Yes Youth Can!
Yes Youth Can! supports youth-led recovery and development in areas that experienced post-election violence or are at risk to experience violent conflict in the future. This $45-million program aims to encourage youth voice, youth entrepreneurship, and youth leadership.
Yes Youth Can! is being designed to empower Kenyan youth to achieve a greater voice in national reform and create new livelihood opportunities.
Yes Youth Can! will support the creation of effective national and local networks of youth leaders to advocate peacefully for meaningful reforms of the government and economy.
Youth Innovate for Change Fund: This key component will be a youth-managed fund to support grass-roots community development and empowerment projects implemented by youth and youth-serving organizations. By incorporating youth into the management of the fund, Yes Youth Can! will promote transparency and accountability, and further youth’s leadership skills.
Yes Youth Can! will:
- Support quick-impact projects to promote youth voices on national issues, particularly the reform process, through independent grassroots organizations and activities
- Build new skills in youth leadership and entrepreneurship
- Establish a youth-led and managed Innovate for Change Fund that promotes economic opportunities in their own communities
- Support and expand youth networks to encourage collaboration and leverage resources
- Improve the enabling environment for youth enterprises and organizations.
Guiding Principles of Yes Youth Can!
- Youth in the driver’s seat
- Transparency through agreed upon rules of engagement
- Active youth engagement in program decisions, including the Innovate for Change Fund
- Learning by doing
- Leverage knowledge and resources through partnership.
For more information contact: yesyouthcan@usaid.gov or download the Yes Youth Can fact sheet [156 KB].
Activities
- Small grants awarded through Yes Youth Can! (as of May 2010)
- Cross-sectoral Assessment of At-Risk Youth in Kenya
- Kenya Youth Empowerment and Employment Initiative (KYEEI)
Funding Opportunities:
- The Annual Program Statement closed on November 26, 2010; it can be found on www.grants.gov
The African Children's Choir singing during the launch of USAID's Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC) program. By 2010, the program had supported more than 4,500 children with tuition fees, uniform, text books and stationery, personal effects and accommodation.
USAID/Kenya