The Ilia Calderón Scholarship is run by One Young World in partnership with the Jang Calderón Family Foundation. It funds two young leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean to attend the One Young World Summit 2026, held in Cape Town, South Africa from 3 to 6 November 2026. One Young World is a London-based global NGO with a network of more than 20,500 members, including over 18,000 young leaders who serve as its Ambassadors.
The scholarship is aimed at people leading innovative, high-impact initiatives in their own communities and regions. Scholars travel to the Summit with all core costs covered, and plenary sessions are translated from English into Spanish. The 2026 application window ran from 7 May to 15 June 2026.
Benefits & funding
- Two scholarships are awarded
- Full access to the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town
- Hotel accommodation in a private room, checking in 2 November and checking out 7 November 2026
- Travel to and from Cape Town, economy class
- Domestic travel to the airport for the international flight, economy class
- Visa costs, where these apply
- Transport between the Summit accommodation and the Summit venue
- Catering: breakfast, lunch and dinner, at the hotel and during the Summit
- Translation from English into Spanish in the plenary sessions and at the welcome and closing events
Eligibility
- Aged 18–30 at the time of the Summit (3–6 November 2026)
- Applicants over 30 may still apply if they can demonstrate substantial impact and commitment
- Citizenship of one of 33 eligible countries: Colombia, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Panama, Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil
- Assessed on commitment and benefit to your community or region, the relevance of the initiatives you lead, demonstrated leadership ability, work that addresses local or global problems, a record of innovative and impactful ideas, and motivation to take part in One Young World
- No degree, field of study or work-experience requirement is stated
- Applicants may apply for more than one One Young World scholarship but can receive only one award; existing Ambassadors may apply, and priority goes to first-time Summit attendees
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
Colombia · Venezuela · Dominican Republic · Haiti · Panama · Honduras · Costa Rica · El Salvador · Guatemala · Mexico · Nicaragua · Antigua and Barbuda
+ 21 more
Bahamas · Barbados · Belize · Cuba · Dominica · Guyana · Grenada · Jamaica · Saint Kitts and Nevis · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Suriname · Trinidad and Tobago · Argentina · Bolivia · Chile · Ecuador · Paraguay · Peru · Uruguay · Brazil
Age requirement
≥ 18 yrs
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Application process
- 1Read the scholarship page and One Young World’s scholarship application guidance before writing anything.
- 2Draft the answers in a separate document. The scholarship form does not save answers until it is submitted.
- 3Submit through One Young World’s online scholarship application during the window (7 May – 15 June 2026 in the 2026 cycle).
- 4Give concrete impact figures, evidence and links (website, LinkedIn, press coverage) where the form allows them.
- 5Wait for the outcome. One Young World does not give individual feedback because of application volume.
Program timeline
Applications open
May 7, 2026
Application deadline
Jun 15, 2026
Scholars check in to the Summit hotel in Cape Town
Nov 2, 2026
Summit opens
Nov 3, 2026
Summit closes
Nov 6, 2026
Hotel check-out
Nov 7, 2026