Real Lives. Real Money. Real Change.
YouthBank International
Imagine a world where all young people lead change and make differences in their communities.
Imagine communities and neighbourhoods in every country where young people routinely make and inform decisions of economic and social significance.
What would that be like?
What could change economically, politically and culturally as a result of young people’s involvement?
WORLD TODAY
1.8
billion
young people
5 - 24
years old
The largest youth
population in history
Bringing together over 20 years of expertise, the YouthBank International team have developed one of the few programmes which successfully combines philanthropy, social entrepreneurship and youth development.
THE MODEL
With Participatory Grantmaking as an instrument, the YouthBank Model seeks to enable young people to take charge of their future and the future of their community. A unique method of involving young people in community activities, it shifts the power, money and attitudes to demonstrate the value of participatory grant-making at a grassroots level based on a simple, flexible and transferable idea – that YouthBanks are funds run by young people to support practical, youth-led projects that address issues that matter to them to improve their communities: Real Lives, Real Money, Real Change.
The outcome of the YouthBank process is life (soft) skills development. Through a model and process that is simple to understand and flexes and adapts to local needs, cultures, and customs. Young people learn how to share power, the impact and choice money gives, solve problems, work in a team(s), make decisions, develop ideas and businesses, manage projects and money, communicate in a clear way, be creative and create sustainable change.
NEW SKILLS
Begun in the UK in the late 1990’s as a distinct approach that harnesses philanthropy, entrepreneurship and youth development into one initiative, the YouthBank story is first and foremost a young people’s story: how they see their hometowns and communities, what they understand to be the key issues they face, how they believe these should be tackled and what they can do to effectively make a positive change in their communities.
Branding
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Storytelling
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DESIGN
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DESIGN
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Consulting
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YouthBanks in 2019
Countries
Young people involved
Projects
funded
21
175
YouthBanks
1750
245K
EUR
Funds given
450
We are partnering with organisations who want to change and develop their communities through ‘authentic’ leadership and decision-making.
PARTNERS
THE CHANGE
Long-term change of young people occurs only when we change the perception of the system towards them and their perception of themselves, society, and community. With the growth of self-confidence, responsibility, and empowerment, they will become those who will be able to influence the change of their reality and have the opportunity to become proactive participants in society
as citizens, employees, entrepreneurs, and leaders.