• Initiative led by the world’s six largest youth organizations and supported by the World Health Organization and United Nations Foundation will fund the work of young people in communities impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic
• Impact of the global pandemic on young people to be addressed at Global Youth Summit
• Young people will decide where the money goes and how it is spent
• Global Youth Mobilization backed by UNICEF, USAID, UNFPA, European Commission, Salesforce, FIFA and Heads of State and Governments from around the world

From today, young people around the world will be able to apply for funding to support innovative Local Solutions to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of a new initiative called the Global Youth Mobilization. Youth representatives from the Global Youth Mobilization will join Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General and environmental activist Greta Thunberg at a press conference on Monday 19 April 2021 at 1700 CEST to launch the call for applications.

Led by the Big 6 Youth Organizations and backed by the WHO and United Nations Foundation, the Global Youth Mobilization is an initiative of young people and voluntary organizations taking action to improve their lives now and in a post-COVID-19 world.

Hundreds of millions of young people have had to put their lives on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 90 per cent of young people have reported increased mental anxiety during the pandemic; more than one billion students in almost every country have been impacted by school closures; 80 per cent of young women are worried about their future; and one in six young people worldwide have lost their jobs during the pandemic.[1]

The Global Youth Mobilization Local Solutions funding will by-pass traditional funding and support streams to invest in young people and community grassroots organizations anywhere in the world. A world first at this scale and level of ambition, young people and community organizations are able to apply for funding via one centralised platform, available in multiple languages. These local solutions will be judged and decided on by young people, for young people.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said: “WHO is committed to ensuring the voice, energy and solutions offered by youth are at the centre of the world’s recovery from COVID-19. Our collaboration with the Big 6 and the United Nations Foundation will fuel wide-ranging actions led by young people to address the challenges their own communities face, and will also provide global platforms for their wisdom and ideas to be heard and acted on.” From education disruption and job losses, to a decline in mental health and rising gender-based violence, the Global Youth Mobilization will support young people to overcome the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. An initial $2 million of funding will be available in four tiers,

NOTES TO EDITORS

For media inquiries and interview requests, please contact:

• WHO Media team – mediainquiries@who.int
• Global Youth Mobilization – GYMGD@mhpc.com
• United Nations Foundation – press@unfoundation.org

Media interview opportunities
The following are available for interview from the 19 April through to the Global Youth Summit from 23 – 25 April.

Global Youth Mobilization Board members

Daisy Moran, Global Youth Mobilization Youth Board member
Daisy is a youth activist based in Illinois, USA. An active member of the YMCA movement, she is currently Director of Youth Achievement & Community Engagement at Two Rivers YMCA. You can read her full biography here.

Tharindra Arumapperuma, Global Youth Mobilization Youth Board member
Tharindra is a youth activist based in Sri Lanka. An emerging leader for The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award since 2017. She has achieved all three levels of the Award Programme and volunteers as a trainer for the Award in Sri Lanka and globally. You can read her full biography here.

Ahmad Alhendawi, Chair of the Global Youth Mobilization Board
Ahmad Alhendawi is the 10th Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), becoming the youngest to helm one of the world’s leading educational youth movements. Prior to his appointment in WOSM, Mr. Alhendawi served as the first-ever United Nations Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth and the youngest senior official in the history of the UN. You can read his full biography here.

Stories from the pandemic

Elahi Rawshan – 24, Bangladesh – International Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC)
Elahi is an IFRC volunteer who has been supporting communities across Bangladesh throughout the pandemic. Initially in hospitals in the immediate response to the crisis and since supporting young people with online skills development. Read about Elahi here.

Estrella Gutierrez – 24, Mexico – World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
Estrella is a Girl Guide from Mexico who worked a student doctor volunteer throughout the pandemic.Read her incredible story here.

Gregory Kipchirchir – 22, Kenya – The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award
Gregory is a Gold Award participant who during the pandemic become heavily involved in farming and local community tree planting projects as a way to support those around him. Read his story here

Further resources and information

• Website: https://globalyouthmobilization.org/
• Local Solutions platform: https://globalyouthmobilization.force.com/s/
• For further campaign messaging and a breakdown by theme (from education disruption to mental health and more), please find the full campaign toolkit here
• All campaign assets, including logos and artwork, are available here
• Young People Championing Post-Pandemic Futures: Policy Recommendations from the Big 6 Youth Organizations

[1] All sources are included in this paper: Young People Championing Post-Pandemic Futures: Policy Recommendations from the Big 6 Youth Organizations