September 19, 2023 – WASHINGTON, DC, and LONDON – Today, Global Fund for Children (GFC) is showcasing its work on youth-led climate action and healthy masculinities at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) 2023 Meeting.

GFC Vice President of Strategic Partnerships Christine Burkhart is sharing an update on the Climate Spark Fund, which provides funding and technical support to young people working on climate action around the globe. GFC Regional Co-Director for the Americas Rodrigo Barraza is discussing GFC’s healthy masculinities work in Latin America. 

Burkhart will speak at an 8:00AM EST session titled “Our Changing Climate and Young Children’s Healthy Development: How to Promote Climate Resiliency.” She will share GFC’s progress over the past year following its 2022 CGI Commitment to Action on resourcing youth-led climate resilience initiatives. Burkhart will discuss recruiting youth panelists in Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam to design a grantmaking process and award grants to youth-led groups in their communities that are focused on climate action. The Climate Spark Fund, which is supported by the Avery Dennison Corporation, Porticus, and Lien AID, was also featured in CGI social media videos highlighting progress on CGI commitments.  

“GFC is committed to increasing youth participation in climate-related discussions and empowering young people to ignite change,” Burkhart said. “We’re excited to share our progress on the Climate Spark Fund with likeminded organizations at the Clinton Global Initiative Meeting.” 

[image_caption caption=”GFC President and CEO John Hecklinger posing for a photo with Chelsea Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative 2022 Meeting in New York. © Clinton Global Initiative” float=””]

[/image_caption]

Later, at 2:30PM EST, Barraza will discuss the negative impacts of unhealthy ideas about masculinity and the innovative solutions GFC and its grassroots partners have developed at a session entitled “Global Crisis, Local Solutions: How to Revolutionize and Implement Community-Based Mental Health Care .” He will showcase the work of GFC’s Promoting Youth Leadership for Gender Justice initiative, which is supported by the Summit Foundation and the Kendeda Fund, and share how GFC and grassroots partners in Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua promote healthy masculinities through youth leadership and the use of art as a tool for healing, reflection, and connection. Barraza will also talk about the importance of approaching healthy masculinities work in a way that respects local contexts and cultures.   

Both speaking events will be livestreamed. To watch the livestream, RSVP on the CGI website.  

The CGI 2023 Meeting, held September 18–19 in New York, convenes global and emerging leaders to create and implement solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. The meeting will feature over 90 Commitments to Action. 

GFC is seeking additional funders for the Climate Spark Fund and plans to launch rounds in Latin America, South Asia, and Southern Africa. If you would like to support this initiative, please contact Christine Burkhart.

             ###

ABOUT GLOBAL FUND FOR CHILDREN

Global Fund for Children partners with grassroots organizations around the world, helping them deepen their impact on the lives of children and youth and develop their capacity for social change. By pairing flexible funding with targeted capacity development services, we support community-led groups to shift social norms, policies, and practices to foster lasting change for children and youth. Since 1997, we have invested over $56 million in more than 1,000 organizations worldwide.

ABOUT THE CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE

Founded by President Bill Clinton in 2005, the Clinton Global Initiative is a community of doers representing a broad cross section of society and dedicated to the idea that we can accomplish more together than we can apart. Through CGI’s unique model, more than 9,000 organizations have launched more than 3,900 Commitments to Action — new, specific, and measurable projects and programs.

Learn more about the Clinton Global Initiative and how you can get involved at www.ClintonGlobal.org.