The climate crisis is a global challenge that demands collective action. To make a meaningful difference, we must bring together diverse perspectives and share resources to create solutions that benefit everyone, everywhere.
We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded the prestigious Intergenerational Leadership category at the inaugural World Economic Forum’s GAEA Awards for System Change.
The Award was presented by Al Gore, Vice-President of the United States (1993-2001)and Chairman and Co-Founder of the Generation Investment Management and Fatou Jeng, Climate Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General. Copyright: World Economic Forum / Greg Beadle
Copyright: World Economic Forum / Greg Beadle
This award is a recognition of the collaborative efforts of YCJF’s team, our partners, and supporters around the globe. It underscores the critical importance of collective action between youth-led organizations, grassroots movements and philanthropies in driving systemic transformation in climate, nature and human rights.
We are deeply grateful to the GAEA Awards jury for acknowledging our contribution to fostering intergenerational cooperation. This reinforces our belief that advancing climate justice requires bold, inclusive action and we are proud to be an integral part of this transformative movement.
Our commitment continues to renew, now more than ever. This award is a motivation. It pushes us to continue striving for even greater impact, empowering youth leaders and their communities to lead the way in shaping a sustainable future for all.
Scaling Our Impact for a Sustainable Future ☀️
As we look back on the past year, we’ve been on a path of collective growth and expansion. One of the most exciting developments has been the increase in our grant funding. We’ve doubled the amount we offer to local and international groups, increasing grants from $10K to $20K for local initiatives and from $50K to $80K for regional and international projects.
To date, we have committed funding to 90 initiatives across more than 35 countries, and we are on track to support over 150 grassroots socio-environmental solutions by 2026.
Recognizing Our Fellow Changemakers 🌍
We would also like to take a moment to extend our congratulations to our fellow nominees: Youth Negotiators Academy and Youth 4 Nature. Their innovative approaches and steadfast commitment to climate action and systems change are truly inspiring.
Looking ahead, and alongside fostering cross-sector collaborations and accelerating global action toward climate justice, we are excited to be piloting a new capacity development program aimed at strengthening our grantee partners' impact.
This framework will provide personalized mentorship and collective workshops to enhance the connections within the broader climate justice ecosystem.
About the GAEA Awards 🌟
The GAEA Awards powered by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with Kearney, are designed to recognize and amplify groundbreaking collaborations that drive systems change.
The awards celebrate the shift from individual efforts to collective action, aiming to foster a supportive, cross-sector community that enables transformative climate and nature initiatives to scale and achieve lasting impact.
Want to Learn More? ✨
Head over to the GAEA Awards website to explore the full list of winners and discover more about the incredible work being done to shape our world for future generations.