How We Support Youth-Led Innovation
TYCL International helps young people turn ideas into action through small grants and accompaniment. We support youth-led innovation rooted in local context, lived experience, and community priorities.
One Approach. Many Local Solutions.
TYCL supports youth-led innovation in one focused way. We provide small, flexible grants and walk alongside young people as they design and lead solutions that respond to the realities of their own communities.
We do not run predefined programs or impose outcomes. Youth decide what change looks like. TYCL provides trust, resources, and connection.
Youth Mental Health Programs in the U.S.
In New York, Pennsylvania, and beyond, TYCL co-designs Creative Arts for Positive Mental Health programs with youth and local partners.
Together we create joyful, trauma-informed spaces where young people can express themselves, build coping skills, and support each other.
Youth Innovation Grants in the Global South
Outside the U.S., TYCL acts as a small but mighty grant-maker, providing flexible funding and accompaniment to youth-led organizations in the Global South.
Local teams design and run their own projects, from mental health campaigns to public interest technology, privacy, data governance, and policy solutions rooted in lived experience.
Creative Arts for Positive Mental Health
What We Offer
Our U.S. programs create supportive environments where youth feel seen and valued. Through art, storytelling, music, and group activities, young people explore emotions, learn coping strategies, and build peer connections.
Who We Serve
Young people ages 12 to 24 in schools, community centers, after school programs, and youth serving organizations in New York, Pennsylvania, and beyond.
The Impact
Youth participants report increased confidence, emotional resilience, and a sense of belonging. Teachers, parents, and mental health partners see better communication, stronger peer support, and healthier coping strategies.
TYCL’s model creates safe spaces that young people genuinely enjoy returning to.
Supporting Youth Who Are Building Solutions for Their Communities
How the Grants Work
TYCL offers small but meaningful grants for youth-led organizations and grassroots teams who want to create change in their own communities. Grants are paired with mentorship, capacity building, and global visibility.
Who Qualifies
Stories of Innovation
Youth storytellers use art and digital media to promote peace and protect indigenous cultures.
Young leaders strengthen child protection systems, build youth clubs, and create community awareness campaigns.
Youth groups design digital safety programs and arts based mental health workshops that support vulnerable teens.
These projects are small in cost but huge in impact. Each grant helps young changemakers step into their power and serve their communities with confidence.
Launch Your Youth Led Project With TYCL
This dedicated section of the page is designed for young leaders who are ready to act. TYCL makes it simple for youth to access funding, guidance, and support for community driven ideas.
Young people between the ages of 15 and 30
Youth led organizations and informal groups
Global Majority Counties except north america and europe
Groups committed to inclusion, safety, and youth participation"
Projects focused on mental health, youth rights, digital justice, environmental action, or community wellbeing
Clear community need
Youth leadership at all levels
Creative and culturally grounded approaches
lived experience with realistic goal
Strong potential for local impact
A commitment to equity, safety, and participation
Ready to stand with youth leaders?
Whether you bring lived experience, professional expertise, or financial resources, there is a place for you in this community. Join our board, make a gift, or volunteer your time to help young people build the futures they deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Young people and partners often ask how TYCL programs and grants work. Here are some of the most common questions with clear, simple answers. For more information, you can visit the full FAQ page.
No. Youth teams, informal groups, and early-stage collectives are welcome.
Ideas defined by youth that respond to community priorities, including wellbeing, creativity, digital safety, environmental action, and local advocacy.
Most grants are small and flexible. Amounts vary by context and need.
We look for youth leadership, clear community need, creativity, and local relevance.
No. Applying for a TYCL grant is free.
Yes. Adults may support youth as allies, mentors, or partners, while youth remain in leadership roles.
