Firelight Foundation: Empowering African Communities for Lasting Change:Firelight is a multi-donor public charity fund that works towards driving systems change for children and youth in eastern and southern Africa. By raising funds from foundations, individuals, and institutions, Firelight supports community-based organizations (CBOs) that are actively engaged in their communities. Firelight firmly believes in the power of African communities to create lasting change for their own children and youth. They recognize that true change comes from within and that communities should have agency in creating safe, nurturing environments where children can thrive and reach their full potential. One of Firelight’s guiding principles is that the best answers already exist within the community. They believe that lasting systemic change for children’s rights and development must involve and value the perspectives, knowledge, practices, and institutions of children, youth, adults, parents, and the community as a whole. Firelight supports communities as change agents by empowering them to determine, own, and drive the change process. They focus on addressing the underlying systems and root causes of concern, rather than simply reacting to symptoms. This approach ensures that change is relevant, impactful, and sustainable at the community level. Firelight recognizes that community-based organizations and servant community leaders are the greatest assets in helping communities realize their own agency. They believe that by supporting these organizations and leaders, they can change the long-term trajectory of children and youth in Africa. Through a participatory system of grants, mentoring, convening, learning, and reflection, Firelight invests in community-based organizations in Africa. They work with these organizations to map their own shared areas of focus and priorities, define their own needs and opportunities, and build and realize their shared visions of sustainable change for children, youth, and the community. Firelight’s core program and learning team is based in southern and eastern Africa, with support from a global Board of Directors and Advisory Council. They provide flexible, long-term funding and capacity support that is tailored to the specific needs of each organization. In addition to supporting local organizations, Firelight also gathers evidence, leverages networks, and shares the voices and realities of communities, children, youth, and community-based organizations. Their goal is to influence a global practice of valuing and funding local community-driven systems change. Firelight’s commitment to empowering African communities and their focus on lasting, community-led change make them a valuable partner in driving positive transformation for children and youth in eastern and southern Africa.
Firelight is a multi-donor public charity fund that supports community-based organizations in eastern and southern Africa. Their focus is on driving lasting systems change for children and youth by empowering African communities. Through grants, mentoring, and capacity support, Firelight invests in organizations that are actively engaged in their communities. They believe in the power of African communities to create lasting change and work towards creating safe and nurturing environments where children can thrive. Firelight’s commitment to empowering African communities makes them a valuable partner in driving positive transformation for children and youth in Africa.
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