Youth Innovation Fund
The Youth Innovation Fund (YIF) is a catalyst for youth-led change, investing directly in the leadership, creativity, and bold solutions of Opportunity Youth around the world. Through small grants, capacity-building programs, and mentorship, YIF empowers young leaders to design, launch, and scale community-driven innovations that tackle barriers to education, employment, equity, and sustainability.
Every YIF-supported project is rooted in local realities, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and fueled by the vision of young people determined to shape a better future for themselves and their communities. From environmental stewardship to mental health advocacy to economic empowerment, YIF is not just supporting projects — it is cultivating a generation of changemakers driving systems change from the ground up.
Environmental Sustainability and Climate Action
Weaving Tomorrow
São Paulo, Brazil
This project trains marginalized youth in sustainable textile production techniques, teaching them how to create eco-friendly fashion items from recycled materials. By combining skills development with climate action, the initiative addresses high youth unemployment while promoting a circular economy model that can scale across urban centers in Latin America.
Sisters for a Greener Planet
Mombasa, Kenya
Focused on environmental sustainability and women’s empowerment, this project trains 30 local women to produce sandals from recycled car tires and leads community campaigns against plastic pollution. It also establishes a sanitary pad bank to ensure menstrual dignity for vulnerable teenage girls, tackling multiple dimensions of gender equity and environmental justice.
Development of Green Spaces
Thiès, Senegal
Addressing the lack of accessible public spaces and plastic waste pollution, this project recycles plastic materials to build eco-benches and accessibility ramps. Tree planting and reforestation efforts are combined with community education, creating inclusive, greener public spaces that welcome all community members, especially those with disabilities.
Agro-Ecological Community Gardens
Thiès, Senegal
This initiative transforms unused public land into vibrant community gardens using soilless farming techniques. Vulnerable youth gain practical horticultural skills while contributing to local food security and environmental stewardship, promoting solidarity and sustainable practices in marginalized neighborhoods.
Environmental Protection through Recycling
Thiès, Senegal
Led by passionate young entrepreneurs, this project tackles plastic and tire waste by creating collection hubs and recycling used materials into products like belts, shoes, and synthetic turf pellets. It addresses urgent environmental and health challenges while building green employment pathways.
Health and Wellbeing
Escucharte
Barranquilla, Colombia
A youth-led initiative promoting inclusive education and mental well-being through arts-based engagement. Escucharte uses creative expression — poetry, music, and visual arts — to create safe spaces where young people build confidence, resilience, and a stronger sense of community belonging. It supports SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education.
Kayda Mitra
Pune, India
A youth-led legal empowerment initiative that educates young people on their rights in areas like labor protections, gender equality, and housing security. By strengthening legal literacy and offering direct mentorship, Kayda Mitra helps marginalized youth navigate legal systems and advocate for systemic changes that protect their rights and dignity.
Ludo Mental Health Program
Mombasa, Kenya
Mizizi Youth Organization developed this innovative program using sports, education, and therapy to combat mental health stigma among young men. Through 9 mental health literacy sessions and playful engagement via Ludo boards, 80 adolescent boys increased their understanding of mental health, reduced stigma, and built a stronger sense of community.
Mental Health Support and Social Reintegration
Thiès, Senegal
This project trains young people to provide in-home psychosocial support for psychiatric patients post-hospitalization. It addresses the gap in mental health services and social reintegration, helping vulnerable individuals avoid relapse and empowering families to better support their loved ones.
Support for Teenage Reproductive Health
Thiès, Senegal
In response to stigma faced by teenagers in health settings, this initiative trains health providers in adolescent-friendly services and educates 1,000 teenagers about reproductive health. It also supports the local production of reusable sanitary pads to enhance menstrual hygiene management and economic empowerment.
Economic Empowerment and Creative Industries
Arte para la Transformación
Barranquilla, Colombia
Focused on cultural and social transformation, this project leverages artistic expression to drive educational access and civic participation among marginalized youth. By connecting art and activism, it helps young people envision alternative futures and advocate for social change through public installations and performances.
Enrutados
Barranquilla, Colombia
A youth-driven navigation and mentorship platform supporting Opportunity Youth in accessing higher education, vocational training, and employment pathways. Enrutados combines personalized coaching with peer-led guidance networks, bridging the gap between marginalized communities and formal opportunity systems.
Job Ready Platform
Pune, India
A youth-led digital innovation that boosts career prospects for marginalized youth using Artificial Intelligence. The platform offers AI-powered resume builders, interview simulators, skills assessments, and career pathway tools customized to individual profiles. It democratizes access to job readiness resources, helping underserved youth close opportunity gaps in the labor market.
Kayda Mitra
Mombasa, Kenya
This project amplifies the creative economy by launching an online platform to showcase local artists’ work. Over 37,270 streams were generated for musicians, expanding economic opportunities and fostering a vibrant cultural ecosystem linked to global digital markets
Recovery Waves Project
Mombasa, Kenya
Designed to support youth recovering from addiction, this project provides life skills training and water safety certifications, helping participants pursue careers in the tourism and recreation sectors. It empowers young people to rebuild their lives through skills development and employment pathways.
Rise Above Shame
Mombasa, Kenya
Addressing the stigma faced by young mothers, this project offers reproductive health education, entrepreneurship training, and financial literacy workshops. It equips young mothers with the skills, confidence, and resources they need to achieve economic independence and rebuild their futures.