Being Initiative

Transition to Scale funding opportunities are still open under the Being Initiative! The next intake period closes on January 15th, 2025. ?? We're looking to fund tested #mentalhealth prevention and promotion approaches targeting young people aged 10-24 with positive results and significant potential to achieve high impact. Transition to Scale funding is available for #innovations addressing the context-specific drivers of young people’s mental health and wellbeing in?the following countries: ?? #Colombia - we seek bold ideas that strengthen family functioning among young people and their parents/caregivers. ?? #Ecuador - we seek bold ideas to improve the physical and emotional safety of young people by developing safe community, school, and family environments. ?? #Ghana - we seek bold ideas to prevent bullying in schools. ?? #India - we seek bold ideas to strengthen family functioning. ?? #Indonesia - we seek bold ideas to prevent adverse childhood experiences of violence among young people. ?? #Morocco - we seek bold ideas that create positive school environments. ?? #Pakistan - we seek bold ideas to strengthen family functioning. ?? #Romania - ?we seek bold ideas to prevent bullying, including cyberbullying. ?? #SierraLeone - we seek bold ideas to reduce and prevent substance use among young people. ?? #Tanzania - we seek bold ideas to reduce stigma related to mental health. ?? #Vietnam - ?we seek bold ideas to strengthen family functioning. TTS funding between $300,000 CAD and $1,500,000 CAD over 12-48 months will be awarded to support organizations that align with these country priorities along their scaling journey to help catalyze their sustainability and impact.? Full application details and eligibility criteria are available in the RFP: https://lnkd.in/gG4QkJp9 I manage the #SubSaharanAfrica cluster for the Being Initiative. Feel free to get in touch with me to discuss Transition to Scale funding opportunities in Ghana, Tanzania and Sierra Leone. Contact my colleague Sahil Chopra if you have an innovative solution in Morocco, Pakistan, India or Romania. Contact Sireesha J. Bobbili for Vietnam, Indonesia, Colombia & Ecuador.

??#ICYMI The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on Transforming Mental Health Implementation Research explores innovative strategies to transform research into actionable evidence for better mental health outcomes. ??Dive into it here: https://lnkd.in/gvg_idg4 Earlier this year, we joined a webinar hosted by United for Global Mental Health and the Global Mental Health Action Network to discuss #mentalhealth implementation research. The session, chaired by Being’s Youth Advisor Jihad Bnimoussa, featured insightful contributions from UNICEF, Columbia University, and Sahil Chopra from Grand Challenges Canada, who highlighted findings from our landscape analysis report. Missed it? ?? Rewatch the webinar here: https://lnkd.in/dEsGdBN7

Fondation Botnar is looking for bold projects that use digital technologies and AI to make a difference for and with young people, such as creating vibrant, sustainable urban spaces or opening up new pathways in inclusive education. ?? https://lnkd.in/dTMVB5kY If you're active in Romania, Ghana, Senegal, Tanzania, Indonesia, Vietnam, Colombia, or Ecuador, submit your proposal by Monday, 10 February 2025!

?? Join us for an engaging online symposium! ??? Wednesday, December 4 ?? Chaired by Sireesha J. Bobbili, Program Manager, Grand Challenges Canada ?? Register now: https://lnkd.in/ej-t8Wwq In collaboration with the International Alliance of Mental Health Research Funders (IAMHRF), The Lancet Psychiatry, and Grand Challenges Canada, this session brings together leading experts to explore how systems thinking can drive progress in mental health. ?? Hear from: ?? Prof. Jeffrey Braithwaite ?? Dr. Dan Chisholm ?? Dr. Bibilola Oladeji ?? Rosemary Gathara ?? Dr. Deb Chiodo ? Closing reflections from Dr. Beth McGinty & Dr. Matthew Eisenberg, co-Commissioners of The Lancet Psychiatry Commission. ?? Register now: https://lnkd.in/ej-t8Wwq Fondation Botnar United for Global Mental Health NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) Science for Africa Foundation Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada

??Last month, Erica Zissis from Grand Challenges Canada attended the ??World YMCA Accelerator Summit in Mombasa, Kenya. The summit brought together global stakeholders to share knowledge and inspire action on youth empowerment and community wellbeing. Erica's Highlights included: ?Her participation at the Workshop on Fostering Relational Wellbeing: Led by Shreya Jha from the Relational Wellbeing Collective with insights from Dr. Byron Bitanihirwe from the Science for Africa Foundation, this session explored applying the relational wellbeing model to youth programs to deepen the impact of community-driven initiatives. ?Community Wellbeing Panel: Erica joined Shreya Jha, Frida Bramskog (KFUM Central), and Oriana Ortiz Parrao (YMCA America Latina & Caribe and Being Youth Advisor) to highlight the role of relational wellbeing in empowering young people. ?Meaningful Work for Youth: Key discussions during the week stressed the need for youth skills and actual, meaningful employment—enabling youth to build connections and thrive beyond just certificates. ??Read all of Erica's and Dr. Byron's reflections on the World YMCA Accelerator Summit in our latest blog: https://lnkd.in/evCxCwjh #YMCAVision2030?#CommunityWellbeing?#MentalHealth Fondation Botnar United for Global Mental Health NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada Orygen

??? Register now! https://lnkd.in/eQqrvZ5B Research often produces impactful ideas, but getting them into practice at scale is a significant challenge. So, how can we bridge this "implementation gap"? Inspired by The Lancet Group Psychiatry's Commission on 'Transforming Mental Health Implementation Research,' we're collaborating with the International Alliance of Mental Health Research Funders (IAMHRF) to explore this crucial question. ?? Save the Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2024 Meet our Chair: Sireesha J. Bobbili, Portfolio Manager at Being and Grand Challenges Canada, who will lead this session and will be joined by an expert speaker lineup. Check them out below! ??? Register here: https://lnkd.in/eQqrvZ5B We look forward to seeing you online! United for Global Mental Health Fondation Botnar Science for Africa Foundation Orygen Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research)

Today at the Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Colombia, we joined our incredible partners— Grand Challenges Canada, Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN), United for Global Mental Health, The New School, and the Trauma Research Foundation—to explore powerful solutions that can address the impact of early adversity on brain development.?Our discussions highlighted the importance of centering children’s and youth’s lived experiences, from community-driven strategies to scaling #mentalhealth solutions through technology, to shape impactful programs and policies. ?? Check out the key takeaways and photos from the event below! ??

Today’s Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children brought together a powerful lineup of experts discussing early adversity and its impact on brain development. From community-driven strategies to scaling mental health solutions through technology, the conversation emphasized centering children’s and youth’s lived experiences in shaping effective programs and policies. The session explored new research and bold, scalable interventions to address the lifelong impacts of early adversity on children, young people, and adults. ECDAN is honored to co-organize this critical event with our dedicated partners, driving forward solutions that can create safer, more supportive environments for children worldwide. A heartfelt thank you to our incredible speakers and co-organizers: Daniela Moreno Farfán, Youth representative, UNESCO Wendy D'Andrea, Associate professor, The New School and Chief Science Officer for the Trauma Research Foundation Dr Alexandra Chen, Trauma Psychologist and Early Childhood Specialist, Healing for Gaza Maria Adelaida Lopez, Executive Director, aeioTU Laura Rawlings, Lead Economist in the World Bank’s Gender Group Nicole Bruskewitz, Director of Education and Programs, Coschool @Camila Andrea Castellanos Roncancio, Programme Coordinator, Fundación Saldarriaga Concha Germán Casas, President of Médecins Sans Frontières for Latin America and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Professor at the University of Los Andes Michelle Cruickshank, Portfolio Lead of the Child Development Portfolio, Grand Challenges Canada Elizabeth Lule, Executive Director, Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN) Shekufeh Z., Global Technical Lead, Early Childhood Development Action Network Grand Challenges Canada United for Global Mental Health The New School Being Initiative Trauma Research Foundation #EndViolenceAgainstChildren #ProtectChildren #EarlyAdversity #BrainDevelopment

If you are attending the Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children next week, join us for a thought-provoking discussion November 6 on the groundbreaking research uncovering how early adversity impacts brain development across the lifespan. Hear directly from leading researchers as they present fresh insights into the effects of early adversity on children, young people, and adults. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eWeKewSf ?? You'll also have the opportunity to hear from innovators who are using these scientific findings to design and scale bold interventions that effectively address and mitigate these impacts. The event is co-organized by: Being Initiative, Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN), Grand Challenges Canada, The New School, Trauma Research Foundation, and United for Global Mental Health. A heartfelt thank you to the incredible speakers who will be sharing their expertise at this event: Daniela Moreno Farfán, Youth representative, UNESCO’s SDG 4 Youth Network, Government and Public Affairs student at Los Andes University Wendy D'Andrea, Associate professor, The New School and Chief Science Officer for the Trauma Research Foundation @Dr Alexandra Chen, Trauma Psychologist and Early Childhood Specialist, Healing for Gaza Maria Adelaida Lopez, Executive Director, aeioTU Laura Rawlings, The World Bank Gender Group Nicole Bruskewitz, Director of Education and Programs at Coschool Camila Andrea Castellanos Roncancio, Programme Coordinator, Fundación Saldarriaga Concha @Dr German Casas, President of Médecins Sans Frontières for Latin America and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Professor at the University of Los Andes @Michelle Cruickshank, Portfolio Lead of the Child Development Portfolio, Grand Challenges Canada. Elizabeth Lule, Executive Director, Early Childhood Development Action Network Shekufeh Z., Global Technical Lead, Early Childhood Development Action Network #EndViolenceAgainstChildren #ProtectChildren

We are excited to be co-hosting a satellite event at the Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Bogota, Colombia on November 6, with Grand Challenges Canada, Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN), United for Global Mental Health, The New School, and Trauma Research Foundation. The event, Brain Science of Early Adversity and Scaling Innovations to Protect Children from Violence and Promote Lifelong Mental Health, features a panel of global experts, including doctors, mental health ambassadors, educators, economists, and specialists. Will you be attending the conference? If so, register for our in-person event: bit.ly/3A08KBv . . . Estamos muy contentos de ser co-anfitriones de un evento en la Conferencia Ministerial Mundial sobre el Fin de la Violencia contra los Ni?os el 6 de noviembre en Bogotá, Colombia, con Grand Challenges Canada, Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN), United for Global Mental Health, The New School, y Trauma Research Foundation. El evento, titulado "La ciencia cerebral de la adversidad temprana y la ampliación de innovaciones para proteger a los ni?os de la violencia y promover la salud mental a lo largo de la vida", cuenta con un panel de expertos mundiales, entre los que se encuentran médicos, embajadores de la salud mental, educadores, economistas y especialistas. ?Va a asistir a la conferencia? Si es así, inscríbase en nuestro evento presencial: bit.ly/3A08KBv Tenga en cuenta que este evento se llevará a cabo en inglés.