Call for Participants: Spark Fund Youth Panellist
If you are aged between 18 and 30, live in Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine or nearby countries, have an interest in how young people are tackling injustice and inequality, and want to be involved in making decisions, we want to hear from you! Previous experience with making decisions about where funding goes is not necessary – we will offer training and support.
The Opportunity
- Fund inspiring, innovative, youth-led initiatives in your region.
- Meet and collaborate with other youth changemakers.
- Share your perspective about the impact of the pandemic on children and youth and shape a fund that meets their needs.
- Learn more about grantmaking, civil society and how young people are taking action.
Role Description
Panellists will work together to set up a new regional fund resourcing and supporting youth-led and youthfocused groups that are tackling injustice and inequality, driving forward transformational change and helping their communities in Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine rebuild after the COVID-19 pandemic. This will include:
- agreeing how you will make decisions together,
- deciding what issues and strategies are important to tackle inequality in your region,
- deciding what type of youth-led groups, collectives or youth-focused organizations the fund will support,
- deciding on the size of the grants available,
- testing out and supporting the design of a new funding technology platform,
- designing and actively supporting an outreach strategy, ensuring that the application reaches the youth leaders you want to fund,
- discussing and assessing groups to fund, and,
- making decisions on who should receive funding.
Role Title
Spark Fund Youth Panellist
Location and Language
All meetings will take place over Zoom and English will be our primary shared language. If internet or tech access is an issue, we will try to work with you to find a way for you to participate online.
Commitment
The panel will run from October to December 2021 with a celebration event in January 2022. You will also need to plan some time outside of these meetings to do some basic preparation, reflection and to review applications. We estimate that the total time commitment will be about around 2-3 hours per week although the exact amount may change somewhat throughout the panel process. Applicants must be able to commit to four design sessions and be available to attend all decision making sessions.
Fund Design Sessions
Thursday 7th October – 16:00 – 17.30 EEST/ 17:00 – 18.30 AMT and GET
Thursday 14th October – 16:00 – 18.00 EEST/ 17:00 – 19.00 AMT and GET
Thursday 21st October – 16:00 – 18.00 EEST/ 17:00 – 19.00 AMT and GET Thursday 28th October – 16:00 – 18.00 EEST/ 17:00 – 19.00 AMT and GET
Thursday 4th November – 16:00 – 18:00 EET/ 18:00 – 20:00 AMT and GET
Decision Making Sessions
Thursday 18th November – 16:00 – 18:00 EET/ 18:00 – 20:00 AMT and GET
Thursday 25th November – 16:00 – 18:00 EET/ 18:00 – 20:00 AMT and GET
Thursday 2nd December – 16:00 – 18:00 EET/ 18:00 – 20:00 AMT and GET
Celebration Event
Thursday 13th January 2022 – 16:00 – 18:00 EET/ 18:00 – 20:00 AMT and GET
Recognition and Reimbursement
All panellists will receive a digital certificate of participation and recognition on our website. This is a short-term voluntary role and is unpaid. GFC appreciates all of your time and experience in designing and delivering this Fund. As a form of recognition for this voluntary work, GFC will offer a communication stipend of $40 and an honorarium payment of $200 USD to each panelist at the end of the panel process. You are not obliged to accept this payment. This payment is not an employment contract and you are responsible for any tax, income or benefits implications in your own country.
Training
You do not need to have any particular training or experience in making funding decisions to take part in the panel. We will provide all necessary training as part of your meetings.
What you will need to do
Essential:
- Collaborate with other panellists, Spark Fund representatives and panel facilitators.
- Review all materials and documents in advance of panel meeting discussions.
- Keep an open mind, use your judgement and engage in group discussions.
- Take part in reflective learning activities to tell us about your experience of participation.
- Share the Spark Fund selection process with youth-led groups and organisations in your network.
- Attend a safeguarding workshop.
- Be able to a minimum of four design sessions and all decisions sessions.
- Get involved in telling people about the Spark Fund with us through communications and media channels.
What we are looking for
Young people aged 18 – 30 living in Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine or nearby countries with:
- An interest in youth-led change
- An understanding of social justice issues and the impact these have in your country or region.
- A willingness to work with other panellists, representing a broad spectrum of views and understandings of the way youth positively impact other children and young people and their communities.
- People with motivation to work independently between panel meetings.
We encourage applications from young people of all genders, including trans and non-binary young people. We particularly welcome applications from young people from communities that face inequality and injustice. Panellists will not be eligible to apply for, or directly benefit from, applications made to the Spark Fund.
How to apply
You will need to fill out a short application to be considered for the panel. In your application, we would like to know what youth-led change means to you. You can apply in writing or upload a short video – it is up to you. Apply here: The deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday 3rd October 2021. We will review applications and offer interviews to shortlisted candidates on a rolling basis. We are hosting an information session on Zoom for potential applicants on Wednesday 22nd September 2021 at 18:00 – 19:00 EEST / 19:00 – 20:00 AMT and GET. If you would like to attend this information session, please register by emailing us at [email protected]. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the role further, please email us at [email protected] or message through WhatsApp on +44 7391 123 672