About the Global Fund
Following a successful five-year collaboration under the Global Fund for Education and Learning, the Alcatel-Lucent Foundation and the International Youth Foundation (IYF) entered into a new global partnership to further promote positive youth development through education and learning. The Global Fund for Youth Development (GFYD) is a three-year (2005–2007), US$2.8 million program which provides grants to strengthen and expand effective programs, global communications support, and institutional capacity building and networking.
The GFYD is being implemented in the following 15 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Spain and Venezuela. Of these countries, the projects in Argentina, Japan and Venezuela focus on scaling-up successful initiatives, which were awarded under the previous grant, the Global Fund for Education and Learning and which extend until 2007. In addition, India represents a new country in the Alcatel-Lucent Foundation and IYF collaboration.
The projects also offer many of the partners the opportunity to mobilize and raise awareness among government, businesses and communities of youth related issues; influence and/or broaden national discussions about the quality of education and the need for pre-career life skills and vocational training for young people; and generate visibility of the GFYD, with specific emphasis on its impact on youth and educators.
Supporting Local Programs
IYF manages the GFYD program among its network of partners in the 15 countries. Partners receive funds ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 (based on program size and geographic location) to strengthen and expand effective programs on leadership and life-skills, technology education, employment skills & entrepreneurship, education reform, training and supporting teachers, and alternative educational opportunities.
Additional project-strengthening opportunities are coordinated by IYF during the GFYD annual meeting, when partners share their experiences of education programs and learn about cutting-edge strategies.
For the first time in 2005, local Alcatel-Lucent representatives attended the annual meeting in Barcelona, and joined the non-profit partners from 13 countries and the Alcatel-Lucent Foundation and IYF representatives. The focus of the meeting was to enhance collaboration and synergy between the local Alcatel-Lucent offices and the IYF partner network under the Global Fund for Youth Development. This was an important step in strengthening relationships, discussing collaborative efforts, and sharing success stories. In addition to the various sessions, the participants painted a community center for children and young people in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Barcelona, and attended a reception hosted by a representative of the Prime Minister of the State of Catalunya to welcome the participants.
Enhancing Partnerships: Employee Engagement
The Alcatel-Lucent Foundation encourages and supports employee engagement, and as such, takes advantage of the opportunity that the GFYD offers to more fully engage its staff worldwide in volunteerism and philanthropic activities. All projects include opportunities for Alcatel-Lucent employees to contribute their time, skills, and knowledge to benefit youth and their local communities. Partners and the local Alcatel-Lucent representatives identified opportunities to engage Alcatel-Lucent employees in the activities of the project, and offer a menu of volunteer options. As part of these efforts, partners and local Alcatel-Lucent offices collaborate during the annual “Global Days of Caring”, which is the Alcatel-Lucent Foundation’s signature program focused on volunteerism.
To capture this experience, IYF developed a Field Notes issue entitled "Promoting Employee Engagement" which is available for download below.
Publications
Field Notes Series (PDF files)
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