Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation and Cotton On have announced their R6,4 million donation towards 6 South African mental health organisations. This forms part of $3,000,000 USD funding of 65 youth-centered organizations across ten countries through the Kindness in Community Fund, among the largest funding efforts to provide direct support for youth mental health across the world.

From nominations to the initial review to selecting the shortlist, all the way to the final selection, young people in each region were engaged at each step, ensuring their input and perspectives were central to the decision-making process and reflecting their genuine needs and priorities in mental health.

The Kindness in Community Fund grantees span a wide range of focus areas, including direct mental health service providers, arts and culture, youth leadership and development, education, sports and recreation, and more. By offering up to $150,000 USD per organization, the fund enables services that respond to the top themes young people hoped to address in their regions, including culturally competent services, LGBTQ+ rights and advocacy, gender-based violence support, de-stigmatizing mental health, and migrant and refugee community care. The Kindness in Community Fund offers a comprehensive approach that connects young people with a wide range of free, accessible resources and opportunities to support themselves and their peers.