"The more an individual works for the benefit of society or the needs of others, and the more society ensures that each worker is supported sufficiently to lead a dignified existence, the greater the well-being and prosperity of society will be."
~Rudolf Steiner 

Dear friends of the Youth Section,

In this email we want to share the news that the application process for grants is now open for the Youth Access and Project Fund. Applications can be accepted until October 31!

Learn more about applying here

Since the Co-workers’ Gathering in 2023 we have had a Youth Section Global Access and Project Fund . This was created to ensure that young people from all backgrounds can join the Co-workers’ Gatherings, a journey that can be economically insurmountable depending on where you are coming from. 

After a successful fundraiser in 2024 to bring participants to the gathering in the Netherlands, the working group has continued meeting regularly over the past year to bring this idea to the next phase. We are very happy to share with you that the fund is now open to receive applications for youth projects, and at the same time, we are raising money to support participation in the upcoming Co-workers’ Gathering in January 2026.

The ideal of the fund is to work together out of a common impulse, pooling resources so that everyone can both contribute and receive support where there is real need. This way, we try to create a culture of sharing that reflects our anthroposophical approach to youth work. 

Contributions can be large or small — even the price of a Swiss coffee in Dornach 😉 — what matters is that every group and individual takes part, so that we all feel connected in this process.

✨ The participatory gifting process

An important part of this fund is the way decisions are made together. Before decisions are made, applicants with a project meet at the Co-workers’ Gathering. Even before the gathering itself, they learn about one another and the work that is being proposed for the coming year from different young people. During the gathering itself, 1–2 representatives from each project group will join a "shared giving" workshop dedicated to the fund. 

This shared giving process will unfold over three days. It will involve getting to know one another and the various proposals that are on the table and going through a process that allows for a shared discernment of where the funds resources should go, and what amounts. 

Now is the time to apply for funding. Would you help get the word out that we are accepting applications? We are sending some material along with this update that might be of support. 

We look forward to hearing from you!

Warmly, 
The Global Access Project Fund Team 
Nikoloz Kanchaveli, Gabriele Nys, Valeriia Obozna, Ezra Sullivan, Em Watson, Nathaniel Williams