€500K Grant for Youth Safety in AI Era

Google has launched a €500,000 grant program called EMEA Youth & Wellbeing Grant, aimed at NGOs and research organizations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The funding supports projects that help young people benefit from AI while staying safe. Grants range from €25k to €100k, with multi-year awards possible for larger initiatives. Eligible projects include youth protection programs, AI literacy for kids and parents, or research on how AI affects child development and safety. The program emphasizes producing practical outputs like reports, toolkits, or policy briefs that others can replicate. Applications for 2026 are now closed, but finalists have been selected. Why it matters: As AI becomes embedded in how kids learn and socialize, dedicated funding like this shifts the conversation from just building AI tools to ensuring they’re actually safe for the most vulnerable users.