Deadline:February 28, 2019

Rise Up is launching the third cohort of the Youth Champions Initiative, in partnership with the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. The Youth Champions Initiative (YCI) is an exciting initiative that is advancing innovation and quality in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights globally. Through YCI, Rise Up invests in young champions who are leading the sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice (SRHRJ) movement now and for the next generation.

Following a competitive selection process, Rise Up will select 22 visionary young people working in Packard Foundation priority geographies – India, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and the United States (Louisiana and Mississippi). YCI integrates intensive capacity building, leadership development, mentoring, project funding, and technical assistance to enable young leaders to launch creative new initiatives to improve SRHRJ in their countries.

Eligibility:

1. Young persons between the ages of 18-29
2. Residents of:
   • India
   • Pakistan
   • Ethiopia
   • Rwanda
   • Louisiana and Mississippi, USA
3. Personal dedication to improving sexual and reproductive health and rights
4. Commitment to social change and experience in one or more of the following areas: youth development, education, sexual and reproductive health and rights, innovation and/or related fields
5. Support of the applicant’s host organization and ability to participate in a workshop in Los Altos, California, USA in June or July 2019
6. Proficient in oral and written English

Youth Champions Initiative improves the lives of young people by advancing innovation and quality in the field of sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice globally. Recent successes include:

• Leveraging WhatsApp in India to deliver youth-friendly mobile instant messaging on SRH;
• Developing an animated television series in Ethiopia about girl super heroines fighting for girls’ health and rights;
• Creating comic books in Pakistan to deliver healthy menstrual hygiene information to girls and their families;
• Teaching youth in the United States to use art, dance, and spoken word poetry to advocate for comprehensive sexuality education.

Rise Up partnered with the Packard Foundation to launch the Youth Champions Initiative – an exciting initiative to advance innovation and quality in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights globally. The Youth Champions Initiative (YCI) invests in visionary young champions who will lead the sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice (SRHRJ) movement for the next generation.

YCI is already creating important impacts in Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, and the US South. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation demonstrates that the Youth Champions have significantly strengthened their leadership, and that their innovative projects are already improving SRHRJ in their communities.

How to apply:

Interested qualified applicants should complete the downloadable application form below and email it on or before February 28, 2019 to Rise Up’s Program Associate Patzia Martinez at [email protected], with a copy to Program Manager Claudia Romeu at [email protected].

Deadline to apply: February 28, 2019

View and download the application in MS Word.

View and download the application in PDF.

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