Healthy Lungs for Life global grant winners announced
From Ethiopia to Ukraine, from Nepal to the United Kingdom, communities around the world are implementing initiatives to improve lung health through education, prevention, and awareness.
The 2026 Healthy Lungs for Life global grant programme has awarded funding to 13 organisations across 11 countries, supporting community-based initiatives focused on lung health education, prevention, and awareness.
The application round closed in April, receiving more than 350 submissions from organisations worldwide. The selected projects represent a broad range of approaches to improving lung health at community level.
Community-based lung health initiatives
Ten organisations have been awarded €1,000 grants to deliver local activities aligned with the Healthy Lungs for Life campaign objectives:
- READIO Ethiopia (Remote Care Empowerment and Development Initiative Organisation), Ethiopia
- Tim Africa Aid, Ghana
- KIACOPS MEGA CONCEPTS, Nigeria
- Fikar e Farda Welfare Organisation, Pakistan
- Naresuan University, Thailand
- Cerrahpaşa Medical School, Türkiye
- Kampala International University, Uganda
- Dnipro State Medical University, Ukraine
- SOAR Community, United Kingdom
- Participatory Education and Action for Community Empowerment (PEACE), Zambia
These projects will support increased awareness of key lung health issues, including air quality, smoking cessation, physical activity, vaccination, and the health impacts of climate change.
Enhanced Impact Grants
In 2026, the programme introduced three Enhanced Impact Grants of €5,000. These were open to organisations that had previously received Healthy Lungs for Life funding and successfully implemented their activities.
The grants are intended to support the expansion or further development of established initiatives, with the aim of increasing reach and strengthening impact.
The 2026 Enhanced Impact Grant recipients are:
- Pulmonary Hypertension Ukrainian Rare Disease Association
- Helping Hands Foundation, Pakistan
- Health Care Association of Nepal
About Healthy Lungs for Life
Healthy Lungs for Life is a global campaign focused on improving lung health across all life stages. The campaign promotes awareness, prevention, and early intervention, and supports efforts to reduce the global burden of respiratory disease.
Funded projects address one or more of the following priority areas:
- Air quality: improving understanding of the impact of air pollution and reducing exposure
- Smoking cessation: highlighting the benefits of stopping smoking for lung health
- Physical activity: promoting physical activity to support healthy lung function
- Vaccination: increasing awareness of vaccines that help prevent respiratory infections
- Climate change: improving understanding of its effects on lung health
Applications were assessed on clarity of objectives, community engagement, and potential for measurable impact. Particular emphasis was placed on activities reaching children and young people, reflecting the importance of early-life interventions for long-term lung health.
Partnership and funding
The Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) supports the Healthy Lungs for Life grant programme in collaboration with CADSET. This partnership enables the delivery of community-led projects that contribute to improving lung health awareness and outcomes globally.
The next funding round is expected to open in early 2027. Further information about the programme and previous funded projects is available via the Healthy Lungs for Life campaign resources.