By Abdi Ali
Published May 14, 2-023
High school Students from around the world have till June 20, 2023 to apply for support from a new fund that has just been launched.
The initiative of International Baccalaureate (IB), the Global Youth Action Fund (GYAF)is an award open to youth aged 12-19 years who have a project or idea they believe will make an impact in their community.
RELATED: International High School Invites Applications for Admission
IB, in a statement to the mass media, says it aims ‘to support students who have created and built projects and initiatives that have a social impact on their community’ and that iots GYAF is ‘open to students or student groups’.
“We want to create and offer opportunities which foster independent learning to all young people around the world. We know young people are concerned about the local and global challenges affecting their future, and we want to enable them to transfer that concern to agency and action to make the world a better place”, says Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Director General of IB that says it reaches out to more than two million students in more than 5,600 schools across 159 countries.
RELATED: Determination, Hard Work and Prayer Build Kenya’s First Interdenominational Christian University
To qualify for support from GYAF, IB says ‘every project must be aimed to support one of the 17 UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’ and shall 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.
RELATED: Play on Decaying Society Comes Live on Kenyan Stage
Finalists will receive mentorship and online training on social entrepreneurship along with up to US$3,000 grant funding depending on project needs, to transform or develop further their powerful idea.
Application details are on the ibo.org website.
