ABOUT THE YOUNG SOCIAL PIONEERS PROGRAM


Young Social Pioneers (YSP)

Young Social Pioneers invests in inspired young Australians to develop their leadership skills and support their vision for social change.

As a Young Social Pioneer:

  • You will receive 12 months of professional training, mentoring, networking opportunities and skills building
  • You will become part of a dynamic community of like-minded individuals who learn from and inspire each other
  • You will become part of a recognised and influential force of young leaders of social change

YSP began in 2009 and now has 60 Pioneers and alumni who, together, directly impact over 75,000 people. In 2013 FYA is searching for another 18 young social change makers to join them.

After the completion of their 12-month journey, YSP alumni continue to receive support from the networks they create, and in turn continue to support the program as mentors, workshop facilitators and advisory board members.

International Youth Foundation (IYF)

Young Social Pioneers is based on the International Youth Foundation‘s global initiative YouthActionNet (YAN). Founded in 1990, IYF builds and maintains a worldwide community of business, governments, and civil society organisations committed to empowering youth to be healthy, productive, and engaged citizens. Established within individual countries, YAN institutes select young people to participate in intensive learning programs. Each country institute’s goal is to develop the already existing skills and capacities of young people who are not just talking ideas but implementing them. Each country institute is deeply rooted in the context where it operates. There are currently institutes in Mexico, Brazil, Jordan, Israel, Spain and Australia, with additional institutes planned for the future.

Foundation for Young Australians

In Australia that institute is the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA), a national, independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to unleashing the brilliance of young Australians. FYA is relentlessly optimistic about all young people and their ability to be enterprising. We believe that they have the courage, imagination and will to create the change they want to see for themselves and their world.  We want to see generations of future focused learners, enterprising changemakers and confident global citizens.

The program

Young Social Pioneers is a rigorous learning program where participants are held accountable for the development of their skills, networks and projects.

The learning program is a 12-month journey that consists of two parts: the individual work of each Pioneer and the journey of the group.

The program begins with a five-day live-in retreat. This is followed by a series of skills and capabilities workshops around leadership, communication, branding, media training, business planning, financial acumen, evaluation and resilience. The workshops are held every three months around the country.

Throughout the year participants continue to connect, network and build personal, organisational and community pathways.