Good360 Australia’s Post

🌐💡 For people in low-income communities, being connected to the internet is not just a luxury, it’s a lifeline. With programs like ACP, we can help bridge the digital divide and create access to essential opportunities. Here’s why internet access matters: 📚 Education: The internet is a gateway to online courses, virtual classrooms, and essential learning tools. ACP helps make this possible by providing affordable internet, giving students the chance to learn and succeed, no matter their financial background. 💼 Employment: The internet connects individuals to job opportunities, applications, and remote work. ACP ensures that low-income families aren’t left behind in the digital job market, allowing them to build skills and access employment that can lift them out of poverty. 🏥 Healthcare: Telemedicine and online health services are crucial, especially in underserved communities. ACP supports access to healthcare resources and services that many would otherwise struggle to reach, helping to improve overall health outcomes. 🤝 Social Connection: The internet bridges distances, helping families stay connected, especially when in-person visits aren’t possible. It reduces social isolation and creates spaces for communities to come together, share experiences, and offer support. 💳 Financial Services: From online banking to bill payments, the internet provides access to financial services that help people manage their money and work towards financial independence. ACP makes these services accessible to those who need them most. 🌍✨ In today’s world, being connected is essential for success and equality. The Affordable Connectivity Program is a step towards ensuring that every individual, regardless of income, has the tools they need to thrive. Access to the internet is not just a service, it’s a fundamental right. Everyone deserves a chance to connect, learn, and succeed. #Emerios #FundACP #DontDisconnectUS #SaveACP #DigitalDivide #DigitalBridge

Hey connect!! I recently got an opportunity to record my view on "What Human Quality Do we need more of and why?!" Thank you ICT Academy Youth Talk for this platform. My View: In a world beset by challenges like climate change, social injustice, and rising sexual violence, the most crucial quality we need is responsibility. This goes beyond fulfilling duties; it's about owning our actions, recognizing their impact, and actively contributing to a better future. Whether it's standing up against injustice, protecting our environment, or promoting public health, responsibility is the foundation of a just, sustainable, and safe world for all. Let us commit to being responsible citizens and work together to bring about positive change. #responsibility #ict #youthtalk #humanquality #Awareness #mba

To ensure that no one is left behind in access to quality education and teacher training, several strategies can be implemented: 1. **Equitable Funding**: Allocate resources to underfunded schools and communities to provide necessary infrastructure and materials. 2. **Inclusive Policies**: Develop policies that prioritize marginalized groups, including those with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and economically disadvantaged students. 3. **Access to Technology**: Provide affordable technology and internet access, especially in remote or underserved areas, to facilitate online learning and resources. 4. **Teacher Training and Support**: Invest in professional development programs that focus on inclusive teaching practices and cultural competency. 5. **Community Engagement**: Involve parents and communities in the education process to better address local needs and promote accountability. 6. **Flexible Learning Options**: Offer diverse learning formats, including vocational training, online courses, and evening classes to accommodate different schedules and learning styles. 7. **Monitoring and Evaluation**: Establish systems to track progress and identify gaps in access and quality, allowing for data-driven adjustments to programs. 8. **Partnerships**: Collaborate with NGOs, businesses, and higher education institutions to enhance resources, expertise, and opportunities for students and teachers. 9. **Mental Health Support**: Integrate mental health services into schools to support students' overall well-being, which is critical for effective learning. 10. **Advocacy and Awareness**: Promote awareness about the importance of equitable education and mobilize support for initiatives aimed at closing gaps. Implementing these strategies can help create a more inclusive and equitable education system, ensuring that all individuals have access to quality learning opportunities. #moulding4workclass2024 #moulding4workchallange2024 #moulding4work #Globalyouthforum #GYFJobSeekers2024 #Globalgoals #EmploymentOpportunities María Barragán Ortiz, M.Ed., M.A. Issa M. Yaya Ventrick Khayasi Omondi Peter Patrick Dennis Ashdown Onyango Keith Hooper General David H. Petraeus, US Army (Ret.) Paul Mwangi Alfonce Micah Yano

Funding for Youth-Led Initiatives: A Call for Transparency and Accessibility   How is funding for youth-led initiatives distributed? What policies dictate this distribution? How can we influence these policies to ensure that funding is accessible to all deserving youth initiatives? These are crucial questions we must answer to ensure the sustainability of youth-led initiatives. Here's why: 1. Transparency in Funding Distribution: Understanding the distribution of funding is vital. Currently, there are gaps in how funds reach youth-led projects. Transparency in this process can help identify and bridge these gaps, ensuring that resources are allocated fairly and effectively. 2. Policy Awareness and Influence: The policies dictating funding distribution can often be complex and inaccessible to many young leaders. By raising awareness about these policies, we can empower youth to navigate and influence them. This involves understanding the criteria for funding, the application processes, and the decision-making frameworks. 3. Ensuring Accessibility: Accessibility to funding is a major barrier for many youth-led initiatives. We need to advocate for policies that prioritize inclusivity and remove barriers to entry. This includes simplifying application processes, providing support for proposal development, and ensuring equitable distribution of resources. Our Action Plan: • Educate: Share information about current funding policies and distribution processes. • Advocate: Push for policy changes that enhance transparency and accessibility. • Support: Provide resources and training for youth to develop strong, competitive funding proposals. • Collaborate: Work with policymakers, funding bodies, and other stakeholders to create a more inclusive funding environment. Join us in advocating for change! Together, we can ensure that youth-led initiatives receive the support they need to thrive. By answering these crucial questions, we can build a more sustainable and equitable future for all youth-driven projects.   Let's unite for a transparent and accessible funding system! 🌱💧   #YouthLedInitiatives #FundingTransparency #PolicyAdvocacy #SustainableFuture #YouthAndUrbanism

🌟 Unlocking Impact with SMART Goals in the Social Sector! 🌟 Have you heard of SMART? It's a powerful tool that originated in the corporate world to set and achieve goals effectively and has now become a cornerstone for NGOs and development organizations. 🏆 Initially introduced by George T. Doran in 1981, SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—guiding us toward clearer and more focused action. 💼 💡 Why SMART? SMART helps turn ambitious visions into concrete results, making it invaluable for sectors like education 📚, healthcare 🏥, livelihood programs 🌱, child protection 👶, and environmental sustainability 🌍. It's all about working smarter, not harder! Step-by-step guide to applying SMART: 1️⃣ Specific: Be crystal clear about what you want to achieve. What is the exact goal? ➡ Example: "Provide quality education to 500 children in rural areas." 2️⃣ Measurable: Define how you will measure progress. What are the indicators of success? ➡ Example: "Track student enrollment and academic performance over time." 3️⃣ Achievable: Set realistic goals. Do we have the necessary resources and capacity? ➡ Example: "Ensure we have enough trained teachers and learning materials." 4️⃣ Relevant: Ensure alignment with your organization’s mission. Is this goal aligned with the broader impact? ➡ Example: "Promote sustainable education to break the cycle of poverty." 5️⃣ Time-bound: Set a clear timeline. When will we achieve this goal? ➡ Example: "Achieve full implementation within 12 months." Where is SMART used? Project Planning & Management 📝 Monitoring & Evaluation 📊 Donor Reporting & Proposals 💼 Community Development & Health Programs 👩⚕️👨🏫 With the SMART framework, you're not just setting goals—you’re setting up success! Let’s make every action intentional and impactful. 🌍💪 #SMARTGoals #Development #NGOImpact #SustainableChange #DriveProgress

The world is changing fast, and young people are feeling the pressure. Economic instability, educational disparities, mental health issues, environmental concerns — the list goes on. In our latest whitepaper #BetterTogetherForYouth we explore how to empower disadvantaged youth and enhance youth social entrepreneurship: https://lnkd.in/eq7Tn4xS #YouthAlliance Caroline Chernov World YMCA Eleni Theodorou Admiraal We Share Forward Foundation Gerardo Franco Microsoft Marek Wallenfels Bertelsmann Stiftung Claire Gillissen-Duval SAP Michael Vollmann Amazon Patricia Benchenna Schneider Electric Foundation Saïda Sakali King Baudouin Foundation Marine Hadengue Higher Education for Good Foundation Chiara Andreoli Esade Tobias Bürger Helena Monill Sophie Faujour Filipa Lança de Morais

Last week, Cities Today spoke with Juliet Fink Yates, Philadelphia's Broadband and Digital Inclusion Manager as the city takes bold steps to enhance digital equity, backed by a US$12 million grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The funds will scale up the city’s 2022 Digital Equity Plan through collaboration with 18 local non-profits and universities. “This grant will allow us to expand our city-wide Digital Navigation Network, offer more Digital Skills programing, create a Digital Coach volunteer programme, and distribute hundreds of devices, creating more opportunities for residents to access digital learning.” 👉 https://lnkd.in/dpNT95sm City of Philadelphia #digitalequity #digitalinclusion #connectivity #broadband

Minnesota and Michigan Nonprofits Collaborate with Internet2 to Advance Digital Inclusion with eduroam | https://buff.ly/3BC9MEb K-12 students, teachers, and staff across Minnesota and Michigan will soon benefit from broader access to secure, seamless Wi-Fi through eduroam. We announced today that the Learning Network of Minnesota, in collaboration with the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and Merit Network have joined its eduroam Support Organizations program to extend Wi-Fi access across their states. The eduroam Support Organizations program, initiated by Internet2 in 2020, accelerates the adoption of eduroam in areas traditionally underserved by high-speed, reliable internet access. Through collaboration, Internet2 and state-based R&E organizations like the Learning Network of Minnesota and Merit Network are helping to close access gaps by bringing eduroam access to more locations. The goal is to provide seamless connectivity for students, educators, and researchers wherever learning happens – in school and out in their communities. “eduroam Support Organizations bring invaluable technical expertise to the success of the program. However, it is their deep and trusted ties to their local communities that make it work, ensuring eduroam reaches the places where students need it most,” said Kevin Morooney, vice president of Trust and Identity and NET+ at Internet2. “Through collaboration fueled by shared goals and passion for the mission, we’re making significant strides to support digital inclusion and advance equitable opportunities for learning and discovery.” Continue reading the full announcement through the link above. #eduroam #wifi #network #internet #education #research #highereducation #teachers #students #minnesota #michigan #security

Development comes at a cost, always! Most of the time, it is beyond financial. Some of the costs include adapting to change, adjusting to new systems and more often than not, the losses that are associated with adopting new things- time, efforts and resources. Many organisations committed to developing societies through their initiatives must always consider this reality. It is definitely not a walk in the park because no matter how much you have mastered programne development and implementation, each intervention is mostly unique in itself. These ‘costs’ must be factored in from the onset, supported by effective monitoring and risk management protocols. Imagine developing an educational app for primary school pupils in low income or underserved communities, who do not have access to a smart phone or their family’s economy does not support frequent data subscriptions. Another example is creating boreholes in water stressed communities with a generating set handed over to the traditional ruler expecting that the communities will fuel the generator to have access to water on a daily basis. Or providing public toilets without water facilities to curb the menace of open defecation. In all three instances, the problem is not still nearly half - solved. Social impact programmes have gone beyond budgets, beautiful branding and bylines to make the organization top of mind. It is so much more, and the cost will be the cost of setting up the intervention, plus the associated costs that help to sustain it. For the instances shared above, an educational app for children in underserved communities will also require smart phones and data subscriptions to a reasonable extent. A solar powered borehole will be great for a water stressed community as the problem of energy is solved and the awareness or advocacy against open defecation and proper use of toilet facilities will make a behavioral shift happen. These are the real costs… In developing your interventions, do you consider the full spectrum of your development costs? You should! #society #people #impact #sustainability #leadership

Flipping the Script: Redefining Risk in Youth Funding Imagine a world where the funding landscape prioritizes and fully supports youth and youth-led organizations. Too often, the funding world overlooks the power of young people, citing them as risky investments. But in reality, not investing in youth is the true risk we face. Stepping Back to Move Forward Challenging these assumptions is long overdue! We must continually table the inherent value of funding youth. Supporting activities and short-term projects is a bare minimum. Funders and adult-led organizations need to take a step back and create spaces that supercharge young people to harness their superpowers, embrace innovation, and showcase their bravery. It is time to stop talking about the potential of youth and instead, reevaluate the perceptions of risk and recognize that young people are not only capable but are actively driving positive change in their communities, often with limited resources. Young people are leading social change work and impactful campaigns on a broad array of social justice issues, however, sustainable funding of their work is still a big challenge. How do we rise to meet them where they are at this opportune moment? What if funders actively engaged with young people to co-create innovative approaches to youth-led funding? The impact could be undoubtedly transformative! The focus would shift to different aspects of their work such as innovation in their approaches to meet their needs and increase impact and connection to their communities. Young people are spending many hours writing project proposals, chasing trust-based partnerships and collaborations, and seeking funding for individual activities, and still, a majority are met by negative responses. By including and partnering with young people in the decision-making processes, we can collectively shift power dynamics and address the systemic injustices that affect youth globally. As the world evolves rapidly, we must evolve with it, shedding outdated structural and cultural barriers to truly support and amplify youth-led engagement. Investing in the power of our youth and recognizing that they are not just the future, but the change-makers of today will bring us closer to a better world! Together, we can create a more inclusive and equitable future for all. #YouthEngagement #FutureLeadership #InnovationInFundingYouth