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Events 5 Saved Events 0 Previous Events 13
Jun 12, 2025
Youth Leading Change: Responses and Recommendations for a Failing ‘Aid’ System

In this webinar, three young activists will discuss the strategies and responses of youth-led organizations to the current crises of the "aid" system, focusing on their strengths, lessons learned, and perspectives on the future of aid. They will share their lessons learned in advocating for youth’s rights, especially in recent months; key messages and recommendations for donors; and advice for other youth-led NGOs navigating the crises. 

This webinar is aimed at a general international "aid" audience interested in children's rights and youth-led organizations, including donors and funders, researchers, practitioners, graduate students, community-based and national NGOs, INGOs, and more.

Based on their experiences, three young leaders and activists will discuss:

  • Adaptation strategies by youth-led organizations facing funding cuts

  • Leveraging entrepreneurship as a tool to sustain youth-led initiatives and community empowerment in the face of funding gaps

  • Rise of anti-migrant and anti-refugee narratives, and the effects of displacement on youth-led organizations working with migrant, refugee, and host communities

  • Recommendations for international donors and funders on how to better support youth-led organizations

  • Suggestions to achieve the meaningful inclusion of youth-led organizations in decision-making processes

Attendees are encouraged to submit questions for the speakers in advance (in English or Spanish) to mara.luna@kuja.org.

This event is co-sponsored by the Collaborative on Global Children's Issues, Georgetown University and Global Fund for Children.

Speakers

 Krista Rivas Gutiérrez Global leader, Tertiary Refugee Student Network (TRSN)

Krista Rivas Gutierrez is a student of architecture and international relations, a DAFI scholarship recipient, and the Global Lead of the Tertiary Refugee Student Network (TRSN), where she works to strengthen youth leadership and advocate for policies that expand opportunities for displaced students. Her work focuses on amplifying the voices of displaced youth and ensuring that their stories, challenges, and contributions are recognized in global decision-making spaces. With a strong background in youth-led initiatives, Krista has actively promoted access to higher education, economic empowerment, and meaningful participation of young refugees and displaced persons. Krista has represented youth at high-level international forums. Through advocacy, public speaking, and media engagement, she helps reshape the narrative around displaced youth—not as victims, but as change-makers leading solutions in their communities.

Wardah Noor - Founder & CEO xWave Pakistan

Wardah Noor is a social entrepreneur and the founder of xWave Pakistan, an initiative that leverages technology to empower marginalized communities. Her work focuses on training underserved youth—especially women in rural areas—in employable IT and soft skills. Under her leadership, xWave has expanded across multiple regions, training over 300 students in technical skills and thousands more in essential workplace competencies. Recognized with the Prime Minister's Youth Excellence Award and honored by international platforms such as Giving Tuesday and the Global Fund for Children, Wardah’s commitment to inclusive digital education is transforming lives. She aims to train and place 10,000 students into the workforce, contributing meaningfully to Pakistan’s digital economy.

Kimberly Barrios - Vice-president Jóvenes Artistas por la Justicia Social (JAxJS), Guatemala

Kimberly is an internationalist, youth leader, and project manager with over five years of experience in volunteer work and political advocacy through citizen participation spaces. She is Vice President and co-founder of Jóvenes Artistas por la Justicia Social (JAxJS), a youth-led NGO, and a member of the UNFPA Youth Advisory Group. She also serves as a Young Peacebuilder with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC). Her work focuses on youth empowerment, leadership training, and network-building, with a strong emphasis on strategic partnerships to advance social justice and sustainable development goals.

Moderator: Mara Tissera Luna, KujaLearn Content Advisor.

Date and time: June 12, 2025

  • Mexico City, Mexico/Guatemala City – 10:00 AM
  • New York, USA – 12:00 PM
  • Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro – 13:00 
  • London, UK – 16:00
  • Geneva, Madrid 17:00
  • Cape Town, South Africa – 18:00
  • Nairobi, Kenya – 19:00
  • Islamabad, Pakistan: 21.00 
  • Delhi, India – 22:00

Duration: 1 hour and 15 minutes – Language: English and Spanish with live interpretation into both languages.


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Child Rights Philanthropy , Giving and Development Aid
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May 29, 2025
Funding on our terms: Rethinking donor-recipient relationships for sustainable impact

The recent webinar, Funding on Our Terms: Rethinking Donor-Recipient Relationships for Sustainable Impact, held on the 29th of May 2025, was led by the Zambian Governance Foundation (ZGF), and brought powerful insights into the urgent need to transform how development funding works.

In a global context where "shifting the power" is often discussed but rarely practiced meaningfully, ZGF’s CEO Engwase Banda Mwale and CLD/CSO Support Manager, Racheal Mwila made a compelling case for centering community leadership and autonomy. Their presentations challenged conventional donor-led funding models and shared how ZGF is actively dismantling these outdated structures.

What Needs to Change?

Racheal Mwila broke down the structural issues with traditional funding:

  • Short-term, donor-driven priorities that limit local innovation

  • Excessive administrative burdens on CSOs

  • Limited decision-making power for communities doing the actual work

Instead, ZGF is pioneering a new model grounded in community-led development and participatory grantmaking. Their three funds — the Catalyst Fund, Civil Society Strengthening Fund, and Community Resource Match Fund — emphasize trust, flexibility, and local ownership.

Shifting Power in Practice

Engwase Banda Mwale framed ZGF’s journey as a transformation in mindset, not just strategy. With over 400 CSO connections and growing alliances, ZGF asks bold questions like, What if communities made the call and funders responded?

Their "reverse call for proposals" flips the script, enabling communities to define priorities while ZGF acts as a responsive bridge-builder and trust creator. This model challenges the traditional role of intermediaries and invites donors to co-create rather than control.

Why This Matters

In the face of declining trust in institutions and growing inequality, the case for funding differently is not only moral — it's strategic. As Racheal emphasized, “We are not beneficiaries; we are philanthropists.” This powerful reframing invites communities to own their solutions, scale what works, and lead lasting change.

Watch the Recording

Missed the live session? You can watch the full event recording here.

Speakers: 

Engwase Banda Mwale, Chief Executive Officer of the Zambian Governance Foundation (ZGF), is a visionary leader with over 20 years of experience in senior management roles across the private and development sectors. A passionate advocate for women's empowerment, gender equality, good governance, and sustainable development, Engwase has a proven track record of driving transformative change and promoting inclusive growth. With her expertise in gender, leadership, and organizational development, she has been instrumental in shaping policies and programs that support marginalized communities and promote environmental sustainability. 



Racheal Mwila is a seasoned development practitioner and manager of community-led development and civil society organizations at ZGF, with over a decade of experience driving climate action. Her expertise spans climate change advocacy, sustainable development, and shifting power dynamics to empower local communities. Racheal has a proven track record of mobilizing stakeholders, developing climate-resilient projects, and promoting environmental stewardship. Her passion lies in fostering inclusive, community-driven solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change and ensure a sustainable future.



Shifting Power Sustainable Improvements
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