Global Changemakers is a youth-empowerment non-profit registered in Switzerland and the United States, and reports having trained over 50,000 young people from more than 180 countries. Its flagship Global Youth Summit runs each year as a four-day, workshop-driven gathering rather than a sit-and-listen conference. The 2026 edition takes place in Cape Town, South Africa from 19 October 2026, delivered in partnership with the South African cultural organisation ATKV. Participants exchange perspectives, strengthen leadership skills and build solutions with peers from around the world. Selected changemakers also join an alumni network of more than 1,200 people and gain access to the organisation’s grant-funding pathways for youth-led projects.
Benefits & funding
- Majority of spots are fully funded: round-trip airfare, accommodation and meals during the summit (covered for 2026 by Global Changemakers and ATKV)
- A very limited number of partially funded spots: accommodation and meals provided, participants book and pay their own airfare (flights to be arranged by 1 September)
- Membership of a global alumni network of 1,200+ changemakers, with access to exclusive grant-funding pathways for community projects
- Not covered: the South African visa (arranged and paid by the participant) and domestic travel to the departure airport
- Application fee: US$35 standard, non-refundable if not selected; a US$45 bundled rate adds a course
Eligibility
- Aged 21 to 28 during the summit (for the 2026 edition: born on or after 23 October 1997)
- Open to applicants of any nationality, based anywhere in the world
- Already actively doing changemaking work in their community
- Able to work in English — all summit sessions are conducted in English
Can you apply?
Worth a closer look
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Age requirement
21–28 yrs
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We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Pay the US$35 application fee via PayPal, credit or debit card (US$45 bundled option available)
- 2Record a two-minute video, upload it to a platform of your choice and submit the link
- 3Complete and submit the written application form — an application counts only once all three steps are done before the deadline
- 4Finalists are interviewed; all applicants are informed of results by email
Program timeline
Applications opened
Mar 20, 2026
Application deadline (midnight Eastern Time)
Apr 20, 2026
Selection results emailed to all applicants
End of June 2026
Summit opens in Cape Town, running four days
Oct 19, 2026
Annual cycle — the next edition’s call is expected around spring 2027