As 2024 draws to a close, we reflect on a year that has been transformative for youth-led change around the world.
Restless Development has continued its role in amplifying youth voices, ensuring that young people are not just participants, but leaders in shaping a more just, sustainable and equitable future. It is clear that young people are not waiting for change, they are driving it. Here are some major highlights from Restless Development from 2024!
2024: The Year of Youth Power Optimism!
Check out this blog by our Co-CEO Alex Kent celebrating 12 inspiring young leaders doing remarkable things across the globe.
Read HereYOUTH POWER SUMMIT
In September 2024, the Youth Power Summit, organised in collaboration with Fondation Botnar, stood as a defining moment for global youth advocacy. With 1.9 billion young people historically marginalised from decision-making spaces, this summit was a call to action. Young people from all corners of the world converged to challenge systemic barriers and advocate for genuine youth leadership in shaping global policies.
STATE OF YOUTH CIVIL SOCIETY REPORT
Restless Development explored the critical role of young people in driving change through the State of Youth Civil Society Report, titled “Resourcing Youth Power to Thrive”. This initiative was powered by a diverse team of young researchers, including LGBTQ+ advocates, gender equality activists, mental health champions and environmentalists from across the globe. These changemakers, such as Yemi Knight from Barbados, Zahra Al Hilaly from Australia and Haja Mariama Bangura from Sierra Leone, brought unique perspectives to the project.
YOUNG GAMECHANGERS FUND
The Young Gamechangers Fund has redefined youth empowerment by directly enabling young people aged 10-25 to lead and implement community-driven initiatives. The fund prioritises trust-based approaches, giving youth the agency to design and drive impactful solutions tailored to their communities’ needs. One standout initiative was Transilience, a powerful short film produced during Transgender Awareness Week that amplified the voices and experiences of transgender youth, sparking critical conversations about inclusion and equality.
SAFE PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT
In collaboration with World Health Organization, Restless Development launched the Safe Photography Project using visual storytelling to challenge harmful narratives around child protection and violence. The Safe Photography Project was showcased at the first-ever Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, held in Bogotá, Colombia, on November 7-8, 2024 where 12 young photographers got an opportunity to showcase their work. This brought youth-led photography into the global conversation about violence against children, shifting the narrative from victimhood to resilience and advocacy.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EXCHANGE SERIES
Restless Development and Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) convened a global series of thematic dialogues and learning events that brings together the Youth Collective Enterprise Network with private enterprise members of the CIPE network. These co-created sessions created a space to share experiences, identify challenges and generate solutions to ensure a thriving youth civil society of entrepreneurs.
AU-EU YOUTH VOICES LAB
In partnership with stakeholders across Africa and Europe, Restless Development launched the AU-EU Youth Voices Lab. The lab focuses on youth participation and inclusive policy-making, aiming to bridge the gap between African and European youth and create lasting impacts in areas of education, economic justice and climate resilience. It is implemented by an international consortium with youth-led and youth-informed work expertise, including Oxfam, Search for Common Ground, Youthmakers Hub and ComDev Africa.
WALKING THE TALK
Restless Development hosted “Walking the Talk: A UK Feminist Convention” in Birmingham, England. This event convened activists, policymakers and community leaders to discuss and promote the adoption of Feminist Foreign Policies (FFPs) and gender equality within the United Kingdom. As part of the broader “Walking the Talk” initiative, the convention aimed to integrate feminist values into foreign policy and Official Development Assistance (ODA), ensuring that the voices of women and LGBTIQ+ individuals from the Global South are represented in decision-making processes.
Be the role model. Let the people coming behind us see someone that looks, acts, is like them.
Molly Fenton
OPEN WELL REJUVENATION PROJECT, INDIA
In Bengaluru, India, the Open Well Rejuvenation Project showcased the tangible impact of youth-led climate initiatives. Beyond restoring the well, the initiative emphasised the role of collective action in addressing pressing water access challenges exacerbated by climate change. Restless Development India complemented this initiative by launching Climate Kaṭṭe, a podcast series that brought together leading voices in climate justice and youth engagement.
GREENSHIFT NEPAL
The Green Shift Nepal project set the stage for a just transition to a circular economy, integrating climate-smart schools and fostering youth advocacy groups. Implemented across nine municipalities in Bagmati, Madhesh and Lumbini provinces, the project integrates climate-smart education by establishing climate-smart schools and fostering youth advocacy groups. Within its first year, the project reached 57% of its four-year target, demonstrating the incredible potential of youth leadership in driving environmental sustainability.
YOUTH EXPO, UGANDA
The Youth Expo in Uganda served as an inspiring platform for young people to present innovative solutions to pressing community challenges. Among the standout presentations was Jamila Mayanja’s initiative, the Smart Girls Foundation which has been empowering girls through entrepreneurship training and creating unique solar-powered backpacks. These multifunctional backpacks not only charge phones but also include menstrual hygiene kits, addressing critical needs for young women in underserved areas.
YOUTH POWER DRIVING #ESA
The Youth Power Driving #ESA initiative by Restless Development Zimbabwe has been a transformative force in Eastern and Southern Africa, creating a vibrant network that champions adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Supported by the Hivos SRHR Development Fund, this initiative has mobilised young people across the region to engage in grassroots advocacy, drive social accountability and lead civic engagement efforts.
ULEMELERO LIVE WELL PROJECT, ZAMBIA
In Zambia, the Ulemelero Live Well Project has been a game-changer in empowering young women through financial inclusion. The initiative provided access to savings groups, financial literacy training and micro-loans, helping young people break free from poverty and build sustainable businesses. Beyond economic empowerment, Ulemelero integrated gender-transformative approaches to address harmful gender norms that hinder women’s financial inclusion.
WE LEAD SUMMIT, NAIROBI
In November 2024, the We Lead Summit convened in Nairobi, Kenya, uniting youth advocates, policymakers and activists to address the pressing issue of gender-based violence (GBV). With statistics indicating that one in three women globally experience violence, the summit underscored the necessity for a coordinated international response. A significant outcome of the summit was the establishment of Communities of Action (CoAs), grassroots and youth-led initiatives dedicated to combating GBV. Check out this blog on the We Lead Bootcamp held earlier this year!
DEMOCRACY MOVES: A YOUTH-LED MOVEMENT
In 2024, the Democracy Moves initiative, led by the Youth Collective Democracy Network, launched groundbreaking research on the global crisis of democratic erosion. Two significant research projects were launched:
- Civic Tech Tools and Youth Participation in Elections in Nigeria by Olasupo Abideen explored how technology can enhance youth engagement in electoral processes, with a specific focus on Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy.
- Challenges at the Intersection of Online Gender-Based Violence and Intersectional Youth Movements by Yasmina Benslimane highlighted the barriers young activists, particularly women and gender minorities, face in digital spaces, proposing innovative solutions to combat harassment, censorship and surveillance.
GLOBAL GIRLS CREATING CHANGE (G2C2)
Global Girls Creating Change (G2C2), operating across Brazil, Indonesia, Nepal and Uganda, made significant strides by empowering girls facing the dual challenges of climate change and gender inequality. G2C2 has provided technical training, STEM education and career skills to young girls, equipping them to take on leadership roles in climate action.
GLOBAL EDUCATION MONITORING REPORT, UNESCO
Restless Development, in collaboration with UNESCO, released a comprehensive report titled “Leadership In Education“, focusing on the role of technology in education from a youth perspective. The report, which involved consultations with over 1,500 young people across eight global regions, highlighted the urgent need for equitable and inclusive educational technologies that meet the diverse needs of youth, particularly those from marginalised communities.
POWER UP INITIATIVE, SIERRA LEONE
The Power Up Initiative in Sierra Leone represents a holistic approach to transforming girls’ education and empowerment. Funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), this initiative aims to improve the enrollment, retention and academic performance of young girls while providing the resources and support they need to succeed.
DHRP, UN WORLD DATA FORUM
In November 2024, the 5th UN World Data Forum in Medellín, Colombia, brought together over 3,000 global experts, including representatives from Restless Development and the Digital Health and Rights Project (DHRP). The forum explored how data can drive sustainable development, focusing on digital health, youth innovation and inclusive data practices.
SCHOOLS2030 GLOBAL FORUM, TANZANIA
Restless Development Tanzania made a strong impression at the Schools2030 Global Forum in Kyrgyzstan, showcasing the CO-CREATE project, which highlighted the role of teachers and civil society organisations in preparing youth for climate challenges. Ally Said Shambi, a teacher from Toangoma Secondary School, shared how environmental clubs empower students to take climate action.
KNIGHT FRANK SCHOOLS TRIATHLON
The Knight Frank Schools Triathlon is the largest sports fundraising event for children in the UK. Over 10,000 children aged 7-13 competed in teams of four, swimming, cycling and running together in a fun, supportive atmosphere. Participants raised around £1.2 million for Restless Development and over 100 other charities!
Restless Development celebrates a year of unprecedented impact that has been transformative for youth-led change around the world. We remain inspired by the vision, resilience and creativity of young people everywhere, and we know that their leadership will continue to shape the world for generations to come.
See you in 2025!
