Global Youth Mobilisation – Phase 2

The European Commission and Big Six youth organisations have partnered to implement the Youth Empowerment Fund through the Global Youth Mobilization initiative,  GYM 2.0. The purpose of GYM 2.0 is to address barriers to youth mobilisation and create an enabling environment that connects and empowers young people in all their diversity to take action on the key challenges facing them and the world thereby increasing their contribution to the achievement of the SDGs in their communities and societies. 

The intended impact of this partnership is to increase the contribution of young people in all their diversity to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within their communities and societies. This will be achieved through two key objectives: 

1) Improved engagement of young people in their diversity and their organisations, including the Big Six networks, in the implementation of initiatives related to sustainable development of their communities and societies. 

2) Increased capacity of young people in all their diversity to connect, lead, take action and advocate for their needs in relation to the SDGs

• GYM Governance – Mr. Carlos Sanvee, Secretary General of the World YMCA is the Chair of the GYM Board Advisory Board. In this role, Mr. Sanvee leads the board in their role to oversee successful delivery and effective implementation of the GYM initiative. The Board is also responsible for deciding the future of the initiative. Also on the board as a youth representative is Ms. Loriz Tarazi from East Jerusalem YMCA.

• Network Solutions – This is a fund for an individual young person or groups of young people through or together with their local branch or national organisation to submit ideas to create/co-create, lead/co-lead and or implement solutions tackling a challenge in their local communities and contributing to the implementation of the SDGs. Applicants bid for grants ranging from  10,000- 20,000 EUR for projects running 6 to 12 months. The first cycle of the Network Solutions was rolled out in July 2024 and resulted in awarding of grants to six National YMCAs and one Area Alliance. A second cycle of funding is planned for March 2025. 

• Open Call – World YMCA will support and mobilize YMCA Youth to participate in the Open Call which provides successful applicants with micro-grant funding for community-based projects that tackle sustainable development challenges in their local communities.  The initiative aims to increase the participation of under-represented young people, including those from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, those facing gender equality issues or young people with a disability. Individual young people and informal groups can receive funding ranging from 500 to 1500 EUR, while registered youth organisations are eligible to receive between 3000 and 5000 EUR.

• Capacity Building and Advocacy – World YMCA will undertake activities to build knowledge and skills of youth and National Movements for achievement of SDGs. Further the YMCAs will support youth to build advocacy skills and engage in dialogue and advocacy actions for implementation of SDGs at local, regional and global levels. 

(Project Summaries)