AVPN Launches USD 3 Million Fund to Support Mental Wellbeing of Asian Youth

AVPN, the largest network of social investors in Asia, has launched the Asian Youth Mental Wellbeing Fund, a USD 3 million philanthropic pooled fund that aims to address youth mental wellbeing in Southeast Asia and South Asia. Mental health is the second largest contributor to years of healthy life lost to disability in Asia, and barriers to treatment persist due to systemic issues, lack of accurate data and monitoring, and funding discrepancies. The Fund, the first of its kind, was launched at the AVPN Global Conference 2023 by Malaysia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Hannah Yeoh. Non-profit organizations and social enterprises focusing on innovative impact organizations addressing mental wellbeing conditions among young people can apply for the Fund starting September 2023. AVPN will provide unrestricted funding and non-financial support for selected non-profit organizations to promote trust and encourage innovation. Additionally, the Fund’s grant disbursement committee will comprise young impact leaders to identify needs on the ground across Asia and evaluate incoming applications. AVPN believes early intervention is key to addressing the negative effects of mental health challenges on youth’s wellbeing and economy, highlighting the importance of collaborating and taking a multi-generational approach. The partnership between AVPN and Yayasan Hasanah, the foundation of Khazanah Nasional, the Malaysian government’s sovereign wealth fund, is expected to further enhance the Fund’s reach and effectiveness in addressing mental health issues among young people in the region.