The Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN)

Our 5th Annual #GOYNConvening2024 concluded last week with an incredible internal network day which allowed us to collectively reflect on 5 years of GOYN impact 🙌, share gratitude and felicitations 💕, and of course wrap up with more dance and celebration 🎉 Hard to believe that our Annual Convening is already behind us, but we’re filled with deep appreciation and gratitude for our partners, supporters, and above all the most amazing young people within the GOYN network who make us who we are! Huge thanks, again, to our co-hosts Lighthouse Communities Foundation and The Global Development Incubator and the warmth and welcome in #Pune for making our convening an unforgettable success! Please enjoy our final day of highlights 🎥✨ - see you next year! #GOYNConvening2024 #GlobalConvening #OpportunityYouth

When learning and joyful celebration come together, magic can happen ✨🌟 Day 3 of our 5th Annual #GOYNConvening2024 was nothing short of that! 🌍📚This content-rich day featured discussions ranging from #greenjobs to building sustainable collaboratives, and provided participants with experiential deep dives through masterclasses in #storytelling for narrative change, #AI, Positive Youth Development, and structuring results-based financing mechanisms for #youthemployment! And no #GOYNConvening day would be complete without cultural celebrations and dancing to keep us energized throughout the day! 🕺💃 Huge thanks to all the experts contributing their insights, including from our partners Accenture, Accenture in India, Catholic Relief Services, and co-hosts The Global Development Incubator and Lighthouse Communities Foundation! #PYD #SocialImpact #GOYNConvening2024 #globalconvening2024 #OpportunityYouth

At the heart of everything we do are the communities we work with ❤️ Day 2 of 5th Annual #GOYNConvening2024 was truly special as we spent the morning connecting with local Lighthouse Communities and GOYN site visits across #Pune, meeting young leaders, and witnessing firsthand the transformative work of GOYN on the ground. We came back together for an afternoon of engaging discussions, including musical talents, a powerful panel of youth voices moderated by Amelia E. Thompson from Catholic Relief Services and regional networking groups which built strong bridges between our GOYN communities in #India, #Africa, and #LatAm. The night closed out with GOYN’s signature Youth Party! 🎉 🎊 Here’s a glimpse into these incredible moments. A big thank you to our co-hosts Lighthouse Communities Foundation and The Global Development Incubator for being with us in this journey and sharing your vision. Together, we’re building brighter futures for Opportunity Youth worldwide. 🌍 #GOYNConvening2024 #globalconvening2024 #OpportunityYouth

Our 5th Annual GOYN Convening co-hosted with Lighthouse Communities Foundation and The Global Development Incubator kicked off with a rich and vibrant DAY 1 of thought-provoking plenary discussions, keynotes, and break-out sessions! 🙌✨ We were honored to be joined by john powell, Director of the Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley for an inspiring #keynote on the power of belonging without othering 🌟 Huge thanks and appreciation to amazing contributions from Lata Reddy and Sarah Keh from Prudential Financial, Zur Oren from Fondation Botnar, our GOYN Anchor Partners in India Transform Rural India and Head Held High Foundation, and an amazing array of representatives from GOYN global partners! Check out the Day 1 highlight video and stay tuned for updates from Day 2! #GOYNConvening2024 #globalconvening2024 #OpportunityYouth

Excitement is in the air as we officially kicked off the 5th Annual Global GOYN Convening hosted in partnership with Lighthouse Communities Foundation and The Global Development Incubator in #Pune, #India. With the theme,"Transforming Youth livelihoods; Pathways to full potential", this week we're not just talking about the future - we're shaping it. 🙌 Sharing a sneak peak of the highlights from the inauguration event, a celebration of young people across India and youth representation from nine countries in the GOYN network, and keynote speech by US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti! The energy was electric and we're keeping it up as we dive into transformative conversations and partnerships this week. Stay tuned for more updates!✨ #GOYNConvening2024 #globalconvening2024 #OpportunityYouth

We’re excited to celebrate Prudential Financial, our partner in building a more inclusive economy. Prudential just fulfilled its $180 million global commitment to supporting #OpportunityYouth - young people aged 15-29 who are not connected to school, training, or formal employment due to systemic barriers. This transformative investment has expanded from the U.S. to a global scale through the launch of The Aspen Institute's The Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN), which currently reaches 15 communities across eight countries that are home to more than 4 million Opportunity Youth. Together, Prudential and Aspen Institute’s fast-growing GOYN are opening pathways for young people to access training, financial tools, and guidance to realize their economic potential and build stable, prosperous lives. https://lnkd.in/d6ZjRqmF

We're in the final stretch before the GOYN Global Convening 2024, hosted in Pune, India, and we cannot wait! 🙌 Good news: there's still time for YOU to join us live and learn all about the work GOYN and its partners are doing to advance youth economic opportunity globally. Just register for virtual plenaries here: https://lnkd.in/emcMSScA In the meantime, learn more about the wonderful city of Pune in this video tour led by one of the incredible members of GOYN's Youth Advisory Groups. Thank you for bringing us closer to the vibrant heart of Pune, showcasing the culture and energy that make this city such a perfect host for our gathering! 💫 #GOYNConvening2024 #GOYN2024 #Pune #OpportunityYouth Lighthouse Communities Foundation | The Global Development Incubator | The Aspen Institute

GOYN is proud to partner with Prudential Financial to amplify the potential of Opportunity Youth worldwide! As a seed funder of GOYN back in 2018, Prudential has helped lay the foundation for GOYN’s impact, empowering youth-led, locally-driven solutions that connect Opportunity Youth globally to economic pathways. Together, we’re working to build a future of economic opportunity, financial inclusion, and stability for all, with young people at the heart of every step. Thank you #Prudential for your proven commitment to Opportunity Youth and for the powerful precedents you are setting for the private sector! Thank you for the #GOYN feature and collaboration! Kerry Houston Hess Sarah Keh Lata Reddy

The recent Training of Trainers (TOT) on Equity Leadership in Ramgarh, Jharkhand, was a big step forward for the Ramgarh Youth Advisory Group (YAG). This program aims to prepare young people to make a real difference in their communities. By focusing on Community Leadership, Personal Leadership, and Equity Leadership, it helps young leaders gain the skills they need to advocate for fairness and inclusivity. In a diverse society like ours, it’s important for young people to take action against inequality and lead change. This training boosts their ability to inspire others and address the challenges faced by marginalized groups. By supporting these young leaders, we’re investing in a future where opportunity, and growth are available to everyone. The #GOYNRamgarh team is excited to share the success of this TOT on Equity Leadership in Ramgarh, Jharkhand. The training provided community leaders with practical tools for inclusive leadership. Key topics included Community Asset Mapping, identifying the needs and values of the community, Community Leadership, and understanding the differences between reality, equality, equity, and justice. Participants also learned strategies for Equity Leadership and left with personal action plans to bring positive change to their communities. The Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN) Transform Rural India Global Nomads Group Shivansh Vikram Ankita Sen Kaushik Samanto Abhishek Singh Joel Miranda Sameer Shaikh #LeadershipDevelopment #CommunityEmpowerment #EquityLeadership #TRIF #GOYN

🎉 Exciting news! We're thrilled to announce the recent launch of #GOYN Rio de Janeiro, locally operating as Decola Cria in Brazil! This incredible initiative kicked off with three dynamic events, bringing together 30+ partner organizations, 100+ youth representatives, distinguished public servants, the GOYN Global team, and our Anchor Partner in Rio Cedaps - Centro de Promoção da Saúde. During the events, the GOYN Rio team debuted their innovative Collaborative Map, which showcases the geographic reach of partner organizations across the city. This map highlights where partners are most active and will serve as a key tool for expanding the initiative’s impact. Check it out here: https://shorturl.at/80xIG We also introduced the Youth Advisory Group (YAG), which collaborated with Fundação Roberto Marinho and UNICEF to developed a survey capturing the needs and priorities of Rio’s young people. Over 1,000 youth participated, and the results were presented to 11 candidates running in the city’s legislative elections. The YAG also helped create the "Political Training for Youth Leaders" course, which promotes youth participation in democracy ahead of Brazil's upcoming municipal elections. Learn more about the course here: https://lnkd.in/dQJgAZY4 A huge thank you to UNICEF, Fundação Roberto Marinho, Firjan, Instituto Coca-Cola Brasil, and Rio de Janeiro’s Youth Department for their essential partnership and support in launching GOYN Rio. GOYN Rio is breaking down barriers to quality jobs, education, healthcare, safety, and mobility by empowering youth to co-create solutions alongside local partners. Congratulations to coordinator Melissa Abla and the whole team on a fantastic introduction to the work! We’re excited for what lies ahead and can’t wait to see this community continue to thrive. 🇧🇷 #RioDeJaneiro #DecolaCria #Brazil #Jovens #GOYN #Cedaps