This month, Amy spoke at a panel event hosted by the Environmental Funders Network, where participants explored the importance of centralising the voices of youth in the environmental sector. The panelists explored the importance of representation of young people from marginalised backgrounds, how funders can better support young organisers, and the need for funders to evaluate how they define risk, especially when it comes to supporting young leaders of organisations. Here’s what she had to say.
Only 0.76% of climate funding goes to youth-led organisations and movements. And yet, young people are the best placed to understand the needs and solutions to the climate crisis. We are disproportionally affected, and most at risk. And we hold the most energy, dynamism and empathy when it comes to creating a new world. We are better connected than any generation, and have a strong call for climate justice and equitable solutions, that needs to be embedded within all decision-making.
So here is what I think needs to change.
Funders need to re-consider their strategic priorities to fund youth-led movements. This means reconsidering their willingness to take risk. As I said during this panel, ‘I am an expert on how to inspire and empower young people to take climate action, but I do not have 10+ years in HR, finance, governance or accounting. Often, I find myself having to be something I am not just to convince funders that I am worth investing in.’ Young leaders should be trusted and funded to do what they are best at, not to waste half their time making strong financial forecasts or convincing funders that they know what they are doing. We often don’t have strong and tested organisational structure and processes, or Finance Managers, but we still get the job done and make disproportionate impact.
Application and reporting processes need to be made easier to navigate as a young person, especially from diverse backgrounds. Flexible reporting and applications, such as video formats, can often reflect our personalities and knowledge much better than a 10 page application form. When it comes to reporting and project funding, accepting that our dynamism and flexibility is part of our strength is critical. Funders should trust that we can make the best decisions as to how money can be spent, or how we can develop projects to have the most impact reactively over time.
Youth need to be paid for their insights, time and opinions if they are truly going to be valued. In order to make the environment sector more diverse, then we must be remunerating young people for their time. Funders need to pay amounts that reflect this and not expect us to rely on volunteer time. To invite us to speak on panels or join advisory councils pro bono is taking advantage of our expertise and passion. Looking back on my teenage climate activism, I am appalled by how much I gave and sacrificed to impart knowledge and ideas that were then incorporated into organisations who never paid for my time or travel. At the time, I didn’t mind because I wanted to do good, but looking back, the adults in the room should have recognised that I deserved to be valued not just through words.
We need more of the good stuff that some foundations are pioneering – youth boards and funds, open reporting, giving advice and not just money. Change is happening; it’s time to embrace it widely!
