Investing in emerging ideas that are creating a better future for young people.

Fondation Botnar is a Swiss philanthropic foundation working to improve the health and wellbeing of young people living in cities around the world. Advocating for the inclusion of youth voices and the equitable use of AI and digital technology, the foundation invests in and supports innovative programs and research, and brings together actors from across sectors to create dialogue and partnerships.

Our Year 2022
Read a summary of highlights, achievements and reflections over the past year at Fondation Botnar.

Conversation with Adria and Theresa
In the first podcast blog from Fondation Botnar, you’ll meet the third cohort of Young Professionals, Adria and Theresa.

Launch of Being, a new mental health initiative for young people
Fondation Botnar is working in collaboration with Grand Challenges Canada, United for Global Mental Health and Global Affairs Canada to support Being, an international mental health initiative working with young people in LMICs.

Fondation Botnar expands OurCity initiative to advance young people’s wellbeing in cities
We are extremely proud to add Latin American cities Manta and Barranquilla to our global OurCity initiative that leverages local strengths, community engagement and digital technologies to transform cities and ensure young people’s wellbeing.

Impact Generation with Vivo Mi Calle, Colombia
Watch the latest video in our Impact Generation series to hear from Adriana Quiñones, a young person involved in the Vivo Mi Calle project, a part of the Healthy Cities for Adolescents program.

Meet young people driving social change in Tanga, Tanzania
To mark International Youth Day, we are delighted to highlight the exciting innovations of 4 young people involved in one of our flagship projects in Tanga, Tanzania: the OurCity initiative.

Cities fit for young people
Bringing together key people from across city systems and investing in solutions created with, by, and for young people, we’re working to create cities that are healthy, sustainable, and liveable for young people.

AI and digital for an equitable future
We fund and support ideas that bring the potential of AI and digital technology to life to create better, more inclusive spaces and platforms that support young people’s wellbeing — always with equity and responsibility at its core.

Meaningful youth participation
We support programs, projects and research that include young people, treat them with the trust and respect they deserve, give them the necessary space to contribute to work that affects them as equal partners.
The feed
Twitter feed
''Our participation is essential in the design and regulation of digital spaces. The only way to make them safe and effective is if we create and define them together.''
@amnesty youth activist Abril advocates for youth voices in digital spaces 👏 #HRC52
https://bit.ly/3JgjCeX
Hey YOUth! As we gear up for the upcoming @WomenDeliver conference, we're excited to announce our very first pop-up radio show. 📻
Our aim is to bring together young voices and leaders to exchange ideas on how we can improve the wellbeing of young people. #WD2023
Great piece from youth activist, Esther Mwema @digigrassroots on the need to work with young people to create digital governance principles. 📱
To protect digital rights and enhance wellbeing, we must ensure online spaces are equitable.
@UN_Women
https://bit.ly/3J4y0qJ
🗣️Young people are critical for shaping the future of our cities. Yet, they are being underrepresented in decision making.
@safetipinapp shares in @htTweets why we must bring youth voices into decision making to ensure cities are fit for their purpose.
https://bit.ly/3Tiw8zj
The Global Forum for Adolescents will bring together young people and decision makers to mobilise action towards improved wellbeing for young people.
@PMNCH are calling on organisations to lead a session in the event.
Apply by April 12 👉 https://bit.ly/3JkHXjI.
#1point8
Last week Theresa and Imani were delighted to attend African Health Agenda International Conference #AHAIC - meeting young leaders to host our first pre-production radio show ahead of @WomenDeliver. 📻
Hear more about their experience. ⬇️
https://bit.ly/408W2HR
Have you read our latest digital report #OurYear2022 yet? 👀
Learn more about our work together with young people and partners, improving wellbeing for young people in cities around the 🌎.
Read ⬇️
https://bit.ly/41Bpw2H
This year, the @UN is celebrating the theme DigitALL. We MUST ensure that the digital🌎 is accessible to EVERY person on the planet. Currently, 37% of women do not use the internet, w/ 259 million fewer women that have internet access than men.
#InternationalWomensDay #IWD2023
An estimated 77 million girls 🌎globally live with a #mentalhealth condition. This #IWD, we celebrate the young women and girls driving change for better mental health and #wellbeing for all.
Equal access to digital technology 📱💻 can:
✅ Increase access to #CSE and #SRHR
✅ Break barriers to advance #GenderEquality
✅ And more
This #IWD2023 and every day, let's #PowerOn to close the digital gender gap!
In 2023, @Trans4m_Health is ramping up our work on gender & digital health.
Digital tools offer can help address gender inequalities in health access & outcomes and improve women & girls’ health & well-being.
Read our #InternationalWomensDay statement:
https://transformhealthcoalition.org/digitall-promoting-gender-equity-within-digitally-enabled-health-systems/