Who can apply
- Recognised educational institutions in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania or Zambia
- Recognised local organisations with an educational objective
- Local NGOs or similar organisations conducting informal vocational training and empowerment programmes
- Organisations with a training centre and at least five years of vocational-training experience
- Organisations serving vulnerable and disadvantaged young people aged 14–28
- Organisations able to provide sufficient classrooms or workshops and appropriate instructors
Focus areas
- Vocational education and practical skills training
- Employment and labour-market readiness
- Youth economic self-reliance
- Training for vulnerable and disadvantaged youth
- Disability-inclusive vocational training
- Apprenticeships and internships
- Learning-on-the-job programmes
- Training materials, machines and tools
- Tuition support for disadvantaged trainees
- Starter tools and pathways into self-employment
- Accessibility of vocational education
Requirements
- Applicant must have an educational objective and a training centre with at least five years of vocational-training experience
- Applicant and proposed project must be located in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania or Zambia
- Applicant must have sufficient classrooms and/or workshops for the proposed vocational training
- Project must improve the quality or accessibility of vocational training for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people aged 14–28
- Project must contribute to improving participants' prospects in the labour market
- Applicant must provide a clear project plan and feasibility analysis
- Application must be clearly substantiated with the required supporting information
- Amount requested must not exceed €5,000
- Applicant must provide at least 15% cost sharing
- Funding is not provided for constructing new classrooms or workshops
- Costs already incurred are not reimbursed
Application steps
- Review the official eligibility criteria carefully, particularly the five-year vocational-training-centre requirement and minimum 15% cost contribution
- Prepare a clear vocational-training project addressing vulnerable or disadvantaged young people aged 14–28 and demonstrating realistic employment outcomes
- Prepare the organisation's supporting evidence, including organisational recognition, training-centre experience, available workshops or classrooms, instructors and financial information
- Download and complete the official initial project-funding application form when the October application window opens
- Submit the completed initial application and required documents to the Van Doorn Foundation using the official submission instructions
- If the initial application passes eligibility screening, complete and return the Foundation's final application form within three weeks of receiving it
This is a small but highly targeted grant for established vocational-training organisations rather than a general NGO funding opportunity. The most important eligibility gate is the requirement that the applicant has an educational objective and a training centre with at least five years of vocational-training experience. Organisations should verify that they can document this history before investing heavily in an application. Competition is meaningful: Van Doorn assesses organisational experience, facilities, instructors, financial information, alignment with vulnerable youth, project cost, own contribution, feasibility and sustainability. At least 15% cost sharing is compulsory, and projects requesting more than €5,000 are ineligible. Applicants should prioritise practical, employment-linked activities such as equipment, accessible vocational training, apprenticeships, internships and starter tools. Construction of new classrooms or workshops is excluded, previously incurred costs are not reimbursed, and approved project costs are generally paid directly to suppliers.