MCW Young Leaders Fellowship — Fellowship

The MCW Young Leaders Fellowship is a year-long leadership-development program run by MCW Global (Miracle Corners of the World), a New York–based nonprofit. It mobilizes young people aged 18–26 from around the world to design and carry out community projects in education, health, and economic security. The year combines a virtual community-needs assessment, a 10-day in-person vision-planning and training intensive in New York City and Burlington, Vermont, and roughly ten months of virtual project implementation supported by alumni mentors.

Benefits & funding

Fully funded in-person component: round-trip international (or domestic US) economy flights, housing, and three meals daily during the 10-day training.
Round-trip travel between New York City and Burlington, Vermont, plus ground transport to and from the NYC airports (JFK, LaGuardia, Newark).
Leadership, self-awareness, and project-development training, with diverse speakers, workshops, and facilitated group work.
Pairing with an alumni mentor and quarterly virtual hangouts through the implementation year.
Refundable USD 100 deposit, returned on completion of the in-person training.
Participant covers: passport, US visa fees, in-country transport to the airport, extra baggage, and any medical costs during the program.

Eligibility

Aged 18–26 at program start.
Open to applicants from anywhere in the world; applicants must be able to obtain a US visa and travel documents.
Fluent written and spoken English; all application materials must be submitted in English.
No specific degree required; selection looks for demonstrated commitment to one’s community and a clear community issue to address.
Able to commit fully to all three phases and to maintain reliable email and internet access for the year.

Can you apply?

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Age requirement
18–26 yrs

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Application process

1
Submit the first-round application: a general information form, two essay responses, a one-page CV, and two letters of recommendation (from people who know the applicant’s community work, not family or friends).
2
Shortlisted applicants are invited to a second-round application, followed by interviews with program alumni.
3
Accepted fellows confirm their place, complete the visa step, and pay the refundable USD 100 deposit.

Program timeline

Applications open (2026 cohort)
Nov 5, 2025
First-round application deadline
Dec 3, 2025
First-round decisions; second-round applications open
Dec 22, 2025
Second-round application deadline
Jan 11, 2026
Interviews with alumni
Feb 3, 2026 to Feb 12, 2026
Acceptances sent
Feb 19, 2026
Virtual community-needs assessment begins
Jun 8, 2026
In-person training (New York City and Burlington, Vermont)
Jul 21, 2026 to Jul 30, 2026
Virtual project implementation and alumni mentorship
2026-07 to 2027-07