Deadline: 24 March 2025
Youth Empowerment Fund (YEF), a partnership between the European Union (EU) and the Global Youth Mobilization (GYM), an initiative of the Big Six Youth Organisations (Big Six), provides direct financial support for youth-led initiatives focusing on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals at the local level.
The Youth Empowerment Fund also aims to reach young people from under-represented backgrounds, including those facing challenges relating to their socio-economic background, gender, disability, marginalization, climate change, and more. Hence, many Youth-Led Solutions support young people and their communities in overcoming these situations of vulnerability.
We are now accepting applications from 3 March 2025 to 24 March 2025, 2359 CET.
Why Apply for the Youth Empowerment Fund Open Call?
- Access to Funding
- Supporting Under-Represented Communities
- Climate and Sustainability Focused
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.
An individual person or an informal group of young people can apply to get small scale micro-grants for their projects between 500-1500 EUR, while registered youth-led organization may apply for funding up to 5000 EUR.
A key priority and a special focus of the Youth Empowerment Fund is to fund youth-led initiatives supporting under-represented and vulnerable communities, such as those affected by climate change, people with disabilities or chronic illness, and people facing gender-based barriers.
Another special focus of the Youth Empowerment Fund is to support projects that address climate change, environmental protection or sustainability.
In the last Open Call cycle, the 56% of Youth-Led Solutions supported by the Youth Empowerment Fund were focused on advancing SDG 13: Climate Action.
Enabled by the GYM’s Youth-Led Model, the applications are reviewed and recommended by a global, diverse and experienced team of Youth Panellist from across the globe, including the GYM’s Youth Board Representatives.
In the last Open Call cycle, 166 Youth Panellists were recruited and they contributed over 3,400 volunteer hours in the intensive review process from August to November 2024 to select the projects.
In addition to funding, we provide successful project awardees with capacity building opportunities such as workshops, access to community of youth experts and guidance for their project implementation journey.
Check out the Capacity Building Workshops page to join our ongoing application support webinars and more.
There is also the chance for outstanding project teams to join an Accelerator Program to scale up their ideas.
The Accelerator Program offers additional funding opportunities, access to a global network of youth leadership, intensive training, support from experts, and other opportunities to scale projects further.
Application Criteria
Who can Apply:
Young people aged 14 to 30 from eligible countries.
Application Categories:
– Young individuals
– Informal groups
– Registered youth-led organisations
Eligible Projects:
Projects addressing global challenges aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Special Focus Areas:
– Projects by or for under-represented and vulnerable young people and groups. (For example: communities affected by climate change, people facing gender barriers, and people with disabilities or chronic illness)
– Projects addressing climate change and environmental sustainability
Accessibility
The application platform has been designed to be accessible to all young people. Our application forms are simple and easy to complete to ensure the application process is as user-friendly as possible.
It is available in four languages (Arabic, English, French and Spanish) and there is the option to share a URL link to a videos to support an application. (eg. google drive, youtube, dropbox, etc)
For those who have internet access issues or disabilities, we can provide an offline form or other accommodations.
Please get in touch with us at EU-YEF@globalyouthmobilization.org
Sample Answers
For Individuals and Informal Groups
- Why is your project needed?
- What positive changes will your project bring to the community or people you are supporting?
- What activities will you do for your project?
- Teams and Roles
- Budget
Why is your project needed? (Max: 500 characters)
Sample Answer 1:
In Cox’s Bazar coastal town in Bangladesh, many young people lack knowledge of safe fishing practices, leading to overfishing and harming marine life. This threatens both the ecosystem and local livelihoods. Our project will teach sustainable fishing techniques to preserve sea life and ensure long-term employment for fishers. By raising awareness and promoting responsible fishing, we can help protect the ocean and support our community’s future.
Sample Answer 2:
– In Kakamega, Kenya, many girls miss school during their periods.
– They don’t have access to sanitary products or proper menstrual hygiene education.
– Without these essentials, they struggle to stay in class, affecting their education and future.
– Our project will provide menstrual hygiene kits and educational workshops to empower girls, improve school attendance, and help them manage their periods with dignity.
Sample Answer 3:
1. In Maracaibo, Venezuela, access to clean drinking water is a challenge.
2. Traditional water filters are expensive and difficult to maintain, limiting access to safe water.
3. Our project will teach families to build bio-sand filters using affordable, locally available materials.
4. By equipping them with this skill, we can help improve water quality, reduce waterborne diseases, and promote long-term access to safe drinking water.
For Registered Youth-Led Organizations
- What specific challenges in the community does your project aim to address?
- What is your project’s objective?
- What positive changes will your project bring to the community or people you are supporting?
- How will you implement your project?
- Teams and Roles
- Budget
Challenge Identification: What specific challenges in the community does your project aim to address? (Max: 500 characters)
Sample Answer 1:
In Kano state, Nigeria, young women face high dropout rates due to gender-based violence, early marriage, and poor access to education. Without support services, they struggle with limited job opportunities, deepening poverty cycles. Our project will establish mentorship programs, vocational training, and safe spaces where young women can access resources, gain confidence, and build skills for economic independence.
Sample Answer 2:
Challenges in Medan, Indonesia:
- Rising sea levels and extreme weather lead to frequent flooding.
- Farmland loss reduces food security, impacting community livelihoods.
- Flooding damages homes and infrastructure, displacing families.
- Young people face education disruptions and limited job prospects.
- Our project will provide flood-resilient farming training and build community-led climate action groups.
Sample Answer 3:
In Cochabamba, Bolivia, youth with disabilities lack access to education, jobs, and social spaces. This leads to isolation, low self-confidence, and fewer career opportunities. Inaccessible schools and workplaces prevent inclusion. Our project will provide skills training, advocacy workshops, and peer support groups to help youth gain independence and improve employment prospects.
