Youth-to-Youth Global MHPSS Campaign
Call for Applications: Y2Y-VOICES – Our Voices, Our Choices
5000 young Red Cross Red Crescent volunteers from 82 countries came together to create the Youth Manifesto on Mental Health demanding visibility, acknowledgement and action from the Movement.
We have heard that call, and we invite young Red Cross Red Crescent volunteers or staff members to learn with us, develop messages and content together and to create a campaign launched across our platforms and outlets.
We need your ideas, your voice and your creativity to launch Y2Y-VOICES – Our Voices, Our Choices, a global initiative bringing together young people from across the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement to co-create a mental health campaign rooted in their experiences, perspectives and local realities.
The project is funded by The Empress Shôken Fund (ESF) and will be implemented by MHPSS Hub.
What is the Y2Y-VOICES project about?
This project aims to:
- Amplify the voices of young people on mental health within the Movement
Through:
- Workshops on strategic communication, advocacy, and MHPSS
- Individual mentorship on content development
- Global dissemination opportunities
Selected participants from the five regions will join a diverse global group and work together to design and develop a joint global youth-led campaign anchored in their individual experiences and local realities.
We encourage National Societies to identify and support suitable youth candidates early, as the programme requires active participation throughout the six-month period.
Who can apply?
Young volunteers and staff can apply with the approval of their National Society.
Each National Society may endorse one candidate:
- Is a staff member or volunteer in the National Society
- Is between 18-30 years old
- Has been engaged for at least 2 years
- Is actively working on MHPSS in their community
- Has a strong interest in youth mental health and wellbeing
- Is motivated to develop communication skills and content
- Is able to participate in English (working language of the programme)
- Has access to smartphone, computer and stable internet
What are we looking for?
We are seeking young people who:
- Want to make their voices heard within the Movement
- Have ideas, stories, or lived experiences they want to share [1]
- Are creative, motivated, and open to learn
- Are ready to collaborate in a Youth-to-Youth learning environment
What will participants gain?
- Skills in strategic communication and campaign design
- Experience in storytelling (video, audio, written formats)
- Mentorship from experts in MHPSS and communication
- Opportunity to contribute to and be featured in a global Red Cross Red Crescent youth mental health campaign reaching audiences across the Movement.
- Connection with a global network of youth changemakers
- Certificate of completion MHPSS Communication and Advocacy Training
Programme Overview
- Format: Online workshops
- Duration: November 2026 – April 2027
- Estimated time commitment: Approximately 10-15 hours per month on average, including:
- 4-6 hours of online workshops and peer learning sessions
- 2-4 hours of individual mentoring and coaching
- 10-14 hours of collaborative content development and campaign activities
Sessions will be scheduled with consideration for participants across all regions and time zones.
- Requirements:
- Approval of your National Society
- Active participation in online sessions, group work, support sessions
- Access to Smart phone, computer and internet
- Language: English
- Participants: ~20 youth globally (across 5 regions)
How to apply
- Get the approval from your National Society related to your participation [2]
- Ensure the application form is fully completed
- Submit before the deadline
Deadline:16 October 2026, 23:59 CET.
Submission by link: https://ee.ifrc.org/x/iHltYb0c
Or by QR code:
Join us
This is an opportunity to ensure that youth voices shape the future of mental health in humanitarian action.
Let’s create, share, and lead—together.
Contact: questions about the project can be directed to MHPSS Hub Senior project manager and MEAL Advisor, Sabina Dziadecka Gråbæk: sagra@rodekors.dk
[1] Sharing personal experiences is entirely voluntary. Participants will only share content they are comfortable sharing and will provide informed consent before any material is used publicly. Participants will retain a voice in how their stories are represented and safeguarding and psychosocial support will be available throughout the programme.
[2] National Society endorsement: Applicants should be endorsed by a Youth Coordinator/Focal Point, MHPSS Focal Point, Volunteer Manager, or equivalent supervisor. Contact details of the endorsing focal point will be collected through the application form. Focal points of selected candidates will be contacted to verify endorsement and participation support.
