Restless Development, the youth-led development agency, previously Students Partnership Worldwide (SPW), was founded in 1985 by Jim Cogan OBE. Its mission is to place young people at the forefront of change and development.
Restless Development currently works in India, Nepal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe and also has offices in London and New York.
Restless Development works to ensure to bring young people to the decision-making table across three goal areas:
Civic participation
Livelihoods and Employment
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
What They Do
The agency trains, educates, supports and inspires young people to lead development in their countries and communities.
1. It helps young people make responsible choices about their health and their livelihoods.
2. It gives them the skills they need to contribute positively to society.
3. It creates the opportunity for young people to play active roles in policy and decision making.
Restless Development is driven forward by young people and young professionals around the world. More than 1,000 young men and women, with an average age of 21 years, lead the direct delivery of the programmes in communities across Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Around 87% of Restless Development's volunteers are national volunteers.
Restless Development also sends volunteers from the UK abroad to work alongside national volunteers through its flagship International Citizen Service (ICS) programme. ICS is funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
Restless Development is also part of the Stop AIDS Campaign, and has responsibility for coordinating the Student Stop AIDS Campaign. A significant number of Student Stop AIDS campaigners are former Restless Development volunteers.
