State of Youth connects young people who turn ideas into action and build solutions for children's rights.
Discover the movementState of Youth is a global youth movement and digital platform where young people aged 12 to 29 connect, learn, and create change together. Guided by children's rights and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), they turn ideas into action and local challenges into global conversations.
In 2019, KidsRights launched State of Youth at the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Mexico and at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. State of Youth is the world’s first non-political and non-religious digital youth state, transcending borders to unite young people worldwide.
Created for youth, by youth, State of Youth equips young people with the tools, resources, and global network needed to address today’s most pressing challenges. Since its launch, the movement has grown rapidly through local youth-led groups known as Chapters. These Chapters represent State of Youth in their communities, mobilising peers through awareness, advocacy, and action on issues that directly affect their lives.
Between 2019 and 2026, State of Youth has worked with more than 800 Chapters across more than 70 countries, and the movement continues to expand every day.
State of Youth is a global, youth-led movement that empowers young people to drive change in their communities and beyond.
By bringing together children and young people from around the world, State of Youth creates opportunities to share ideas, develop solutions, and take action. Through digital participation, local initiatives, leadership development, and international collaboration, it provides a platform where young voices are not only heard, but transformed into meaningful impact.
A Chapter is where action starts. It’s a team of young people who see what can be better and decide to do something about it. Together, youth create impact in their community while connecting with a global network of young changemakers through State of Youth. Every Chapter takes action in three ways:
Action: Turn ideas into reality. Launch projects, organize events, and create solutions that make a difference in their community.
Advocacy: Speak up for what matters. Influence decision-makers, challenge the status quo, and stand up for the rights and future you believe in.
Awareness: Start conversations. Share knowledge, inspire others, and encourage more young people to take action.
Each Chapter is led by a Chapter Leader who stays connected with the State of Youth team in Amsterdam. How big a Chapter becomes is up to the youth involved.
State of Youth is guided by young people at every level. With the support of experienced Chapter Leaders through our Youth Board and network of Country Representatives, we ensure youth perspectives shape our direction, strengthen local connections, and support meaningful engagement within communities and across our global movement
At the heart of State of Youth is the Youth Board, a group of committed young leaders who help shape the direction and priorities of the movement. The Youth Board represents the values of meaningful youth participation and ensures that decisions are informed by the perspectives and experiences of young people themselves.
The global State of Youth network is strengthened by its Country Representatives. These young leaders connect local communities to the international movement and play a key role in expanding youth participation in their own countries.
Through our global and national Preferenda, young people decide which issues deserve attention and what action should come next. A Preferendum is more than a survey. It is a platform where young people vote on the challenges that affect their lives, share solutions, and set priorities for change.
We conduct research with young people worldwide and nationally. In the Netherlands, we have created a representative youth panel to ensure the views of young people reflect the diversity of the country. Together, these insights provide a powerful picture of the priorities, concerns, and solutions that matter most to young people today.
We bring these findings directly to policymakers, decision-makers, and world leaders, ensuring that young people have a real say in the conversations and decisions that shape their lives.
State of Youth NL was launched in 2024 as the Dutch branch of the global State of Youth movement. Through our online youth panel, thousands of young people share their views on the issues that shape their lives, from housing and mental wellbeing to climate and financial concerns.
We bring these voices to policymakers and decision makers, while also empowering young people to take action themselves. Through Chapters, funding opportunities, training, and partnerships, State of Youth NL helps young changemakers turn their ideas into impact and shape a better future based on children’s rights and the Sustainable Development Goals.
KidsRights regularly organises funding calls that help Chapters and young leaders within the State of Youth network bring their ideas to life. Supported by dedicated partners, these calls fund youth led initiatives that tackle the challenges young people face every day.
It is one of the most direct ways to create impact: investing in young people who understand their communities and have the drive to make a difference. From idea to action, every project demonstrates the power of youth leadership to create meaningful and lasting change.
The latest Changemaking Funding Call supports projects that strengthen children's and young people's mental health and resilience. Through workshops, awareness campaigns, creative programmes, community events, and other youth led initiatives, State of Youth invests in solutions that help young people support one another and build healthier communities.
Following the inspiring example of International Children's Peace Prize winner Bana, the 2025 Theme Fund Call focuses on Peace and Education. It encourages young changemakers to develop projects that strengthen social cohesion, improve access to education, and contribute to peaceful and resilient societies.
Inspired by the work and vision of International Children's Peace Prize winner Nila, the 2024 Theme Fund Call focused on Gender Equality. The call supported youth led initiatives that promote equal opportunities, challenge discrimination, and empower girls and young people to build more inclusive communities.
Crossadder Foundation
Pakistan
State of Youth Collective Youth Action
Pakistan
State of Youth Revivals Egypt
Egypt
State of Youth Gombe
Nigeria
State of Youth Paynesville
Liberia
State of Youth Kakuma
Kenya
Young people across the world are changing the future of children's rights. What role will you play? Choose how you want to make an impact.
Make a donation. Help young people turn ideas into action and give their voices the stage they deserve.
Meet young people creating change and build solutions together.
Do you want to partner, collaborate or bring a new idea to life? Get in touch and let's explore what you can start.
