Participant votes in innovative solution mapping exercise, as part of Young Leadership Development Programme (YLDP), administered by the IYF.
Pioneering Solutions for a Better Future
At the International Youth Federation (IYF), we believe that innovation is a powerful catalyst for social change. Our Innovation for Social Change initiatives harness the creativity and ingenuity of young people to address pressing global challenges and create sustainable solutions. By fostering a culture of innovation, we empower youth to drive progress and make a meaningful impact on their communities and the world.
Our mission is to inspire and support young innovators in developing creative solutions that tackle social issues. We aim to provide the resources, mentorship, and platforms needed to transform innovative ideas into tangible actions that promote social good.
Strategic Objectives
- Encourage Creative Problem-Solving: We cultivate an environment where young people are encouraged to think outside the box and develop innovative solutions to social problems.
- Support Social Entrepreneurship: We provide training, mentorship, and resources to young social entrepreneurs, helping them to launch and scale their ventures.
- Foster Collaboration and Networking: We create opportunities for young innovators to connect, collaborate, and share knowledge with peers, experts, and stakeholders.
- Promote Technology for Good: We leverage technology to address social issues, from improving education and healthcare to promoting environmental sustainability.
- Scale Impactful Innovations: We support the growth and replication of successful social innovations to maximize their impact.
Our Approach
- Innovation Labs: We establish innovation labs where young people can brainstorm, prototype, and test their ideas. These labs provide a collaborative space equipped with the necessary tools and resources.
- Hackathons and Competitions: We organize hackathons and innovation competitions to challenge youth to come up with creative solutions to specific social issues. These events offer recognition and funding opportunities for outstanding ideas.
- Incubation and Acceleration Programs: Our incubation and acceleration programs provide startups and young entrepreneurs with mentorship, funding, and resources to scale their innovations and bring them to market.
- Collaborative Platforms: We create online and offline platforms for young innovators to network, share ideas, and collaborate on projects that address social challenges.
- Capacity Building: We offer workshops, training sessions, and resources on topics such as design thinking, social entrepreneurship, and technology for social good to build the capacity of young innovators.
Desired Impact
Through our Innovation for Social Change initiatives, we aim to contribute to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
- SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Promoting entrepreneurship and job creation through support for social ventures.
- SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): Fostering innovation and building resilient infrastructure to support sustainable development.
- SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Developing innovative solutions to make cities and communities more sustainable and inclusive.
- SDG 13 (Climate Action): Leveraging technology and innovation to combat climate change and its impacts.
- SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): Building partnerships and collaborations to scale impactful innovations.
We measure the impact of our initiatives through various indicators, such as the number of innovative projects launched, the scale of social ventures supported, and the tangible outcomes achieved by these innovations. By empowering young innovators, we are paving the way for a future where creativity and technology drive positive social change.