1. Change Fusion (Bangkok, Thailand)
Research on Social Investment for Youth Social Enterprise
- Conducting market research with focus on social investment for youth social enterprises in Asia
- Identifying key players of social investment in Asia
Note: Change Fusion will be able to provide connection to some youth social entrepreneurs as well as social investors in Thailand and Asia (East/South) for interview sessions or visits if needed.
2. YIKE (Nairobi, Kenya)
Youth Initiatives Kenya is a NGO that works with youth in groups that are engaged in entrepreneurship. YIKE offers trainings in different aspects of entrepreneurship.
As an organization, YIKE has done research in several areas. In addition YIKE has connections with the Kenyatta University and will be able to link the students to local supervisors. YIKE offers some concrete research placements
Currently YIKE has a specific interest in the following areas:
• A study to understand if entrepreneurial youth groups are reducing crime in some parts of Eastlands informal settlements.
• How can youth groups mainstream a gender balance in their entrepreneurs?
Other research subject of interest can be discussed with the students.
3. YITA (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania)
Youth Initiatives Tanzania is a duplication in Dar es Salaam of the successful YIKE program. The initial research about possibilities for UpToYouToo in this city was conducted by a former IDS student. This research left some gaps however.
Currently YITA has a specific interest in the following areas:
• More in-depth research on the mentality of Tanzanian youth & specifically those who are engaged in entrepreneurship.
• If the youth who are engaged in groups have a bigger change to succeed as entrepreneurs.
• What is the influence of the financial institutions (such as banks, MFI’s, SACCOS’) on youth that operate in self-employment groups.
• Gain insights in the lack of trust from youth towards their community/stake holders in their entrepreneurial environment and the other way around.
• What is the impact of the YITA program on youth in Dar es Salaam.
Other research subject of interest can be discussed with the students.
4. Unltd (London, UK)
Research Evaluation Project – Conducting face to face and telephone interviews with young social entrepreneurs in the UK from UnLtd database who have received support from UnLtd and been active for 1-2 years to see what progress they have made and what possible best practices they may have uncovered. The information from the entrepreneurs will then be used to make up part of the final report which will evaluate the support given by UnLtd. This report will not be released until the end of the 5 year cycle (currently in year 3).
5. Desk Research (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Besides the research positions in the field, the UpToYouToo foundation also offers a desk research placement (in Amsterdam). The student will be involved in mapping the existing research on the subject of youth entrepreneurship as well as identifying gaps within this literature and opportunities for further research. Furthermore the student will identify best practices, compare these and identify common grounds that will help the Youth SEEN members further.
6. Peacechild International
Peacechild International is a network of youth-led organisations in consultative status with the United Nations. PCI’s mission is to empower young people to address the most pressing global challenges they are going to have to address in their lifetimes.
This initiative aims to:
• advance the field of youth-led development by proposing an innovative, ‘multi-stakeholder friendly’ framework for Monitoring and Evaluation
• research, map and compare the different approaches and strategies currently being used by young people and development professionals to monitor, assess and evaluate development initiatives
Through the research a model framework, on the web and in a printed booklet/toolkit, shall be created which enables young people, youth-led development practitioners and youth-serving organisations to apply a holistic approach to the monitoring and evaluation of their youth-led initiatives. Further, does the research open up a collaborative discussion among the donor community about priority-setting and effective measurement strategies.
7. Right to Play
Right to Play works with children in the most disadvantaged areas using sport, games, and play for social change, health and peace. The aim is a development from youth at risk to active citizens.
The Right to Play team in Ramallah is interested in research concerning the obstacles by youth facing unemployment and wishing to venture out in small and medium enterprises. The barriers they face with regards of regulation, stigmatization and informal structures.
New Placements soon
Apart from the three mentioned, further research placements will be finalised in the coming months from other Youth SEEN members. Once these have been confirmed further information will be published.
AIESEC
We have reached an agreement with AIESEC in Amsterdam for them to become involved in Youth SEEN. AIESEC, with their vast international network, will help facilitate students who will want to conduct research abroad at one of the members of Youth SEEN. The AIESEC network includes 35,000 students in 107 countries and different territories. At this momenty it is present in over 1700 universities globally, and sends students on 5500 international exchanges yearly5
