Spark Fund Fellowship Program for Vietnamese Youth

The SEA Spark Fund Fellowship Program is a part of Southeast Asia Spark Fund initiatives. This transformative two-year program aims to provide resources and flexibility to young individuals who are deeply passionate about addressing climate change and environmental issues in Vietnam.

What is the Southeast Asia (SEA) Spark Fund? 

• The SEA Spark Fund is a participatory grantmaking initiative that supports youth-led climate action across Southeast Asia. This innovative fund puts key decisions in the hands of youth and provides young leaders with flexible funding and capacity development.
• In 2023, GFC launched the first round of SEA Spark Fund in Thailand. A youth panel comprising of 15 changemakers from Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand led the funds design and implementation. Using a multilingual technology platform to facilitate decision-making, the panelists selected a cohort of 6 youth-led initiatives across Thailand. These initiatives were awarded grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 towards community-level climate resilience and adaptation.
• This year, they are excited to launch the first ever Spark Fund fellowship program for individuals in Vietnam. The youth panel will select 10 individuals in Vietnam to take part in this two-year initiative.
• English is not a mandatory requirement for participation in this fellowship program. The program will primarily be conducted in Vietnamese, with occasional sessions conducted in English or Thai, facilitated by multilingual translation services.

What does the SEA Spark Fund Fellowship offer?

• A stipend of up to $8000 per fellow per year for two years. This will be a living stipend to support the individuals’ changemaking efforts. This may include, but is not mandatory or exclusive to:
  • Personal living allowances.
  • Personal or leadership development costs.
  • Travel for learning and networking.
• Support from GFC towards the individuals’ goals and sustainability of their climate actions.
• Networking opportunities with the Spark Fund partners and youth panelists in Southeast Asia through digital technologies as well as face-to-face convenings.
• Tailored capacity-building sessions focusing on individual leadership and participatory approaches.
• A professional mentor to nurture personal growth and program development.

Who can apply?

• Vietnamese citizens aged 18-35, residing in Vietnam.
• Individuals who have demonstrable leadership experience in tackling climate change and environmental issues in Vietnam.
• Passionate individuals committed to driving meaningful change in Vietnam’s climate landscape.
• Willingness to fully engage in the fellowship program from June 2024 to June 2026.
• In addition to meeting the criteria above, SEA Spark Fund will prioritize applications from individuals that:
  • Reside in rural areas.
  • Belong to low-income communities.
  • Belong to historically and socially marginalized groups.
• They welcome applicants who have experience in addressing climate issues and social issues such as gender, public health, and migration. Regardless of background or profession, all are encouraged to apply for this program.

For more information, visit Global Fund for Children (GFC).