# OpenAI Launches €500,000 Grant Program for Youth Safety in AI Era
OpenAI has announced the EMEA Youth & Wellbeing Grant, a new €500,000 funding initiative targeting organizations working to protect young people as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly prevalent in their lives.
The program is open to non-governmental organizations and researchers across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) who are focused on advancing youth safety and wellbeing in the context of AI technology.
**Why It Matters**
As AI tools become more accessible to younger users, concerns about their impact on child development, mental health, and online safety have intensified. This grant represents OpenAI's effort to proactively address these concerns by supporting organizations on the ground.
The initiative signals a growing recognition among AI companies that they need to invest in understanding and mitigating potential harms to vulnerable populations, particularly children and teenagers who are growing