YouthBank International Network is a youthful and innovative international initiative recently established to promote youth-led grant-making practices to increase participation, decision-making and opportunities amongst groups of young people to directly address issues important to them.

 

We are proud of the array and variety of over 200 local YouthBanks operating in 25 countries and their accomplishments to date. A local YouthBank is a simple but powerful concept – run by young people for young people to organise their own projects. Local YouthBanks` work with relatively small amounts of money which is used to encourage other young people to convert their ideas into local practical action that will impact on their own development and that of their own community.

 

We are excited by the potential of a new global network, building and promoting more YouthBanks to support the future development of youth-led grant-making. YouthBanks are not just about giving out grants, it is a personal development opportunity which builds self esteem and significant positive social change to young people experiencing disadvantage or exclusion.

 

In order to secure the long term sustainability of a global hub a group of YouthBank practitioners has taken the leadership responsibility to put the foundations and important building blocks in place with a vision: Better YouthBanks, Better World.