Mini Fund for Youth

The Mini Fund for Youth is a program designed to support rights-based youth-led activism and movements at the national and local levels across Southeast Asia. The fund aims to support various initiatives that respond to the issues of human rights, such as freedom of expression, the right to participate in political and public life, and the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. In 2023, we support three human rights-based projects which are led by 18-35 years old young people who are based in Southeast Asia countries.

Breakthrough, Cambodia

On October 22, 2023, Breakthrough conducted a workshop in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, providing a platform for participants to engage in meaningful discussions, share experiences, and deepen their understanding of gender equality. This project aims to address the challenges faced by women and girls by fostering a supportive community that champions gender equality. The workshop successfully engaged 16 youth in sessions covering topics such as the definitions and analysis of gender versus sex, feminism, intersectionality and privilege, as well as storytelling and using a gender lens in filmmaking.

The workshop concluded with a video screening and reflection session. The overall success of the workshop was evident from the positive feedback from participants. One participant noted, “During in-depth discussions on these topics, we gained valuable soft skills and developed a more open-minded perspective.” Another participant shared, “One important lesson I learned is that we should refrain from blaming victims, and instead focus on empowering them to speak their truth. As a result, I aspire to be actively involved in supporting and assisting victims in their journey to healing and justice.”

By developing participants’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward gender equality through this workshop, Breakthrough believes it can break down barriers, empower individuals to challenge societal gender norms and stereotypes, and promote greater inclusivity and diversity in Cambodia.

Watch the documentation of the workshop here:

Get to know more about Breakthrough here: https://www.breakthroughkh.com/km

Lingkar Studi Feminis, Indonesia

Lingkar Studi Feminis conducted a Feminist-Based Advocacy Class and Gender Responsive Budget Analysis training in Tangerang, Indonesia, on 10-11 July 2023, focusing on the Feminist Legal Theory (FLT) perspective in the Banten region. The training aimed to equip young adults with the skills to advocate for gender-responsive policies and familiarize them with advocacy methods rooted in feminist legal theory and gender-responsive budget analysis.

Fifteen youths participated in the training, which covered a wide range of topics, including the concept of gender, the history of feminist legal theory, SOGIESC-based advocacy, the scope of feminist legal theory, and the analysis of gender-responsive budgeting. At the end of the session, participants developed Follow-up Action Plans based on their newly acquired knowledge, ensuring they can effectively apply what they learned to promote gender-responsive policies in their communities.

Watch the documentation of the workshop here:

Get to know more about Lingkar Studi Feminis here: https://www.instagram.com/lingkarstudifeminis_/

The Philippines Network of AYF, The Philippines

Kyn and Chan, who are AYF youth network in The Philippines, have been active participants in various AYF initiatives and were supported by the Mini Fund to establish a youth-led, rights-based movement in the Philippines. Collaborating with the Balur-Kanlungan Community, they conducted a series of impactful activities from May 2023 to November 2023, under the movement #InclusiveSchoolsPH. These included a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) to highlight the importance of human rights and SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Expression, and Sex Characteristics) equality, and their implications for inclusive schools, also an online training sessions on Mental Health 101 with a focus on intersectionality with SOGIESC, as well as Suicide First Aid.

Additionally, they organized the #InclusiveSchoolPH Gathering (Salo-Salo), which featured discussions on Balur-Kanlungan 101 and #InclusiveSchoolsPH 101, followed by a hackathon where youth brainstormed future activities to promote inclusive schools. They also participated in The Pride PH Festival and set up a booth at De La Salle University to advocate for inclusive education within the academic community. Their online creative campaign included educational posts, trivia, and pledge forms on Facebook and Instagram, while their Artivism initiative comprised workshops, performances, and exhibitions. These activities collectively aim to address and promote inclusion without compromising equality in the Philippines.

Capacity Building Mini Fund for Youth

To support the Mini Fund grants, we conducted a capacity-building training dedicated to the mini fund grantees, while also accepting participants within the AYF network to give them a chance to join the training as well.

The Capacity Building Mini Fund 2023, focusing on Effective Team Management, successfully conducted in an online setting,  which spread over three days, each dedicated to specific topics: 1) Building Solid Teams, 2) Effective Communication, and 3) Conflict Management. Sixteen participants from diverse countries, including the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Myanmar, attended the training, which included live webinars, pre-readings, and post-surveys.

Each session received positive feedback, with participants reporting increased understanding and satisfaction as the training progressed. The overall training met participants’ expectations in a safe and engaging environment. Participants found the materials very useful and suggested deeper dives into subjects, offline sessions, more media usage, and reflection sessions for better comprehension. This positive feedback underscores the efforts of AYF in continuously improving the training based on participant reflections and post-survey feedback.