From learning to
sustainable action.
The Community Impact Fund is the continuation and sustainability pillar of the Global Youth Action Fellowship. It empowers eligible fellows – those who have completed the fellowship and all requirements – to turn their proven pilots into lasting community solutions.
Message from the President
Helen F. Alabi, B.Sc, M.Sc
“Thank you so much for this honour and for the confidence placed in me to serve as President – Fellow Community & Impact Lead. I receive this appointment with deep gratitude and, most importantly, with a strong sense of responsibility. Leadership, to me, is not merely a position or a title; it is an opportunity to serve, listen, build bridges, and create meaningful impact.
I pledge my commitment to serving the GYAF Fellowship community with integrity, humility, accountability, and dedication. I am particularly excited about the responsibility of leading the Community Impact Fund and helping transform the ideas and passion of our fellows into tangible projects that positively impact communities.
I believe that when we mobilise our collective skills, networks, resources, and commitment to service, we can achieve far more together. I look forward to working closely with the GYAF team, fellow leaders, partners, and every fellow to build a community where promising ideas are supported and real impact is created.
I accept this responsibility with a heart ready to serve, and I pledge my allegiance to the values of leadership, service, collaboration, and impact. Thank you once again for this opportunity. I am ready to serve, and together, we will build a better tomorrow.”
From fellowship to sustainable impact.
The Community Impact Fund is the natural continuation of the Global Youth Action Fellowship journey – designed for fellows who have completed the program and are ready to implement at scale.
1. Complete the Fellowship
Only fellows who have successfully completed all GYAF requirements are eligible to apply.
2. Submit a Piloted Project
Fellows submit their community‑tested projects with evidence of impact and a budget.
3. Elected Fellow Committee
Applications are reviewed by a committee of elected fellows, guided by expert advisors, ensuring peer-led accountability.
4. Fund & Implement
Selected projects receive catalytic capital and expert support to scale their community solutions.
A sustainability pillar for lasting change.
The Global Youth Action Fellowship equips young leaders with skills, networks, and project designs. But implementation requires capital. The Community Impact Fund fills that gap – ensuring that promising fellows don't stop at the pilot phase.
Only GYAF fellows who have completed the full fellowship and all requirements are eligible to apply. This ensures that funded projects are built on a solid foundation of learning, community engagement, and evidence.
The fund is led by elected fellows who review applications and make funding decisions, guided by expert advisors from the GYAF ecosystem. This peer-led model builds trust, accountability, and ownership among the fellow community.
Eligibility & requirements.
- Completed the full GYAF fellowship (including Pre‑Fellowship and the six‑week Fellowship) and all associated requirements.
- Developed and piloted a community project — with documented evidence of implementation and early outcomes.
- Submitted a detailed project proposal including objectives, activities, budget, and implementation plan.
- Demonstrated community engagement and evidence of local ownership.
- Commitment to reporting on progress, challenges, and outcomes.
Led by fellows, guided by experts.
The Community Impact Fund is not a top‑down grant program. It is a fellow‑led initiative where elected fellows sit on the review committee, bringing lived experience and peer perspective to the selection process.
They are supported by expert advisors – including GYAF facilitators, partner organizations, and sector specialists — who provide technical guidance and ensure alignment with best practices in project implementation.
This governance model ensures that funding decisions are transparent, accountable, and rooted in community reality – while maintaining the high standards expected by investors and partners.
Meet the Leadership Team
Elected fellows driving the Community Impact Fund — committed to turning ideas into lasting community solutions.
Helen F. Alabi
President – Fellow Community & Impact Lead
B.Sc, M.Sc – A visionary Tech Educator and Digital Skills Trainer with over 6 years of experience across NGO, development, and corporate sectors. Helen has empowered 200+ youths with job-ready digital competencies in graphics, video editing, animation, and web creation, directly enhancing their employability and economic independence. As a passionate menstrual hygiene advocate, she advances sustainable solutions to period poverty through education and access to reusable sanitary pads, promoting girls’ education and dignity. Her dual expertise in content strategy and program coordination ensures that the Community Impact Fund translates fellow ideas into measurable, sustainable community outcomes with transparency and accountability.
Vanessa Lucie ADA ZO'O
Vice President – Partnerships & Community Impact
An accomplished Industrial Engineer and Project Manager with 4+ years of experience coordinating multi‑donor community projects, including two EUR 20,000+ initiatives funded by PDTIE/IFDD. Vanessa co‑authored a scientific publication in IJPRT (2025) and secured an OAPI patent for an autonomous plastering machine, demonstrating her capacity for innovation and technical leadership. She founded STEM Her Future, a project that empowers women and youth through STEM education, mentorship, and career guidance. Her rigorous approach to project management, donor reporting, and sustainable development makes her an invaluable asset in building strategic partnerships and ensuring that the fund’s resources are deployed effectively for maximum community benefit.
Katie Khethiwe Mtambo
Innovation, Advocacy & Engagement Lead
Holding a Diploma in Community Development from the University of Malawi, Katie serves as Chief Flight Operations Manager at MicroMek, where she leads drone‑based medicine delivery to hard‑to‑reach communities, improving healthcare access for children and pregnant women. As a STEM Education Project Manager, she designs hands‑on programs in drones, Arduino, and electronics, with a strong focus on encouraging girls to pursue STEM careers. Through her initiative STEM Queens, she creates inclusive spaces for digital literacy and leadership development. Katie is also expanding her expertise in cybersecurity (VAPT), bringing a forward‑looking technological perspective to the fund’s advocacy and innovation efforts.
Nneze Nnenna Ezeonwuka
Fellow Mobilization & Cohort Development Lead
A final‑year Student Nurse and wellness entrepreneur with a background in Health Science (UoPeople) and Biotechnology (ESUT), Nneze brings a unique blend of clinical insight and entrepreneurial drive to the Community Impact Fund. She leads the Community Mental Health Awareness and Education Initiative, where she has successfully conducted needs assessments and transitioned planning into active outreach, directly impacting community well‑being. Her ability to connect with diverse communities and her passion for empowering young people make her ideally suited to mobilize fellows and foster a strong, engaged cohort. She is dedicated to creating inclusive spaces where every fellow can contribute, learn, and lead, ensuring that the fellowship community thrives and drives collective impact.
Nicole Harriet
Resource Mobilization & Fundraising Lead
A passionate Youth Advocate and Human Rights Champion with a B.Sc. in Biotechnology, Nicole serves as an Ambassador for Light for the Sickle Cell Foundation and Welfare Manager at Unfold Joy Organization, where she drives mental health awareness and youth empowerment initiatives. Her experience in stakeholder engagement and her strategic approach to advocacy make her a natural fit for resource mobilization and fundraising. Nicole's dedication to building partnerships and her practical understanding of community needs enable her to attract and deploy resources effectively, ensuring that the fund's projects have the support they need to succeed.
Why partner with the Community Impact Fund?
Your investment sustains a pipeline of youth‑led solutions – from fellowship to implementation – while delivering measurable brand and ESG value.
Global Brand Visibility
Your logo and name featured on our website, reports, and events – reaching a global audience of young leaders, institutions, and media.
ESG & CSR Alignment
Directly support SDG-aligned community projects (SDG 3, 4, 5, 13, etc.) and demonstrate measurable social impact to your stakeholders.
Talent & Leadership Pipeline
Engage with passionate young leaders who are driving change. Build connections that can become future employees, advocates, and partners.
Impact Reporting
Receive detailed reports on the projects you support – including stories, outcomes, and financial accountability – to share with your board and stakeholders.
Community Engagement
Connect directly with fellows and communities – host workshops, provide mentorship, and see your investment at work.
Media & Recognition
Featured in our annual impact report, press releases, and social media – showcasing your commitment to youth‑led community change.
Partnership packages.
Choose the level that fits your organization's goals and make a meaningful contribution to fellow-led community solutions.
Community Supporter
- Logo on website
- Name in impact report
- Social media acknowledgment
- Quarterly project updates
Impact Partner
- Logo on website + reports
- Featured project story
- Direct engagement with fellows
- Annual impact report recognition
- Mentorship opportunities
Strategic Partner
- Co-branding on select projects
- Media exposure
- Board/steering committee invitation
- VIP access to events
- Custom impact reporting
Lead Partner
- Lead branding on all materials
- Exclusive project naming rights
- Keynote opportunities
- Multi-year engagement
- Full case study development
Custom packages available. Contact us to discuss your specific goals.
Ready to take your project further?
Submission does not guarantee funding. Selection depends on available resources, project quality, evidence, and community need.
See where the fund is going.
Funded projects that are making a difference – and where your support can help.
The first funded projects will appear here soon.
We are currently reviewing applications and mobilizing capital. Your partnership can help launch the first wave of projects.
Partner with the Fund →Fund impact dashboard
Live metrics as the fund grows – we publish data to ensure transparency and build trust.
Why invest in fellow-led solutions?
Investors and partners are not simply funding an idea. They are supporting a pipeline that begins with structured learning, empowerment, community problem identification, project development, piloting, evidence – and culminates in catalytic funding for implementation.
This reduces the distance between training and impact. Your capital accelerates solutions that are already proven at a small scale, increasing the likelihood of success and ensuring that investment translates directly into community benefit.
Fund the next community solution.
$400 can help a fellow move a promising pilot toward continued implementation. Your contribution directly funds a project that is already tested and ready to grow.
Become a Community Impact Fund partner.
Partnership options include funding partner, co‑investment partner, implementation partner, technical partner, corporate partner, knowledge partner, and opportunity partner. Choose the level that fits your organization's goals and values.
Connect us to capital.
Share grant opportunities, competitions, accelerators, investors, corporate funding, foundations, or partnerships that could support fellow-led projects.
Learning funds action.
Continue your learning journey through TrueCourse, and stay connected to the Global Youth Action Fellowship ecosystem — where leadership development and implementation go hand in hand.
Accountability & reporting.
Funded fellows are expected to document:
- Activities and outputs
- Challenges and adaptations
- Lessons learned
- Outcomes and impact
- Financial use (where required)
- Photographs and evidence
As the fund grows, we will publish annual fund reports, project reports, capital mobilization updates, and implementation updates to ensure transparency and donor confidence. Your investment is tracked and reported.
Frequently asked questions.
What is the Community Impact Fund?
It is a catalytic capital mechanism and the sustainability pillar of the Global Youth Action Fellowship. It provides funding to eligible fellows who have completed the fellowship and want to scale their piloted community solutions.
Who can apply?
Only GYAF fellows who have completed the full fellowship and all requirements are eligible to apply.
How much funding is available?
Indicative support starts from approximately $400+, depending on project scope, geography, and available resources.
Does completing GYAF guarantee funding?
No. Submission does not guarantee funding. Selection depends on project quality, evidence, community need, and available resources.
Does every project need to have already piloted?
Yes, pilot evidence is required to demonstrate that the idea has been tested and has potential for further implementation.
How are projects selected?
A committee of elected fellows, guided by expert advisors, reviews applications against criteria such as community relevance, feasibility, evidence, innovation, youth leadership, implementation readiness, potential impact, sustainability, and budget realism.
Can organizations partner with the fund?
Yes. We offer multiple partnership types, including funding, technical, implementation, corporate, and knowledge partnerships.
Can I donate?
Yes, through the donation button on this page. Payment infrastructure is being integrated.
Can I connect GYAF to an investor or grant opportunity?
Yes. Use the "Connect Us to Capital" form to submit opportunities.
Can I contribute in-kind?
Yes. Please contact us via the partner form or email.
Where does the money go?
Funds are disbursed directly to selected fellow-led projects to support implementation activities as defined in their budgets and proposals.
A fellow has an idea.
A community needs it to succeed.
The Community Impact Fund turns fellowship learning into lasting community action. Partner with us to sustain this pipeline of youth-led change.