The OD Impact Challenge is a free global online competition that Opportunity Desk runs each year to recognise young people tackling problems in their communities. Entrants explain their work, and Opportunity Desk’s part in it, in a 60-second video.
The 2025 round closed on 8 December 2025. On 14 October 2026 Opportunity Desk announced a 2026 round, but has not yet published its opening date or deadline.
Benefits & funding
- 2025 cash prizes: $500 (first), $300 (second), $200 (third); partner perks may change by year.
- Top 12: certificate, a Global Changemakers project management course (valued at $150), automatic Savvy Fellowship entry, mentoring and media features.
- Top 30: Savvy Fellowship entry, a certificate and listing as OD Impact Challenge 30 Under 30 Changemakers.
- No entry fee.
Eligibility
- Aged 18–30, any nationality, living anywhere.
- At least one year of impact in your community, as an individual, employee or entrepreneur.
- An active Opportunity Desk user who follows its Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn and Telegram accounts and subscribes to its newsletter.
- Opportunity Desk staff, partners, mentors and past top-three winners cannot apply.
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.
Experience required
≥ 1 yrs
Age requirement
18–30 yrs
Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Record a 60-second video: your name and country, the problem you are solving, and how winning would help; non-English videos need English subtitles.
- 2Post it publicly on social media with the cycle’s hashtags (2025: #ODImpactChallenge #ODIC2025).
- 3Submit the online form before the deadline.
- 4Top 12 finalists go to public voting; the jury picks the winners.
Program timeline
14 October 2026
2026 round announced; dates not yet published
17 November 2025
2025 applications opened
8 December 2025 (11:59 pm WAT)
2025 deadline
19–24 December 2025
2025 public voting
29 December 2025
2025 winners announced