Youth Innovation Fund

 

Mission Goals

The GOYN Youth Innovations Fund (YIF)

  • Catalyze opportunity-youth led actions to address the barriers that young people face to productive, quality livelihoods in their local communities and countries
  • To train teams of local youth leaders in the skills required to plan, design, launch and manage local action projects; and to link these teams across national geographies.
  • Incentivize youth analysis and mapping ­­­of barriers to productive livelihoods; coupled with access to institutions, data and adult allies who can help young people to build this analysis.
  • To enable experimentation and innovation at the local level, that can populate a searchable global bank of youth-led innovation managed by the GOYN.

GOYN YIF: Eligibility Criteria

The Projects:

  • Must be formulated and implemented by teams of youth innovators, ranging in size from two or more members.
  • Will address local challenges related to equity, sustainability, and meaningful livelihoods.
  • Must articulate clear goals, objectives and measurable outcomes.
  • Will promote one or more of the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):
    • Goal #8 – Promote decent work for all
    • Goal  #10 – Reduced inequalities
    • Goal #11 – Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
  • Must be able to be implemented within a three-month time frame; or through a phased approach to implementation that is frontloaded in the first three months.
  • Can mobilize the inclusion and participation of growing numbers of young people.
  • Can achieve desired impact with grant ranges between $500-$1,000.

The Youth Innovators:

Priority will be given to YIF proposals led by Opportunity Youth who:

  • Are ages 18-30
  • Experience marginalization from consistent livelihood and leadership opportunities.
  • Have experience leading efforts to improve conditions for their families and fellow citizens in their families/nations.
  • Are currently contributing to the mission of the GOYN Anchor Partners.

Project Samples

Collaboration

Convening current and former OY to gather input on the creation of a youth-sourced life skills and soft skills curriculum that is youth facilitated

Training

Convening former OY to create a youth-sourced and facilitated training/curriculum that former OY facilitate for employers who hire OY

Education

An SDG education convening where OY are oriented to the SDG’s, existing work towards SDG attainment, and opportunities to engage in related efforts

Leadership

A youth designed and led Participatory Action Research (PAR) effort that seeks to identify issues of diversity, equity and inclusion when engaging OY and proposes actionable solutions that communities and institutions can implement

Climate Change Impact

Engaging OY in conversations or trainings around climate change advocacy

YIF Updates

Youth Innovations Across 6 Communities

Applications received across 6 communities

standout youth

Featured Innovators