For Youth, By Youth is a nascent, global, youth-led movement committed to fostering conscious leadership and global solidarity as pathways to meaningful and lasting impact. Developed by 36 university students across 18 countries, this movement has built a network of engaged young leaders who are shaping a more just and equitable world. The movement offers mentorship, financial support, wellness resources, and training in youth-led participatory action research, responsible AI, and storytelling. It empowers marginalized youth—especially those facing barriers due to gender, disability, ethnicity, or displacement—to drive transformative change that is locally grounded and globally relevant. The movement will support the transformative work of nearly 1,000 young people around the world over the span of five years.
For Youth, By Youth provides:
The For Youth, By Youth movement operates in three-year cycles:
YPAR is a core activity of For Youth, By Youth in which participants identify and investigate issues impacting their communities, design research projects with communities, and collaborate with community organizations to implement solutions.
Community/University Collaborators are individuals who work hand-in-hand with For Youth, By Youth participants in their YPAR projects. These collaborators may include:
The For Youth, By Youth movement offers a hybrid model. Most training and mentorship will occur online. There are also opportunities for in-person workshops and conferences.
Yes, participants will receive approximately $2,500 scholarships in Year 2 to support their youth-led action research projects.
For Youth, By Youth is a Movement that aims to foster long-term success and connections. Participants who successfully complete a three-year cycle become alumni and peer leaders for the movement. Alumni will have access to ongoing resources, mentorship, and opportunities for collaboration and leadership
Currently, students enrolled at ‘partner universities’ below are eligible to apply to formally and fully participate in For Youth, By Youth movement. Partner Universities include: American University of Beirut (Lebanon), Arizona State University (United States), Ashesi University (Ghana), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana), Makerere University (Uganda), University of Cape Town (South Africa), University of Pretoria (South Africa), University of Rwanda (Rwanda), University of Edinburgh (Scotland), and University of British Columbia (Canada).
Yes, recognizing that we are building a global movement and striving to promote accessibility and inclusion to the greatest extent possible, certain offerings—such as online webinars, training sessions, and presentations—will be made available to young people, regardless of their university status. We encourage you to regularly check the For Youth, By Youth website for updates.
Currently, only students enrolled in Partner Universities defined above are eligible to apply to participate formally and fully in the For Youth, By Youth movement.
Yes, For Youth, By Youth targets African youth, forcibly displaced youth, disabled youth, indigenous youth (Canada), women, and gender non-conforming youth. However, all eligible applicants are encouraged to apply.
While prior experience is beneficial, we value potential, motivation, and a commitment to community transformation. Applicants with diverse experiences are encouraged to apply.
While proficiency in English is required, non-fluent individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. Accessibility options, such as sign language support, will be available.
The application will open on January 15, 2026. Applications should be submitted through the application portal, which can be accessed here.
No. As of February 10, the attestation letter is no longer required. Instead, you simply need to complete a self-attestation checkbox in the application form confirming that:
Additionally, matriculation or enrollment certificates and Student IDs are not required.
No action is needed. Applicants who submitted an attestation letter or student ID before February 10 do not need to make any changes or email us to resubmit documents. Your application will not be penalized.
No, applying to the For Youth, By Youth movement is free of charge.
No, modifications are not allowed after submission.
You will receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please check your spam/junk folder or contact [email protected]
A youth-led international selection committee will review all complete applications.
The Second Cohort will include 75 young leaders.
The next application cycle opens on January 15, 2026. The exact application timelines will be shared closer to the recruitment period. Follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated!
Participants should expect to dedicate approximately 8–10 hours per week to program activities, including mentorship, training, and project implementation.
Yes, the movement offers flexibility and asynchronous content to accommodate participants with competing responsibilities.
We aim to provide support and accommodations to ensure your successful participation. Participants who struggle to meet basic requirements are strongly encouraged to communicate their challenges and concerns with the team. However, in some cases, failure to meet basic participation requirements may result in dismissal from the collaboration.
Yes, eligible candidates may reapply annually.
Yes, reliable internet access is essential for online training, mentorship, and program activities. For Youth, By Youth may provide accessibility services for those who are resource constrained and have limited access to electronic devices and/or the internet.
Yes, but we strongly encourage you to carefully consider your ability to commit to the three-year cycle before applying
Yes, participants who successfully complete the three-year cycle will receive a certificate of achievement.
You can reach us at [email protected].
For more information about the For Youth, By Youth movement, please visit the For Youth, By Youth website.
Reach out to us on the Contact Us page.
If your question is not answered here, please contact us at [email protected] with the subject line “Application: For Youth, By Youth movement.”
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