Restless Development

Celebrating 40 years of youth power in action 🌍✨ 🙌 Yesterday, we marked Restless Development’s 40th anniversary at a special event hosted by Ambassador Pete Vowles and Deputy Head Jo Abbot at the British Ambassador's residence. Inspiring speeches from Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training of Zimbabwe Honourable Tinoda Machakaire, Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education of Zimbabwe Honourable Angeline Gata, and Ford Foundation Regional Director Margaret Mliwa celebrated the power of young people and the incredible changemakers we work with. ✨ For four decades, Restless Development has partnered with young leaders to drive change in their communities, shift power and build a more just and sustainable world. We believe in a simple but powerful truth: when young people lead, communities thrive. 🌍 Our journey to becoming a locally led globally connected network supporting more than 10 million young leaders has been shaped by bold ideas, relentless optimism and an unwavering commitment to youth leadership. Explore our journey here: https://linktr.ee/restlessdevelopment (link in bio) 💫 As the world changes at unprecedented speed, we continue to ensure young people have the investment, opportunities, and ecosystem they need to lead. Our vision for the next 40 years is a world where young people everywhere can lead change on the world’s greatest challenges. A favourite moment from the event was our interactive phone booth where guests shared short messages to young people. 👉 If you were picking up that phone, what message of support or inspiration would you share with young leaders today? Share yours in the comments. #RestlessAt40 #YouthPower #PowerShifting #RestlessDevelopment

🌍 Half the world’s population is under 30 yet young people are consistently underfunded, continue to bear the brunt of a polycrisis and are left out of decisions that shape their future. We believe that needs to change‼️ At Restless Development, we support Youth Power, the force of young people creating change in their communities, countries and across the world. 🎯 Since 1985, we have; 🔹Reached over 10 million young leaders 🔹Partnered with 5,000+ youth-led organisations 🔹Supported youth-led change across climate justice, education & livelihood, gender & sexual rights and democracy. Young people deserve to be heard, funded and given a seat at tables where decisions are made. Investing in Youth Power is investing in a fairer, safer, more sustainable future for all of us. 🔗Click the link in bio to read more about our Theory of Change and how we are catalysing youth-led impact. #YouthPower #RestlessDevelopment #ClimateJustice #GenderEquality #DemocracyNow #YoungLeaders #TheoryOfChange

🎉We have just launched our Annual Report 2024 and it’s a powerful reflection of what happens when young people lead. This past year, we reached nearly 200,000 young people across 30 countries, supporting youth-led action. The report brings to life the real stories, impact and ripple effects of investing in Youth Power and the partnerships that made it possible. “Our generation has always been more than a promise for the future, we are the power of the present.” – Priyanka Shrestha, Youth Power Champion As we launch our Annual Report 2024, we spotlight the young voices that drive our work, like Priyanka’s. Her letter to her future self is a powerful reminder of why Youth Power matters now more than ever. 🔗Click link in bio to read the full report and see what youth-led change really looks like #YouthPower #RestlessDevelopment #AnnualReport2024

Hey there, changemaker! ✨ You should totally apply for these jobs! 💁 Pick up your computer and send in your application 😉 You’ve got this! 💪 Don’t forget to share this with your network. 1. Do you have insights, research, tools, or experiences that can contribute to building systems of care in journalism? Then you should apply for the Mental Health in Journalism Summit 2026 happening online from 6th-9th October. (@theselfinvestigation ) 📌Deadline: May 31st 🔗 /call-for-participation/ 2. UNESCO seeks nominations for the 2026 UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize. Its purpose is to reward individuals, institutions, various entities, or non-governmental organizations that have demonstrated leadership in the promotion of tolerance and non-violence. (@unesco ) 📌Deadline: 19th June 🔗 /en/articles/unesco-seeks-nominations-2026-unesco-madanjeet-singh-prize 3. The Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture: Sub-Saharan Africa, Connect & Create have an open call for jury member nominations from cultural practitioners, researchers, and professionals across all creative disciplines to join their jury pool. 📌Deadline: Not indicated, apply soon! 🔗 /prj/aep/en/opportunities.html 4. Apply for the Global Resilience Innovation Challenge call for proposals. They are looking for bold, locally led solutions across three thematic areas: RAIN (Rural) RISE (Urban) and TECH4Resilience (Humanitarian Al). Winning projects can receive up to US$50,000 in funding plus tailored mentoring and support. (@global_resilience_partnership ) 📌Deadline: 22nd May 🔗 /call-for-proposals-for-innovations-across-the-global-south-now-open/ 5. Apply for the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes. Applicants will be asked to make submissions related to the 2026 theme “Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity” and take into consideration the specific focuses of the two prizes when applying. (@unesco ) 📌Deadline: 1st June 🔗 /en/prizes/literacy/process #Apply #Jobs #YouthPower #Opportunities #Fellowship

Next week, we’re going to be at the Global Partnerships Conference organised by the @foreignanddevelopmentoffice along with some incredible young leaders. We asked some young leaders across the globe to share their messages with decision makers convening in London. Here’s what young people have to say about what a good partnership look like. Check it out! 👀 #youthpower #globalpartnership #globalpartnershipsconference

The shift is here! ⚡️🌍 For too long, young people have been left out of the big decisions and underfunded in their work. We’re here to change that narrative. 💥 We believe that when you trust, connect, and directly fund Youth Power, the results speak for themselves. From Zambia, Nepal, Ghana, and India, young people aren’t just the leaders of tomorrow. They are tackling the world’s biggest challenges right now. 🌏🔥 👉 Check out what happens when youth-led action takes center stage. And give us a follow to get weekly updates about how young people are changing the world. ✊📢 These are more than just projects. This is a global movement of young people reclaiming their power, driving real change, and co-creating a future that works for everyone. This is the #PowerShift. 📸 Cover: Maryner Lungu, member of the Zambia Youth Sounding Board and My Part project

The girls had a blast at their first triathlon event competing as teams with their school friends to raise money for @restlessdevelopment . Teams ‘The Flying Dolphins’ 🐬 and ‘The Cheesy Bananas’ 🍌 managed to raise a very respectable £931 putting them in 3rd place in the whole event for most money raised for the charity. Super team effort in fund raising, swimming, cycling and running girls 🏊🏻‍♀️🚴🏼‍♀️🏃🏼‍♀️. Such fun with their friends, lots of laughs and now keen for their next one. Well done The Flying Dolphins and the Cheesy Bananas!! #triathlon #charity #teameffort

👉 This week marks a transition moment for the Digital Health and Rights Project. Our consortium is gathering in Geneva, at the Geneva Graduate Institute for a three-day close-out meeting of our project, "The Future of Human Rights in the Digital Age", and it comes at a critical juncture. Across the globe, we are witnessing mounting pushback on digital rights and the right to health. Disinformation is spreading faster than policy can respond. Surveillance is expanding. Marginalized communities bear the heaviest costs. Yet this meeting is not just a closing. It is a beginning ‼️ We are bringing together leading human rights experts, young researchers, advocates, and consortium partners to do something essential: share visions of what comes next, because the future of human rights in the digital age won't define itself. 👀 Watch this space for updates from Geneva. 🌍

A wonderful day @charterhousesch for the @knightfrank @schoolstriathlon A huge turnout for an exceptional charity @restlessdevelopment We are the headline sponsor of the Knight Frank Schools Triathlon, the UK’s largest sports fundraising event for children. The Schools Triathlon promotes teamwork, confidence and community engagement while supporting an exceptional range of charities. In 2025, the events raised an incredible £1.5 million for Restless Development and other local charities, with over 10,000 children taking part nationwide. If you would like to support /campaign/schoolstricharterhouse2026

/team/4besties?utm_medium=TE&utm_source=CL The 4Besties - Celeste, Alice, Reina and Victoire - are taking on a huge challenge this year. Joining thousands across the country, they’ll swim, cycle and run as a relay team to raise money for Restless Development and our school’s chosen charity. Every donation helps turn our effort into real-world impact — please support us and be part of the journey. Please share or donate whatever you can! #restlessdevelopment #triathlon #childathlete #childactor #london

Hey there, changemaker! ✨ You should totally apply for these jobs! 💁 Pick up your computer and send in your application 😉 No need to comment 'link', the clickable links will be up in our Instagram broadcast channel! You've got this! 💪 Don't forget to share this with your network. 1. The Global Youth Mental Health Research Fellowship is aimed at identifying emerging leaders in child and adolescent mental health in Pakistan, Indonesia and Colombia. ⏰ 11th May 🔗 /global-youth-mental-health-research-fellowship/ 2. The Elevate Prize (@elevateprize ) recognizes bold social impact leaders at a pivotal moment in their work, ready to expand their visibility and deepen their impact. ⏰ 8 May (nominate today!) 🔗 /the-elevate-prize/ 3. The Human Rights Lawyers Association and Global Human Rights Centre are pleased to invite applications for the 2026 Advocacy and Social Action Development Program. ⏰ 25th May 🔗 /forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd9oxcv6DL7yBkOOgrjkb7yo104BRFQZQQqe32PRrDn_tXyKw/viewform 4. Applications are now open for the inaugural cohort of the African Academy for Women in Political Leadership, a continental programme with @undpafrica designed to build the next generation of women who govern Africa. ⏰ 15th May 🔗 /africa/news/call-applications-african-academy-women-political-leadership 5. The World Forum for Democracy calls for initiatives from public institutions, civil society organisations, and other actors, that help democracies prepare for future challenges. @councilofeurope ⏰ 31st May 🔗 https://rm.coe.int/call-for-initiatives-for-the-world-forum-for-democracy-2026/48802b61fa BONUS OPPORTUNITY: The Evidence to Impact Symposium: Shaping Adolescent-Centered Policies and Programs in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) aims to bridge the gap between evidence, policy, and program implementation to improve the well-being of adolescents, particularly girls in Eastern and Southern Africa. ⏰ 30th April (for regular registration) 🔗 /register-now

To move the needle on a 2,000-year-old system, we need more than a 3-year grant. The biggest takeaway from the latest reporting by Nikita Mandhani is clear: Feminist movements are built to last, but our funding systems are not. Commissioned by Restless Development as part of the Walking the Talk project, this article highlights why flexible, long-term support is the only way to sustain movements that are deeply personal and generational. When we fund only "deliverables," we ignore the vital, relationship-building and community resilience. Check out the article here: /blog/dalit-feminism-in-india-a-movement-built-to-last-but-hard-to-fund/ (link in bio)