THE HAGUE - Starting in April 2025, young people between the ages of 12 and 29 in the Caribbean will be able to apply for funding from Oranje Fonds for their social projects. Through the Impulsfonds Verschilmakers: Jong!, Oranje Fonds aims to encourage youth to contribute to the well-being of others and help build a more connected and inclusive community.
Empowering Youth to Make a Social Impact
Youth participation in social initiatives is crucial for fostering stronger community connections. To cultivate a new generation of social changemakers, Oranje Fonds, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science (OCW), is providing financial support for youth-led projects.
Young people aged 12 to 29 can apply for grants ranging from AWG/XCG 1,000 to 4,000 or USD 500 to 2,200 through the Impulsfonds Verschilmakers: Jong! A special youth panel will be responsible for evaluating project proposals.
Turning Challenges into Opportunities
Many young people recognize opportunities in the challenges they see around them. A great example of this is the successful YouthsWEAR project. At a thrift market, Angella found only one shirt that fit her. She recalls, "I played a game with my youth coach, and he told me I could do a better job myself. I accepted the challenge and learned an important lesson."
Together with two other young people, Angella began organizing events, and today, YouthsWEAR provides free clothing to young people who cannot afford it due to financial difficulties. "We started small, but we have grown beyond our community center, and now we are preparing to launch our own foundation."
Looking for Young Changemakers
Oranje Fonds is seeking young people who have already initiated projects that make a positive impact on their communities. To learn more about the application criteria and to submit a funding request, visit www.oranjefonds.nl/hey-verschilmaker-cariben.
Youth-Led Evaluation Panel
A diverse panel of 12 young people will evaluate all project applications from both the Caribbean and the Netherlands. Two of the panel members grew up in the Caribbean, ensuring that the local social and economic context is considered when assessing proposals.
Project evaluations take place five times a year: in February, April, June, September, and November. Youth applicants have until June 1, 2025, to submit their applications for the next evaluation round in June.
