Kampala—Fourteen youth leaders from Uganda were today awarded a total of $65,000 in grants to spearhead community-led projects that will transform public life and promote social, educational, or legal reforms.

The Youth Action Fund Uganda was launched in Kampala by the Open Society Institute (OSI)’s Youth Initiative and the Open Society Initiative for East Africa (OSIEA).

Uganda is the first and only African country to currently qualify for this new OSI fund that provides small grants to youth between 19-29 years of age in selected developing countries across the world.

“We recognize the extraordinary contributions young people are making today,” says Erlin Ibreck, Senior Advisor for the OSI Youth Initiative. “We are investing in young Ugandans because they hold the promise for a new generation of credible leaders that will put into place the necessary underpinnings for a viable open and democratic society.”

Officiating at the program launch, the Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Rtd. Maj. Hon James Kinobe decried the lack of opportunity and poverty as factors that hindered creative thinking and innovation among youth. Support to youth was critical, the Minister said, to ensure that youth can contribute effectively to democratic and development debates.

Projects selected for funding include bridging information gaps using information, communication and technology in Bugala, one of Uganda’s largest and inaccessible Ssese Islands. Other projects include forum debates on the effectiveness of traditional justice versus international criminal justice; open space forums that foster freedom of expression and assembly; environmental conservation; debates on the land question; promoting access to information, government transparency and accountability; and access to justice.

Grantees are selected after a rigorous application procedure. To qualify, youth must show a strong track record of engagement in public service and community work. Strong preference is given to collaborative projects in which the youth reach out to engage their peers and other civil society groups. The youth will be trained and mentored by a group of exemplary community leaders of their choice. Among the mentors selected by the youth include Hon Dan Kidega, Member EAC Legislative Assembly, and former Youth MP.

Plans are underway to extend this program to Kenya in order to foster collaborative initiatives between the youth in the two countries.

A complete list of grantees is available for download below.

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The purpose of the Youth Action Fund is to identify, inspire, and support small groups of dedicated young people who can mobilize and influence large numbers of their peers to promote open society ideals. OSI created this fund as a flexible way to provide small grants and other support to encourage progressive, youth-driven initiatives that are aligned with OSI's mission.

The Open Society Initiative for East Africa (OSIEA) supports and promotes public participation in democratic governance, the rule of law, and respect for human rights in East Africa by awarding grants, developing programs, and bringing together diverse civil society leaders and groups. OSIEA plays an active role in encouraging open, informed dialogue about issues of public importance in East Africa.