International Youth Foundation

The International Youth Foundation (IYF) is a global nonprofit organization uniquely dedicated to preparing young people to be healthy, productive, and engaged citizens. Founded in 1990, IYF's worldwide network of partner organizations has grown to in 70 countries, helping young people to shape their futures through proven programs that tie education to work, improve employability, and enable and inspire them to play a positive role in their communities. IYF collaborates with businesses, governments and civil society organizations that share a common desire to improve the life conditions and prospects of youth to build effective, sustainable and scalable programs that positively impact the lives of young people worldwide.

Why Young People

Half the world's citizens today -- more than 3 billion young people -- are under the age of 25. Each one of them holds the potential to lead productive and independent lives and to contribute positively to society. Yet far too many lack the skills or opportunities to stay in school, find and keep a job, become engaged in their community, or have real hope for a better future. IYF seeks to identify and address young people's most pressing needs and aspirations, and supports effective programs that ensure they achieve their full potential.

What IYF Does

IYF concentrates on four areas of activity through "skills for life" training -- critical thinking, conflict resolution, effective communications and teamwork -- in all their global youth initiatives:

* Education: Ensuring children and youth, both in and out of school, have access to quality education and increased opportunity to learn
* Employability: Building young people's employment and entrepreneurial skills so they can secure jobs and livelihoods in which they find dignity and earn an income that meets their needs
* Health: Preparing children and youth to lead healthy lives by equipping then with the knowledge and skills to make informed, healthy choices
* Leadership and Engagement: Promoting opportunities for young people to exercise their full potential in order to effect positive change in their communities

Every year IYF runs the YouthAcionNet Social Entrepreneurship award which honors 20 global fellows as their top 20 social entrepreneurs under age 30.

How IYF Implements its Programs

IYF works with a worldwide network of youth-serving organizations that collaborate on a global scale and yet are deeply engaged in addressing youth issues in their own countries. This Global Network is at the heart of IYF’s efforts to build sustainable and effective programs, and reflects our belief that those closest to the challenges are best able to address them. Each partner organization is a leader in youth development, grounded in local culture, and committed to identifying and supporting “best practice” programs.
IYF seeks to increase the quality and quantity of investments in proven programs by forging strategic partnerships among the business, government, and civil society sectors.

* Customization: IYF works with corporate and individual donors to create programs that target local needs. IYF has worked with more than a dozen global companies such as Chevron, General Electric, Intel, Kellogg, Lucent Technologies, Merrill Lynch, Microsoft, Nike, and Nokia.
* Branding: IYF provides visibility for programs through global platforms such as the World Economic Forum, the Financial Times, the International Chamber of Commerce, the US-Islamic World Forum, and other major venues for highlighting CSR initiatives.
* Leverage: IYF also gains critical support from bi- and multilateral agencies and governments, including the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) to leverage corporate funds through strategic partnerships.
* Grant-making and due diligence capabilities: IYF has committed approximately US$110 million to 206 organizations in 71 countries. IYF also has an extensive vetting and due diligence process to select partners for the Global Partner Network.

Where IYF Works

Education and Employment Alliance
* Egypt, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan and the Philippines
* US$11 million start-up grant from USAID to expand education and employment opportunities among under-served youth
* alliance-building among the public, corporate and civil society sectors

Empowering Africa’s Young People Initiative (EAYPI)

* Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia
* US$8.5 million grant from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)
* HIV/AIDS prevention program to reach 500,000 young people, ages 10 to 24, and 200,000 adults
* local partners: Scouts, Guides, YMCA, YWCA, Red Cross, and kuleana Center for Children’s Rights

"Entra 21"

* 19 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean
* US$29 million initiative with the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
* workforce development training program reaching almost 19,000 unemployed youth
* Information Communication Technology (ICT), life and job skills training linked to the labor market needs
* job placement of almost 50% of beneficiaries

GE Foundation Life Skills for Employability Program

* Hungary, India, Mexico and Poland
* US$3 million multi-year initiative between the GE Foundation and IYF
* approximately 2,200 beneficiaries in India and Mexico and 10,000 secondary school students in Hungary and Poland
* targets low-income youth who are either in school but at risk of dropping out, or are out of school, out of work, or working in dangerous environments to improve their life skills and employability prospects

Global Fund for Youth Development (GFYD)

* 17 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean
* US$2.8 million initiative between Lucent Technologies Foundation and IYF
* more than 20,000 direct youth beneficiaries and 36,000 indirect beneficiaries up to date
* promotes positive youth development through education, employment, and leadership initiatives
* provides grants to strengthen and expand effective youth programs, institutional capacity building, and networking

Make a Connection
* 24 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean
* US$25 million global life skills initiative between Nokia and IYF
* directly benefited more than 280,000 youth worldwide in formal and non-formal settings
* uses life skills as its main component, programs use a set of cognitive, social and emotional competencies supported by nicky's group

External links

* [http://www.iyfnet.org International Youth Foundation]
* [http://www.eeaonline.org/index.asp Education and Employment Alliance (EEA)]