CIVICUS Youth

CIVICUS Youth connects young changemakers, fosters meaningful youth inclusion, and gives them tools to grow as civil society innovators

Working with youth is required now more than ever. Youth in civil society face multiple obstacles in carrying out their work. An overwhelming portion of the funds available for development and activism in the Global South goes to long-established, Northern organisations. A majority of the youth-led organisations operate with limited funding, with 49% operating under USD 5,000 annually and only 11% over USD 100,000.¹

"My biggest surprise is that a big organization like CIVICUS, which is creating all this change in the world, is so committed to advancing the different cause of young people. This “donor” relationship is personally my best experience. I love how we as young people have been trusted with funds to implement our projects in an environment where we are appreciated and respected for our visions and we receive constant support and contributions to help us improve our initiatives."

- Vanessa, Youth Action Lab 2021

In addition to resourcing challenges, young activists are often seen as less credible than their older peers due to lack of experience and informal organising. CIVICUS Youth provides them a platform and the tools to be effective changemakers. We believe that a new narrative, where the youth is at the center and well supported, is possible.

“In 2021, we won the Peruvian National Youth Prize, the most important recognition for youth in our country, in the category of social communication. To us, this is a big achievement, not only because of what it represents in terms of our work, but also because in 2020, our initiative was about to close. We were lacking support and tools to remain in the long term. The support of CIVICUS Youth allowed us to access new donors, receive professional mentoring and, in general, to know we can create social impact while remaining sustainable.”

- Banesa, Youth Action Lab 2020

CIVICUS Youth is a committed and diverse community making up 30% of CIVICUS Alliance, based in +150 countries, who collaborate, learn from each other, and strengthen youth action in civil society.

Goals

Strengthening the networks and the power of young people to organise, mobilise and take action.

Fostering safe and sustainable youth activism by promoting public dialogues on civil society restrictions,challenges and space for innovation.

Ensuring civil society is accessible, inclusive and accountable to youth, especially those who are consistently excluded from decision-making spaces.

1. UNOY Peacebuilders and SFCG (2017), Mapping a Sector: Bridging the Evidence Gap on Youth-Driven Peacebuilding, The Hague.

CIVICUS Youth Initiatives

Youth Action Lab

Hub for testing new ways of working within civil society.

Goalkeepers Youth Action Accelerator

Using data to address the SDGs 1 - 6.

Youth Ambassador Programme

Global network of youth activists creating opportunities of peer-learning, exchange and collaboration.

Global Perspectives Lab

Co-creation space for youth activists' dialogues.

Flagship Events

2019 Youth Assembly Belgrade, Serbia

2017 Youth Assembly Suva, Fiji

2016 Youth Assembly Bogotá, Colombia

2014 Rustlers Valley Youth Retreat, South Africa

2012 A New Social Contract Montreal, Canada

2007 Youth Assembly Glasgow, Scotland

Youthful Resources

Practical tools to take your youth activism to the next level

Youth Voices

Here's what CIVICUS youth members want you to know

How youth-led initiatives practice constituent accountability

Dialogue to Protect Young People in CIVIC Space

Best practices in youth engagement in intergovernmental organisations

Youth unemployment in Sub-Saharan Africa is cancerous

Young people need to get informed

Youth Day 2018 Creative Symposium

Youth at the Forefront of Sustainability

Standing Up Against Gender-based Violence

Thoughts on youth participation in the post 2015 Agenda

The CIVICUS Youth strategy is led by the Youth Action Team

The Youth Action Team

The Youth Action Team is a group of 10 young voting members who shape the agenda of CIVICUS Youth stream of work. They champion youth inclusion in the alliance and they ensure that CIVICUS programs are responsive and suitable to young activists’ needs, helping to shape a thriving environment to transform civic space in their societies. The Youth Action team is in dialogue with the CIVICUS Board and the Secretariat on strategic matters.

Youth Action Team Page

CIVICUS Youth is all about collaboration, inspiration, and information-sharing. We work with people who can contribute their individual energies and perspectives, and we want your opinions and big ideas to make civil society stronger. Share your insights on meaningful youth inclusion in the CIVICUS Youth United! Facebook group.