Global Youth Action Fund

Author

Ziyaan Virji
February 04, 2025

Deadline: Feb 28
Eligibility: Global (12-19)
Description:  

At the IB, we believe young people can positively change the world. We witness their commitment to make a meaningful impact every day, and our goal is to support their ideas.

As a pathway to action for the Festival of Hope, the IB launched the Global Youth Action Fund in May 2023, an award open to any student or student group ages 12 through 19 who has a project or idea they believe will make an impact in their community.  Broadening the grant funding will shine a light on more impressive work young people are doing around the globe, both at IB World Schools and beyond.   

Each project must be aimed to support one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and will be reviewed on the following selection criteria:  

  • Impact – Does the project demonstrate      a clear positive impact on one of the SDG goals? Preferences will be given      to projects with the most impact.  

  • Stage of project – What stage of development is      the project in (idea, in-development, scaling, established)? Preference      will be given to projects that are further along in the development      process and have the possibility of scaling.  

  • Collaboration – Does the project involve or      have the capacity to involve other students? Preference will be given to      projects that get more young people involved whenever possible.  

  • School support – Applications will require      one teacher recommendation form. Preferences will be given to students who      have a teacher recommendation that demonstrates their support of the      project in addition to their confidence in the students involved. 

Selected students will receive: 

  • Up to 3,000 USD in grant      funding, dependent on project needs. Fundings is dependent on what      students request and what the IB Global Youth Action Fund reviewers      recommend.

  • Mentorship and connection with      leaders in social entrepreneurship and other student awardees from around      the world.

Eligibility 

Any secondary school student between the ages of 12 and 19 is eligible to apply. Students are eligible to apply as individuals or groups, but we highly recommend students collaborate whenever possible. Students do not need to be enrolled at an IBWS but must be enrolled in a secondary school at time of the application deadline.

Application Link: Apply here