hear the reasons behind people's passion.
For me, this is also to do with my own experiences of coming to the UK as a young person and having the opportunity to access youth services that were pivotal for my development and genuinely transformational. I think I certainly have the passion to drive this forward,... -
Lusine Manukyan made a comment
It's definitely a question I've asked myself before, so it's good to see that others go through a similar thought process.
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
In the UK this is both the combination of the career position of key stakeholders (mostly politicians at the national level) and a looming general election, given the current political turmoil and uncertainty of Brexit. We are due to 'welcome' a new prime minister and this is likely to bring many changes in the cabinet - those who obtain new positions of power...
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
All of these tactics are of course very important, but the one that stands out most is learning the rules of the game. I often struggle to follow rules, but in order to play the game and get around the rules, you need to know them in the first place, otherwise it becomes very difficult to navigate things.
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As Lord Fowler mentioned himself, it was public attitude to the problem - misconceptions and misunderstanding, as well as the scale of the problem, which at the time seemed insurmountable.
It was overcome by clear and striking messaging which delivered the point in a way that was easily understood and memorable. This was backed up with evidence and...
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
Looking forward to it :)
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
For me this would be step three. While I am not able to directly enshrine policy in law, this where the change is needed and where my organisation has the greatest capacity to influence change. The UK government urgently needs to review the statutory guidance for the duty on councils to provide youth services "as far as possible" - this is vague wording which...
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
I think it's about not letting my personal story and the effect this has had on my life to get in the way of making sound arguments. This is why evidence is important and can be used to back up any 'passionate' points that I decide to make.
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
My passion is creating a supportive and safe environment for young people to enable their growth and development. I want to ensure that young people have a voice and a chance to be involved in shaping the world around them because they are the ones who will be living in it for years to come.
The policy change that I would like to see is access to...
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
There are a couple of things that stood out for me. First of all, it was the point about a "policy window", which is important for ensuring your idea gets heard and gets pushed forward - momentum and appetite for change cannot be underestimated. And secondly, it was the need to remain self-critical and continue to review your own recommendations rather than...
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
From my perspective, the more valuable approach is experimentation, although observation is much more feasible. This is because it would be useful to see what the impact of the withdrawal of youth services is/has been on young people as opposed to those who continued to receive the support. However, some of this information can be obtained through observation,...
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
I think there is quite a significant amount of quantitative data out there which relates to youth policy, for example through platforms such as LG Inform which collects data for local authority areas in the UK. However, this needs to be backed up by evidence of examples of where changes to youth policy have worked, case studies and stories of where local youth...
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This is not an exhaustive list as a lot would need to be done to understand the depth of the issue.
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
The question for me would be: "How can we ensure that young people (YP) in the United Kingdom and beyond are given the opportunities to do their best?"
The hypothesis is that YP should be able to receive locally driven community and youth services which will support them to achieve the things they want to achieve in life. Too often YP are not asked about...
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Definitely agree with your final point @HilaryMarshall - sometimes people ask you for the source of your data and immediately dismiss any of the evidence based on this because they don't trust it.
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
It is clear that a combination of quantitative and qualitative data is key - data and numbers are very important, but it is the stories that create the narrative around these and bring issues alive, allowing others to understand what the problem is and why it should be tackled.
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Lusine Manukyan replied to Victor Francis
Yep, I had the same observation!
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
I'm impressed that so many people think that their community as a whole has the power to create policy - it's refreshing in a way, given that it's not the case in so many places.
Co-production and co-design are key!
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The way that young people engage with the world today is fundamentally different. A 14 year old posting on social media can have more influence on millions of other young people and their views, than a politician addressing assemblies that are filled with thousands. Yet, they often remain unheard by those who define their futures (read Brexit!).
So we need...
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
Nikol Pashinyan, who was a journalist frustrated by a corrupt system in Armenia - his purpose was to reform this system and create a democratic state. He fought by opposing the corrupt government through protest and later became a political prisoner. Once released, he became elected as a member of parliament and remained in opposition with a handful of other...
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
First and foremost it would be politicians who don't seem to be interested in truly listening to the people. Gaining access to those politicians that care and that are committed to/and have power to make change happen (regardless of their political colour) is key to ensuring success for any policy in the UK.
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This is very true, although I would say this extends beyond borders and continents. Indeed, Britain has had the same party in power for the past ten years, yet the back and forth in terms of policy and unsuccessful outcomes has been incredible. Apart from austerity of course, which has been a resounding failure in its own right.
That's not to say that we...
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I'm very confident about 3 and 4, and fairly confident in 1 and 2, but certainly think both need developing. In the case of number 1, in terms of ensuring that my role can be adapted to enable me to do what I want to do, and in the case of number 2, I need to ensure I have all the skills I need to bring my plan to fruition - there is still a lot to learn.
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
My passion is creating a supportive and safe environment for young people to enable their growth and development and therefore contribution to the future of our society. I want to ensure that young people have a voice and a chance to be involved in shaping the world around them, because they are the ones who will be living in it for years to come.
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Lusine Manukyan made a comment
I have experience of policy making but want to see things from a different perspective. I’m particularly interested in learning how policy change can be scaled up to maximise impact to bigger communities (i.e. from local to national and from national to international).
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Hello,
My name is Lusine Manukyan and I am passionate about helping local communities improve their places and lives.
I currently work as an Improvement and Innovation a adviser at the Local Government Association in the UK. I have a degree in Government and EU studies from Newcastle University, UK and an MPhil in International Relations and Politics...
