Global Fund for Children's Survivor-Led Activism Fund is a participatory fund created to support efforts contributing to the prevention of child sexual abuse and child sexual violence in Europe.
Global Fund for Children’s Survivor-Led Activism Fund is designed by survivors and primarily supports survivor-led initiatives that contribute to the prevention of child sexual abuse and child sexual violence in Europe. It provides financial, wellbeing, and capacity support to both individual survivor activists and survivor-led organizations or groups engaging in activism.
The Fund is a pilot project, and we are committed to learning with and from survivors and continuously improving over time.
In its first year, the Survivor-Led Activism Fund has provided:
Global Fund for Children is offering Advocacy Event Participation Grants to support survivor activists and survivor-led groups to take part in important advocacy opportunities.
These grants support survivor activists and survivor-led groups/organizations to attend and contribute to time-bound advocacy events, from conferences to policy meetings, where survivor voices can shape change.
The grants are intended to support participation in one specific event or opportunity with fixed dates. They are not designed to provide core funding or support ongoing projects or campaigns.
See more details below:
It is important that you are aware of all related details for this funding opportunity and eligibility criteria, before you apply.
Please review the full call for applications for the Advocacy Event Participation Grants.
The Fund has a deep commitment to survivor leadership. GFC has worked in partnership with a group of survivors who have experienced child sexual abuse and/or child sexual violence to co-design and guide the Fund.
This group, known as the Regional Strategy Group (RSG), is composed of 10 survivors. The RSG has made key decisions, defined the Fund’s values, reviewed applications, and selected 21 partners for core funding in Spain, France and Romania, and ensured survivor voices guided the process.
We say child sexual abuse and child sexual violence (CSA/CSV) to describe any sexual violence experienced by a person under the age of 18. It can include many experiences, including (but not limited to):
This violence can happen in families, in institutions, in communities, or online, and can be committed by adults or peers. It exists in systems of inequality and silence like patriarchy, racism, ableism, classism, and others. Its impact can continue throughout life and across families and communities.
We honor and recognize all survivors – across every gender, sexuality, race, culture, ability, and background. Each survivor’s story and understanding of their experience is valid and deserves to be heard and believed.
This is a preliminary definition for the purpose of this call for applications. We recognize that definitions of survivorship and child sexual abuse/violence are complex and personal. There is no one way to identify as a survivor.
Survivor:
When we say “survivor,” we mean someone who experienced sexual abuse or violence as a child or teenager (under 18). We chose this word because it recognizes strength and resilience. However, we understand that not everyone uses the word “survivor” to describe themselves – some may prefer “victim,” “person with lived experience,” or other terms. Whatever word feels right for you is valid.
Survivor-led:
Survivors have real, voluntary and safe roles and decision-making power. Their lived experience is respected as real expertise. This can look different for everyone. For example, survivors might:
We do not ask for details of your personal experience. Instead, we ask you to describe how your work is survivor-led in your own words.
Survivors of child sexual abuse and child sexual violence bring experience, deep insight, and clarity to the work of ending violence. Survivor leadership is grounded in an understanding of the realities of harm and the root causes of the issue.
We believe that survivors are experts in what change is needed and change is most possible when those affected lead the way.
If you apply for funding, some staff members and consultants for Global Fund for Children will know you are a survivor. We will share our confidentiality policy with you if you are selected to receive a grant.
If you are invited to be part of public materials (such as photos, interviews, or communications about the Fund), it is always completely voluntary and entirely your choice. It is not a requirement to receive funding. You can choose to stay anonymous, use a pseudonym, or not participate at all, and we will fully respect whatever feels right for you.
