Mumbai: The India Youth Fund (IYF), a joint initiative of the UN-HABITAT and Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation (NSF) invites applications for the year 2014 from youth-led organizations across India working towards sustainable urban development. With the goal to transform ideas into reality through its finance, training, and mentoring model, projects will be led from their incubation stage into sustainable pilot projects that can further be scaled up to impact larger communities.

To qualify for the grant, applicant organizations must be led by young people aged 15-32 years. A majority (>50%) of the management team should be within the age limit. Projects should be based in cities or towns and aim to improve the status of the urban youth in India. Applications for the India Youth Fund are currently open.

The deadline for applications is 15 April 2014.

The Focus Areas of the Fund are:

Urban Land, Legislation and Governance;

Urban Planning and Design;

Urban Economy;

Urban Basic Services;

Access to Health Information and Facilities;

Housing and Slum Upgrading;

Risk Reduction and Rehabilitation;

Research and Capacity Development

This year too, IYF aims at advancing youth empowerment in India through the provision of small grants up to INR 8 lakhs to youth-led organizations in addition to training in functional areas of sustainable youth development. Through this Fund, the UN-HABITAT and NSF aim to provide young urban Indians, the opportunity to drive better youth-related policy formulation, facilitate the exchange of best practices and promote gender mainstreaming.

Leni Chaudhuri, Program Manager (Health), Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation said, “Through the India Youth Fund, we try to create a unique platform for all youth-driven organizations to mobilize their focus in deserved areas for development in our country. Today’s youth has the power to effect change in society and by focusing on sustainable urban development, we look forward to contributing to the overall development of the economy.”

The 2013 winners of the India Youth Fund were selected in the following categories:

The YP Foundation, Delhi – Active Citizenship and Governance – Empowering young women to lead their communities to access central and state government-run and supported policies and schemes;

Design Research Publication Cell [DRP], Maharashtra- Far(m)ore – A self reliant urban farming model to improve living conditions of inhabitants through vegetated slum rooftops;

 

JeevaKarunya Trust, Tamil Nadu – National Snakebite Initiative – Addressing the therapeutic black hole in treatment and medical care of snakebite victims & training in snakebite management, to alleviate the suffering caused by snakebites at high risk areas;

PRO Rural, Nagaland – Solid Waste Management – Empowerment of youth as Waste Wise Managers for better solid waste wise management in Dimapur, Nagaland;

Youth Movement for Active Citizenship, Maharashtra – Building Slum Youth Leadership – Empowering youth with research as a tool for advocacy, community intervention, self-transformation and positive changes in communities;

Light Innovation Organization for Rights, Tamil Nadu – Risk Empowering And Rehabilitating Transgender Youth- Empowering transgender youth in Chennai by improving their access to community colleges, providing life coping and technical skills for employability and advocating for transgender rights;

South Asian Forum for Environment, West Bengal – Vertical Greens In Urban Environments As Career Corridors  For Disadvantaged Youth – Tapping the urban demand for vertical greens and gardens by creating an economic opportunity for disadvantaged educated youth.

Grants of up to INR 8 lakhs were given to each awardee in addition to an intensive week long training by 5 expert trainers in Mumbai (November 2013).

Source: Lokesh Shastri