The Dreamfund calls for Youth-Led Initiatives in Cape Town!

The Dream Fund, an initiative by Dreamtown, is now accepting applications to turn young people's innovative ideas into reality. This fund is dedicated to supporting youth-led, community-based initiatives that align with Dreamtown's mission of creating space for young people in cities, with a thematic focus on safe, green, and creative spaces.

The Fund provides unrestricted and flexible funding for small-scale initiatives, operating on a radically trust-based model with minimal reporting obligations, as we believe direct support for young people’s dreams can catalyse change within their communities.

For its first edition in 2025, The Dream Fund will provide 5 grants, each worth 27,000 ZAR (approximately 10,000 DKK), to ignite youth-led urban projects.

Who Should Apply?

The 2025 edition specifically focuses on grassroots initiatives around Cape Town, South Africa, reflecting our growing interest in the region and its dynamic youth-led urban projects. We are seeking South African youth, placemakers, activists, and dreamers. This includes individuals, groups, or organisations led by young people who have a vision for their city or need a push to get their ideas off the ground.

Your project could involve placemaking, arts, workshops, listening sessions, community activities, clean-up initiatives, planting trees, urban gardening, or something entirely different. Projects can be permanent or temporary, physical or event-based.

How to Apply?

We invite you to show us what you're dreaming of! The submission format is open and creative. The only requirement is to submit a 1-minute video that showcases your project idea and addresses these three key questions:• What is the dream?• What does it take to kick it off?• How does this project help bring that dream to life?You can film your video on a phone – it doesn't need to be perfect; your voice, idea, and energy are what truly matter.

The submission deadline is 20th September 2023. Please send your video submission to dreamfund@dreamtown.ngo.

What Happens Next?

A diverse selection committee, comprising five individuals with more than half being young people, will review all submissions. Even if not selected, all incoming video pitches will be shared on Dreamtown's social media to provide visibility to applicants and showcase the rich diversity of young people's dreams. Selected projects will be featured in a public online launch event, designed to foster network building among grantees. The entire process, from project selection to finalisation, is expected to span approximately 9 months for the 2025 edition.

Support the Dreamfund!

Not in South Africa, but would like to support young people and their innovative ideas? Good news! You can do this today by becoming a member of Dreamtown. It is only from 150 DKK a year and 100% of the membership fees go directly to the initiatives we support with the Dreamfund.

You can learn more about it here or directly sign up here.