NewNow One Young World Leaders Program 2026 | Fully Funded | Cape Town, South Africa
NewNow One Young World Leaders Program 2026 | Fully Funded | Cape Town, South Africa
Are you a passionate changemaker under the age of 30 with a track record of impactful leadership? Do you want to deepen your ability to tackle systemic challenges, amplify your influence, and connect with an inspiring global network of young leaders? If your answer is yes, then the NewNow One Young World Leaders Program 2026 might be your next big opportunity.
This exciting fully funded leadership initiative will be hosted in the vibrant city of Cape Town, South Africa from 3–6 November 2026, bringing together emerging leaders from across the Global South to engage, connect, and collaborate on solutions for the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges.
🔍 What Is the NewNow One Young World Leaders Program?
The NewNow programme is an initiative by One Young World, supported by Virgin Unite, designed to empower the boldest young leaders who use systems-thinking to create lasting impact. Systems-thinking refers to understanding and intervening in complex interconnected issues — from climate change to inequality — in ways that go beyond surface-level fixes and address root causes.
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Rather than a typical leadership seminar, this program invites participants to rethink how change is done — with deep collaboration, innovative approaches, and long-term strategic vision. Selected leaders don’t just attend a global summit; they join a lifelong community committed to change.
🏆 Why This Opportunity Matters
The One Young World Summit is one of the most influential gatherings of young leaders worldwide, attracting more than 2,000 participants from over 190 countries. It’s a space where ideas become action, partnerships form, and impactful initiatives scale. Hosting the 2026 summit in Cape Town reconnects this global forum with the African continent’s dynamic leadership scene.
But the NewNow Leaders Program goes a step further. It identifies a cohort of standout changemakers — typically around ten leaders — and offers them a fully funded pathway into the Summit and beyond. That means your travel, accommodation, meals, and participation are covered so that financial barriers don’t stand between you and your leadership potential.
🌍 Who Can Apply? Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for this exceptional opportunity, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- ✅ Be aged 18–30 years old by the time of the Summit.
- ✅ Be a national of a Global South country (countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and parts of the Middle East).
- ✅ Demonstrate successful leadership experience through impactful initiatives in your community or sector.
- ✅ Show a strong understanding of both local and global issues requiring systems-thinking approaches.
- ✅ Have a track record of applying systems-based strategies to generate long-term sustainable impact.
- ✅ Be willing to collaborate with fellow NewNow leaders and share promising examples of systems change.
This focus ensures that the program prioritizes young leaders who are already driving meaningful progress and are ready to scale their impact through a global platform.
🌟 Program Benefits & What You’ll Receive
Selected NewNow leaders gain access to an extraordinary set of opportunities:
- 🎓 A fully funded scholarship to attend the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town (including travel, accommodation, and meals).
- 🤝 Lifelong membership in the One Young World Ambassador Community, a global network of changemakers.
- 📢 Exposure on One Young World and Virgin Unite media channels, elevating your profile and work.
- 🎤 Invitations to speaking opportunities and workshops that enhance your leadership capacity.
- 🚀 Access to the One Young World Global Leadership Programme and Action Accelerator, a suite of tools and resources for high-impact leaders.
- 🤗 Opportunities to collaborate with your cohort on joint initiatives and advocacy campaigns.
- 🧠 Exclusive capacity-building sessions to refine your skills and expand your strategic thinking.
This combination of visibility, connection, and support can be transformative — propelling your work from local impact to global influence.
📅 Important Dates You Should Know
- 📌 Application Opens: Already live! (Applications started on 6 November 2025).
- 📆 Application Deadline: 16 February 2026 — mark this date and prepare your materials well in advance.
- 📍 Program Dates: 3–6 November 2026 — the summit and related experiences will take place during this period in Cape Town.
📝 How to Apply
Ready to take the leap? Applying is straightforward and fully online.
👉 Apply here: https://www.oneyoungworld.com/scholarship/newnow — this is the official application link where you’ll find all instructions and submit your application.
Prepare a compelling narrative about your leadership journey, highlight the tangible impact you’ve made, and clearly describe how systems-thinking underpins your work. Applicants who can articulate both vision and real-world results tend to stand out.
Final Thoughts
The NewNow One Young World Leaders Program 2026 isn’t just another scholarship — it’s an invitation to step into a global community of young leaders dedicated to shaping a better world. If you’re passionate about tackling deep-rooted challenges with creativity, collaboration, and long-term vision, this program provides the resources, connections, and stage to amplify your potential.
Don’t let this opportunity pass you by — apply today at the official link: https://www.oneyoungworld.com/scholarship/newnow and take your leadership to the world stage! 🚀
