The Spark Fund invests in youth-led and youth-focused groups tackling injustice and inequality, driving transformational change, and building a more inclusive post-pandemic world by harnessing the power of digital technologies.
The Spark Fund is supported by the Avast Foundation. Use the menus below to learn more about our Spark Fund partners by region and by country.
The Americas
Europe and Eurasia
South Asia
Southern Africa
The Americas
Colombia | Mexico | Peru
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Caravana Cine
Colombia | Medellín
Caravana Cine is a group of young artivists who offer audiovisual and cinematographic education to promote innovative and captivating social critique. The organization helps youth from the city of Medellín and the department of Antioquia, especially from peripheral and rural areas, to overcome contexts of violence and inequalities while also fostering a sense of community ownership and pride.
CENTRO CULTURAL POPULAR VICTOR JARA
Colombia | Bogotá
The Centro Cultural Popular Victor Jara is an organizational space that is committed to fostering dignified lives through popular education. The organization works in Bogotá’s Usme neighborhood to cultivate a sense of community identity and promote leadership, citizen participation, and the expression of different artistic languages.
COLECTIVO DE MUJERES AFRODESCENDIENTES WIWAS
Colombia | Medellín
The Colectivo de Mujeres Afrodescendientes Wiwas is a network of Afro-descendant women focused on promoting the history of Afro-descendant people and the social and political empowerment of Afro-Colombian women through political education.
CULTURAS CAMPESINAS
Colombia | Herveo
Culturas Campesinas is a group of youth and children from the town of Herveo in Colombia’s Tolima department that works to strengthen the rural population through awareness-raising activities and the production of audiovisual content. The organization promotes local culture and identity, transforming narratives and stigmas related to the rural population.
LA RED POPULAR TRANS
Colombia | Medellín
La Red Popular Trans (RPT) is a transfeminist collective of trans people and dissidents of the sex/gender system that uses cultural and political actions to make visible, recognize, demand, guarantee, and realize the rights of the trans population at the local, national, and international levels.
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COLECTIVO KOKOPELLI TLALLI
Mexico | Ecatepec de Morelos
Colectivo Kokopelli Tlalli is a group of young environmental activists who combat food insecurity and strengthen sustainable agricultural practices within urban communities. Kokopelli Tlalli provides technical education and hands-on support to families to help them grow their own vegetable gardens as a way to generate an alternative source of food and income.
COLECTIVO MUJERES UTOPÍA
Mexico | Chimalhuacán and Nezahualcóyotl
Colectivo Mujeres Utopía (CMU) is a group of bold feminist activists seeking to break the cycle of violence against girls and women in Mexico. The organization offers education, safe spaces, and opportunities for young women who are either at risk of or survivors of violence, empowering them to lead safe, full lives in both their individual and professional spheres.
COLECTIVO TAJPIANIJ
Mexico | Puebla
From the Nahuatl word meaning caretakers, Colectivo Tajpianij is a youth-led organization that seeks to be the caretaker of the forest. The organization fosters awareness of and strengthens environmental conservation practices while also piloting new strategies to preserve green spaces in its community.
COLECTIVO TÚUMBEN KÁAMBAL
Mexico | Quintana Roo
Meaning “new learning” in Nahuatl, Colectivo Túumben Káambal is a group of young, passionate activists working to protect their Indigenous cultural identity. Túumben Káambal helps youth become agents of change in their community while also preserving their cultural heritage by strengthening intergenerational ties.
RED DE INTÉRPRETES Y PROMOTORES INTERCULTURALES A.C.
Mexico | Oaxaca
Red de Intérpretes y Promotores Interculturales (RIPI) is a collective of more than 80 young human rights defenders who seek to guarantee justice for Indigenous communities throughout Mexico. Speaking more than 64 Indigenous languages and dialects, RIPI members provide legal translation, accompaniment, and representation to Indigenous Mexicans.
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AMPLIAMENTE
Peru | Lima
AmpliaMente is a youth-led organization that coordinates community projects with the goal of providing mental health services and resources for children, adolescents, and young people in Peru. The organization works to promote psychological wellbeing as an intrinsic part of the holistic development of children and youth to unlock their potential and help them tap into their own strengths.
ESCUELA RESILIENTE
Peru | Lima
Escuela Resiliente empowers young social change agents interested in combining art and cutting-edge environmental practices to drive positive environmental conservation impacts.
OLLAS SOSTENIBLE
Peru | Lima
Ollas Sostenible seeks to guarantee food security for low-income social sectors of Lima through sustainable solutions and a holistic approach. The organization’s vision is to create self-sufficient and resilient communities even in the face of climate emergencies and supply chain disruptions that impact food, water, and energy security.
PSICOPRIDE
Peru | Lima
PsicoPride is a group of young psychology professionals that aims to promote the sexual rights of the LGBTQ+ community in Peru. Through a gender-inclusive and intersectional approach, the organization works to increase access to sexual and mental health resources, education, and services.
VOCES VIOLETA
Peru | Lima
Voces Violeta is a feminist and interdisciplinary youth organization founded by a group of psychology students. Voces Violeta promotes the mental health of children and youth through community actions, advocacy campaigns, and projects based on a gender-inclusive, intersectional, and anti-racist approach with a deep respect for diversity.
Europe and Eurasia
Armenia | Georgia | Moldova | Ukraine
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FRONTLINE YOUTH NETWORK
Berd, Armenia
Frontline Youth Network (FYN) is a community of young people who connect and empower other young people from rural and borderline communities in Armenia. Working at the grassroots level, FYN’s mission is to advance youth activism, engage people on the frontlines, and advocate for sustainable peace.
HAVASAR EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
Yerevan, Armenia
Havasar Educational Foundation is a youth-led organization focused on improving access to inclusive education for children with disabilities. Havasar has created a mobile educational app that contains accessible lessons for children with visual, hearing, or intellectual disabilities.
QUEER SISTA PLATFORM
Yerevan, Armenia
Queer Sista Platform is a queer feminist organization working with and for LGBTQ+ people. The platform hosts different queer initiatives and creates a safe space for self-expression, as well as for collective, peer, and professional support.
Georgia
INITIATIVE FOR SOCIAL CHANGES
Tbilisi, Georgia
Initiative for Social Changes (ISC) promotes and advocates for sustainable positive changes for the welfare and protection of social groups in vulnerable circumstances. The organization’s priority areas are child protection and welfare; gender equality and women’s rights; and youth empowerment.
INVISIBLE LABOR
Tbilisi, Georgia
Invisible Labor is a youth-led volunteer organization that promotes reproductive health and rights for women. The organization’s efforts are focused on alleviating period poverty, improving access to hygienic facilities and low-cost or free menstrual hygiene products, and increasing workplace protections.
YOUTH FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
Tbilisi, Georgia
Youth for Public Health improves access to educational resources for young people in rural areas and supports and strengthens youth development. The organization is launching a mobile classroom that delivers on-site and in-person programs using specially designed equipment with interactive educational resources and a mobile cinema.
Moldova
FEMINISMD
Chișinău, Moldova
Feminismd raises awareness about gender equality issues. By utilizing its social media platforms and organizing in-person and online events, the organization informs teenagers in Moldova about gender equality and social justice issues and empowers them to combat these problems.
NGO PHAROS
Ceadîr-Lunga, Moldova
NGO Pharos is a youth-led organization that trains other young people on how to work with local authorities so they can raise awareness about issues affecting youth. The organization also empowers young people to implement their own projects.
YOUTH CENTRE STUDEM
Bălți, Moldova
STUDEM is a youth center led and managed by a group of elected young people, and its priority is to increase civic engagement among youth. STUDEM also works to foster media literacy through partnerships with media institutions.
Ukraine
The Spark Fund also has three partner organizations in Ukraine. For their safety, GFC is not naming the Ukrainian organizations.
South Asia
Bangladesh | Pakistan
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Feminist Group Bangladesh
Bangladesh | Dhaka
Feminist Group Bangladesh is a platform of diverse community women who are committed to ensuring gender equity and promoting feminism.
IDENTITY INCLUSION
Bangladesh | Dhaka
Identity Inclusion works to counter mental health stigmas, foster inclusion, and promote community-based services for people with psychosocial disabilities. Identity Inclusion envisions an inclusive society that realizes the full potential of excluded individuals through the transformation of social and public institutions and by providing psychosocial mental health support.
MIND MENDERS
Bangladesh | Dhaka
Mind Menders works to create a vast youth-led professional community that aims to eradicate mental health taboos and create a better Bangladesh. The organization spreads mental health awareness throughout the country and ensures access to mental health services.
ONGONA FEMINIST GROUP
Bangladesh | Chilahati
Ongona Feminist Group is a grassroots youth-led organization that is working to protect the rights of women, especially in the field of sexual and reproductive health.
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KARAKORUM INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION
Pakistan | Gilgit
Karakorum Integrated Rural Development Organization (KIRDO) is a youth-led organization working in remote areas of Pakistan. KIRDO provides basic health facilities to rural communities, improves the quality of education in remote villages, and empowers youth through various initiatives.
KHUDKAAR
Pakistan | Layyah
KhudKaar is a social enterprise that is nurturing the community-building spirit in its local community through cultural activities, capacity development programs, emergency food relief, and fundraising for girls’ education in Layyah, Pakistan. KhudKaar also operates KhudKaar House, a community center where young people come to learn digital skills to find employment.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
Pakistan | Jamshoro
Rural Development Foundation (RDF) is a youth-led and women-led grassroots organization located in the Jamshoro district of Sindh province in Pakistan. RDF works to establish a sustainable, people-centered approach to improve the quality of life of women, children, and transgender people and to respond to the immediate needs of marginalized individuals.
SINDH GREEN FOUNDATION
Pakistan | Shahdadpur
Sindh Green Foundation (SGF) is a community-based, participatory, and youth-focused organization. Since 2010, SGF has operated in Sindh province in Pakistan providing youth and local Indigenous communities with education opportunities, capacity development, and basic health care, as well as promoting environmental conservation.
Southern Africa
Lesotho | Namibia | Zimbabwe
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AUDACIOUS LEADERS NETWORK
Lesotho | Maseru
Audacious Leaders Network empowers youth in Lesotho to create social movements that address injustices and protect young people in vulnerable circumstances. The organization fosters critical thinking and leadership skills and encourages youth to become social changemakers in their communities.
The Butterfly Sanctuary Organisation
Lesotho | Maseru
The Butterfly Sanctuary Organisation is a youth-led group comprised of girls and young mothers in Maseru, Lesotho, that seeks to empower marginalized girls within schools and the wider community. The organization provides girls with sexual and reproductive health information; offers trainings in vocational skills and girls’ rights; and increases girls’ access to services and opportunities.
MOSEPELE FOUNDATION DEVELOPMENT FORUM
Lesotho | Maseru
Mosepele Foundation Development Forum is a youth-led organization that supports young people experiencing mental health issues, substance abuse issues, and unplanned pregnancies, helping them to access financial, medical, and social support.
NomadPads Lesotho
Lesotho | Maseru
NomadPads Lesotho is a youth-led group fighting to end period poverty and shame in Lesotho and helping girls to build their confidence. The organization offers menstrual education workshops and podcasts and manufactures reusable sanitary pads for girls in the community.
WOMEN FIRST SELF-HELP PROGRAM LESOTHO
Lesotho | Maseru
Women First Self-Help Program Lesotho supports young women entrepreneurs to promote women’s empowerment, gender equality, and poverty reduction. The organization provides trainings in business and entrepreneurship; jewelry-making; and other skills to empower young women to become self-reliant and support their families.
WRITERS SPACE AFRICA
Lesotho | Maseru
Writers Space Africa is a youth-led organization in Lesotho that publishes books for youth as a way to help young writers achieve their dreams. The organization also hosts debates for young people, including students, so they can deepen their knowledge of the issues that affect them.
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AFRICAN PATHFINDER LEADERS INITIATIVE
Namibia | Windhoek
African Pathfinder Leaders Initiative (APLI Namibia) develops and mobilizes young changemakers, innovators, and leaders in diverse fields across Namibia. Through its fellowship program, APLI Namibia provides opportunities for young people to cultivate skills in community development, entrepreneurship, and other areas that they can use to contribute to their local communities.
HEALING WOUND ASSOCIATION
Namibia | Walvis Bay
Healing Wound Association (HWA) provides hope and support to young people with mental health issues in Namibia. The organization offers psychosocial support, counseling, and targeted wellness programs that enable youth to learn more about themselves and identify their goals.
NATIONAL YOUTH SPORTS DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM
Namibia | Nkurenkuru
National Youth Sports Development Platform is a youth-led organization in Namibia that empowers young people in underprivileged communities through sports, fostering community development through physical and recreational activities.
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DO IT FOR THE KIDS
Zimbabwe | Bulawayo
Do It For The Kids (DIFTK) is a youth-led organization that supports underprivileged children in Zimbabwe and raises awareness about the challenges they face. DIFTK provides support to orphans and orphanages; supplies girls with sanitary pads so they are able to attend school; and increases access to books for children with disabilities.
PATSIMEREDU EDUTAINMENT TRUST
Zimbabwe | Harare
Patsimeredu Edutainment Trust initiates change through the performing arts, using social impact theater to increase awareness of the issues impacting youth. The organization conducts research on issues affecting local communities, incorporates this information into theater productions, and presents plays followed by post-performance discussions.
SHIFT SPACE
Zimbabwe | Bulawayo
Shift Space is a gaming-oriented organization that seeks to sustainably address issues in society through educational games. The organization also provides mentoring to young people.
SPARK R.E.A.D
Zimbabwe | Harare
Spark R.E.A.D empowers girls and women in marginalized rural and urban communities in Zimbabwe. The organization advocates for sexual and reproductive health and rights; offers entrepreneurship trainings and social enterprises; and combats harmful practices including gender-based violence and child marriage.
TWEENS PROJECT
Zimbabwe | Chipinge
TWEENS Project empowers young people at the Tongogara Refugee Camp to thrive academically and reach their full potential. The organization provides youth with access to resources including textbooks, computers, and study space; offers tutoring; and holds informational sessions to inform young people about educational opportunities including scholarships.
Young Africa IntellectualS
Zimbabwe | Harare
Young Africa Intellectuals (YAL Group) is a youth-led organization that provides mental health support to young people through health information in order to increase health literacy and promote effective health communication. The organization improves the availability, access to, and acceptability of mental health services for young people and women in marginalized or neglected communities, including rural areas, informal settlements, and refugee camps.
Zvavahera Transformational Youth Club
Zimbabwe | Mubaiwa Village
Zvavahera Transformational Youth Club advocates for the needs of children and youth in rural communities and empowers them to have a voice in development efforts. The organization provides livelihoods training to young people and facilitates games and educational trips to help them boost their self-confidence.
Header photo: Children and youth volunteers pose for a photo after an art lesson offered by Do It For The Kids, a Spark Fund grantee partner in Zimbabwe. © GFC