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<h1 style="
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<p><img src="/uploads/53c7948e49ee3.jpg" style="width: 149px;"><br><span style="line-height: 1.5rem; background-color: initial;"><span style="font-family: monospace;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">By </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Olwethu Sizani</span></p><p><span style="font-family: monospace;">Olwethu Sizani currently works as Program Co-ordinator at the Technical Support and Dialogue Platform (TSDP) in Johannesburg, South Africa. TSDP is an organization that provides technical support (organizational development, strategy, program design and other) to organizations in the field of philanthropy and access to social justice for the poor. </span></p><p>Although I knew about YouthBank International and read through every issue of their monthly newsletter, I still wasn't sure of how they fitted in the bigger picture of youth philanthropy until the Chicago trip.</p><p>The trip revealed the power of scale when it comes to convincing people, the power of diversity when it comes to sharing experiences and demonstrating viability across country contexts; and the power of simplicity when such a simple concept holds such promise and potential. The YouthBank model is so simple that across the world, groups of young people who had never met before were able to translate it to mean the same thing and really capture its added value. This was demonstrated by each person from the six countries that formed the delegation team as they shared their stories of how the YouthBank impacts on them and their communities.</p><p>The Minneapolis visit, apart from allowing us to share our experiences among ourselves, also afforded us the opportunity to share with potential funders and the team from Youthprise. We shared about the impacts of the YouthBank model in our various communities. Emphasising how it’s not only communities that are changed but also the lives of the young people that participate.. What was powerful about our engagement with funders were the different voices from across the globe that sang the same song and how universal the YouthBank concept is.</p><p>However, YouthBanks need to grow exponentially across the globe but more especially in the African continent where youth constitute the majority of the populations on average, where inequality grows, unemployment is high and the extreme levels of poverty persist. For the model to grow, there are three questions decision makers should ask themselves:</p><ul>
<li>1.What is the change you would like to see in young people or what kind of young person do you want to see emerge as a result of the Youthbank experience?</li><li>2.What is your biggest fear when it comes to investing in young people? Do you fear their innovation, courage to take risks, their energy levels?</li><li>3.Lastly, how much are you willing to trust and step back? Trust that young people with some guidance are able to come up and follow through with innovative solutions for their communities, trust that they can make good financial decisions when it comes to managing the grant process for example; and trust that the process will empower young people to be the leaders of the future.</li></ul><p>Through YouthBank International we know that we face the same challenges across the globe, yes they might seem to weigh differently or come in different colours or perspectives but the essence is the same. Through this experience we are now connected to each other as resources and we can explore solutions. YouthBank International serves as a think tank that allows us to share, learn and work together in building this field.</p><p>Many of us would not have had the opportunity to attend the summit had it not been for YouthBank international, which played a vital role in facilitating the process.</p><p>The work of YouthBank international has however, just begun. More than ever the model is viewed as a viable and cost effective alternative to getting young people involved in the development of their communities, in the development of their own lives and future. YouthBank International is best positioned to "connect the dots" as we say, to convene and build bridges between YouthBanks in different countries and continents. This is critical as it is up to young people as leaders of today and tomorrow to address and solve the deep-seated and challenging problems we face in the world. The ‘YouthBank Way’ is to build leadership and grow the culture of giving of our young people; and if this is done at scale, will help to build a sense of hope for the future.</p>
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