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The Youth Languages Fund

The Youth Languages Fund

The Youth Languages Fund has now closed

The Youth Languages Fund was created to support Pacific youth groups to deliver grassroots Pacific language initiatives to young Pacific people.

Our Pacific languages matter because they tell the story of who we are. Language, culture and identity is essential to the wellbeing and longtime success of Pacific people in Aotearoa.

Comparisons from Census 2013 to Census 2018 data shows that the proportion of speakers of Pacific languages in Aotearoa has declined across the board. 

Eligible applicants were able to apply by submitting a proposal for up to $2500.

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About the fund

To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Be a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand.

  • Be of Pacific descent.

  • Represent an unregistered or registered group, or a Pacific owned and operated group or organisation run by youth for youth.

  • Be able to deliver an initiative targeted at Pacific young people within the calendar year timeframe.

  • Provide a budget outline.

  • Applicants can only apply for one MPP language fund.

Eligible applicants can apply by submitting a proposal for up to $2500.

The Youth Languages Fund was available for initiatives that:

  • Were targeted towards Pacific young people in Aotearoa.

  • Aligned with MPP’s Lalanga Fou Goal: Thriving Pacific languages, cultures, and identities.

  • Were targeted towards Pacific communities and families.

  • Shared and passed on Pacific language knowledge.

  • Enabled or improved access to Pacific language learning.

  • Increased the awareness or provided a platform for the use of Pacific languages.

  • Helped grow the number of speakers of Pacific languages.

All initiatives funded by the Youth Languages Fund had to follow Government COVID-19 health measures for gatherings and social distancing when required. Applicants were asked to consider alternative ways to run their programmes, such as online where possible.

The Youth Languages Fund will not fund:

  • Initiatives that only benefit or support one individual.
  • For-profit activities.
  • Initiatives that are not aligned with the priorities of this fund.
  • Programmes and services that duplicate existing services.
  • Initiatives that are the general responsibility of other sectors (such as school and tertiary-based programmes which are the primary responsibility of the Ministry of Education, NZQA and TEC).
  • Programmes and activities delivered overseas including the NZ realm countries.
  • Wages, salaries, infrastructure, fixed assets and capital expenditure.
  • Academic research and other academic activities.
  • Debt repayment or debt servicing. 

If you need more information about the Youth Languages Fund, email [email protected]