Youth Solidarity Fund & Network

It's time to challenge the status quo.

In 2019, we visited Timor Leste. We spoke to young people in our programs and found that there was a huge gap in funding for small grassroots organisations in our region. Young people in the Asia Pacifc region have innovate ideas for sustainable development projects in their communities. However, a lack of funding for these small, sometimes unregistered movement who are full of energy is a barrier to creating a more just world. 

Today, our vision is to create a more sustainable environment where every young person has an equitable chance to reach their potential. For us, empowering young people is essential to bring about positive social change.  At Oaktree, we’re continually evolving to make sure young people across the Asia-Pacific region are at the centre of our work and are having a huge impact by leading change.  

Never before has there been so many young people wanting to create change in their communities. That’s why we’re supporting youth-led organisations across the Asia-Pacific region to lead change in their communities.  

Leading, demanding and creating a better world. 

Through the Oaktree Youth Solidarity Fund (OYSF), Oaktree now partners with youth-led organisations from across the Asia-Pacific who are working on incredible projects to address a concern they see in their community. This way we are able to support sustainable, locally-led development initiatives. 

The Oaktree Youth Solidarity Fund is founded on the principle of youth-youth solidarity, building a movement of youth-led organisations and young people across the Asia-Pacific region to create a more just world. At Oaktree, we recognise the unique circumstances and structural barriers many youth-led organisations experience.  That’s why we’ve worked hard to make sure the Oaktree Youth Solidarity Fund is as flexible and accessible as possible.

Rather than expecting youth organisations to change so that you can work with us, we want to meet youth organisations where they’re at, and transform the way Oaktree works so that we can better support you.

How does it work?

Each year our members are selected based on the project they would like to run. The members are given flexible grants to fund their initiatives, and are welcomed to the OYSF Network, to connect, engage, and share knowledge with other youth-led organisations in our region.

By creating a network of youth-youth solidarity, we are able to grow a movement of young people who are empowered to lead, demand, and create a better world.

In 2022, we launched the fund with 5 inaugral partners. However, we quickly realised this is much more than a fund; it is a network. This network of like minded youth organisation will meet throughout the year to share skill and support each other through a mutual aid process.