Applications Invited for Youth Empowerment Fund Network Solutions Cycle 2

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About the Organization

YMCA’s vision is a world where every person lives in harmony with self, with society and with creation. Its mission is to empower young people and communities worldwide to build a just, sustainable, equitable and inclusive world, where every person can thrive in body, mind and spirit. Its goal is to be the global youth empowerment organisation and partner of choice: empowering, inspiring and mobilising young people to find and share their voice on the issues that matter to them and to the world. It operates in four main areas through YMCA Vision 2030: Community Wellbeing, Meaningful Work, Sustainable Planet, and Just World.

About the Grant

We are excited to announce that the Network Solutions funding opportunity is back!

Network Solutions is a tremendous grant opportunity from the EU Youth Empowerment Fund, implemented through the Global Youth Mobilization (GYM). This Network Solutions funding invites eligible YMCA National Movements and their local associations to collaborate with young individuals or groups to create or implement solutions addressing local challenges and advancing the SDGs, with a focus on climate change and underrepresented groups.

Building on the success of the Global Youth Mobilization ‘National Projects’ (2020-2022), which funded 17 projects and the Network Solutions Cycle 1, which funded 7 projects, this initiative aims to further increase the impact of young people in implementing the SDGs.

The Youth Empowerment Fund is powered by a partnership between the EU and the Big Six youth organizations, through the Global Youth Mobilization.

National Projects can receive grants between EUR 10,000 and EUR 20,000.

Multi-country projects can receive grants of up to EUR 30,000 for a minimum of three countries.

Introduction:

The European Union and the Big Six Alliance of Youth Organisations (hereinafter referred to as the Big 6) joined forces to implement the Youth Empowerment Fund through the Global Youth Mobilization. The Youth Empowerment Fund seeks to break down barriers to funding to youth initiatives and organisations and engage, empower and connect young people to create local solutions to the world’s biggest challenges from climate change and gender equality to access to education and employment.It aims to provide opportunities for mentoring, coaching and capacity strengthening and unlocks opportunities for marginalised and under represented communities.

Global Youth Mobilization (GYM) seeks to address barriers to youth mobilisation and create an enabling environment that connects and empowers young people in all their diversity to take action on the key challenges facing them and the world thereby increasing their contribution to the achievement of the SDGs in their communities and societies. By working together, the EU and the Big Six create a powerful force for change, helping to ensure that young people are able to play a leading role in building a better future for all.

Networks Solutions Overview:

Through the Network Solutions, a YMCA organisation, youth and/or youth groups affiliated to the YMCA can submit applications for youth-led solutions tackling a challenge in their local communities and contributing to the implementation of the SDGs. The aim of Network Solutions projects is to ensure that the Big Six through the Global Youth Mobilization can -

• Reach more young people through its collective grassroots, community-based reach of more than 250 million young people, contributing to the empowerment of more than one billion young people over the last century.
• Reach young people in their diversity, particularly young people in situations of vulnerability or from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, or youth that face challenges related to gender equality and young people with a disability. The Big Six will ensure inclusive and accessible programmes by actively working to address the barriers young people face in accessing opportunities.
• Young people at the grassroots are supported offline, by national organizations of the Big Six and their local branches, and far-reaching established volunteer networks in their own communities, to not only access funding for their ideas, but to build their capacity to implement local solutions and receive accompaniment in the process.

Selected Network Solutions projects must empower young people in all of their diversities, including specifically those considered at-risk. Projects should therefore try and ensure that young people from marginalised and/or at risk groups receive the opportunity to take part. The groups of young people include, but are not limited, to the following:

• Young people who were married or became mothers/fathers as adolescents,
• Young people from ethnic minorities,
• Young people who were out-of-school girls or boys,
• Young people living with physical or mental health disabilities and concerns,
• Young people living with HIV/AIDS,
• Young people who identify as non-binary/ sexual minorities
• Young people who are survivors of gender-based violence (GBV)
• Indigenous young men and young women

Applicants are not expected to include all of the above groups, but it is encouraged to include at least 1 as relevant to the local or national context.

How to Apply

Applications will be submitted online here. A copy of the application form is available, for reference only, here.

Applications close on 18 May 2025 at 23:00 CEST.

For more information please check the Link

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