Youth Empowerment Fund: Supporting Young Changemakers to Achieve the SDGs

Across the globe, young changemakers are stepping up to tackle climate change, advocate for social equity, and create economic opportunities where none existed before. They aren’t waiting for permission to make an impact. Yet, despite their passion and innovation, less than 6% of global development funding reaches youth-led initiatives (OECD, 2022). Too many groundbreaking ideas fade away not because they lack potential, but because they lack access to funding, mentorship, and networks to scale.

The Youth Empowerment Fund (YEF), a partnership between the European Union and Global Youth Mobilization (GYM)—an initiative of the Big Six Youth Organizations—is here to change that. YEF provides direct financial support to youth-led initiatives that are implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the local level.

Who Can Apply?

✅ Individual young people, informal groups, and youth-led organizations from eligible countries.
✅ Young changemakers aged 14-30 who are solving real-world problems in their communities.

What Does YEF Offer?

• ???? Grants between €500-€5000 to bring innovative ideas to life.

• ???? Expert mentorship to sharpen leadership and strategic skills.

• ???? A global network of changemakers creating tangible impact.

Why Youth-Led Initiatives Matter

Youth-led initiatives are twice as effective in addressing community challenges (UNDP, 2023). Yet, most never receive the investment they deserve. YEF is changing that by providing the resources and support young changemakers need to scale their impact.

Deadline to Apply

???? 24 March 2025, 23:59 CET

An idea alone doesn’t change the world—support does. If you have a vision waiting to be realized, now is the time to act.

???? Apply now: https://lnkd.in/dZpa_xy7