Location: Commonwealth Club (110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105)
Session Description:
If we are putting our hope for the future on the youth, then we must help them find sustainable pathways to long-term organizational and professional success. Whether they remain at the helm of their organizations or move one to the next chapter in their work, the youth leaders of today need support from burnout and fatigue. Funding/donor organizations, together with youth leaders, have the opportunity to create innovative funding models and resource mobilization strategies for youth-led organizations in order to create a sustainable growth system.
Keynote Speaker: Willice Onyango, Executive Director of The Youth Café
Session Background
Youth-led organizations are diverse in their missions and approaches, and they operate across various sectors and regions. In their operations, youth-led organizations play a key role in contributing to the success of programmes, projects or initiatives related to young people. Young people have the best understanding of the challenges, strengths and opportunities that affect them. They often approach challenges with creativity, technological savvy, and a deep understanding of the evolving social landscape. Their agility and ability to think outside the box makes them valuable agents of change, capable of driving social and economic transformation. Youth-led organizations have therefore taken a unique position to harness these strengths to develop and implement initiatives that address issues from a youth perspective and offer fresh perspectives that respond to the diverse realities of young people.
Through their initiatives and programs, youth-led organizations make a positive impact on local communities. They address issues such as poverty, unemployment, gender inequality, climate change, and access to education and healthcare. They also advocate for the rights of young people by raising awareness about social injustices, mobilize support for causes, and advocate for policy reforms through their activism. By actively engaging with communities, these organizations contribute to sustainable development and improve the overall well-being of individuals and societies.
Youth-led organizations nurture the next generation of leaders. By providing opportunities for youth to lead and take on responsibilities, these organizations help develop leadership skills, foster teamwork, and cultivate a sense of civic engagement.
Recently, youth-led organizations have become increasingly visible in the international, regional and national arenas, however, many are still struggling to gain recognition as important players in international decision-making processes. Little has been documented about youth-led organizations (including who they are, how and where they operate). With limited information concerning these organizations, there have been trust issues from donors and other stakeholders who YLOs are interested to partner with.
Conference Overview | Global Philanthropy Forum
The calling card of the Global Philanthropy Forum (GPF) is a global conversation that pushes leaders to think differently. Founded in 2001 in Silicon Valley, GPF has become a major convener of philanthropists and social investors committed to international causes. Our annual conference brings together a curated audience of philanthropic decision makers from corporate, government, private and family foundations, as well as high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals. In 2022, our audience represented a combined $128 billion in charitable assets.
As we come back from Covid, GPF has made a three year commitment to focusing on justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. We’re excited that this is one of our most diverse years ever - you are one of over 60 speakers, from 21 countries. Over half are from outside the United States. We aim to have a truly global conversation that brings together different perspectives in a true spirit of learning. If you are from the United States or live in the United States, remember that the US is just one of many countries, but one that can often drown out others. Help us work to lift up and recognize global viewpoints beyond US borders.
On stage, Mr. Onyango showcased the conversations that need to be had in the industry, challenged assumptions, and revealed hidden opportunities. We contributed to conversations that show a roadmap for how we execute values moving forward. Mr. Willice Onyango talked about solutions, opportunities ahead and lessons learned. Shared examples/suggestions for public, private and philanthropic partnerships and key impediments to progress in this area.
Finally, The Youth Cafe values your input and feedback. If you have ideas for how we can build on this year’s conversation, we’d love to hear them. Don’t hesitate to reach out.
Email: info@theyouthcafe.com
Website: www.theyouthcafe.com