Alumni Opportunities

WTO Essay Award for Young Economists 2021

The WTO has issued a call for young economists to submit papers for the 2021 WTO Essay Award. The award aims to promote high-quality research on trade policy and international trade cooperation and to reinforce the relationship between the WTO and the academic community.

The winning essay may be published in the WTO Working Paper Series. It is the responsibility of the author(s) to endeavor to secure publication of the contribution in a journal. The award ceremony will take place on 9-11 September 2021 in Ghent (Belgium).

Benefits

• The annual WTO Essay Award provides a prize of CHF 5,000 to the author(s) of the winning essay. In the case of a co-authored paper, the prize will be equally divided among the authors. The winning paper will be officially announced at the annual meeting of the European Trade Study Group, which is the largest conference specializing in international trade.
• The winning author will receive funding to attend the meeting.
• The winning essay may be published in the WTO Working Paper Series. 

Eligibilities

• The paper must address issues related to trade policy and international trade cooperation.
• The author(s) of the paper must possess or be engaged in the completion of a PhD degree and, if over 30 years of age, be no more than two years past a PhD defense.
• In the case of co-authored papers, this requirement shall apply to all authors.
• In addition, to be considered for the award, essays cannot exceed 15,000 words.

Eligible Regions: Open for all

Akhuwat Fellowship Program 2021

The Akhuwat Fellowship Program seeks to build and cultivate a community of change-makers, creative entrepreneurs, and moral leaders committed to making a difference. It will serve as a platform enabling people and organizations to unlock their potential to drive social change. In the past, their fellows have gained extensive exposure to the complex issues related to poverty, social inequality, and morality by engaging with different communities through Akhuwat’s different projects.

This year the Fellowship will engage young minds, practitioners, and policymakers so that collectively they can critically analyze the gaps in their society and work towards creating a more compassionate society. They aim to find collective solutions and develop alternative pathways rooted in kindness and equity, to grave problems our world faces today.

The fellowship will focus on different themes and their impact on the development sector. These themes include Education, Empathy, Healthcare, Human-centered design, Economics, Environment, Crisis Management, and Interfaith Harmony. Guest Speakers who are pioneers in their fields will be invited to share their expertise on these themes and encourage the fellows to develop a critical thinking approach to solve complex problems.

The Akhuwat Fellowship Program (AFP) has been running since 2011 and it provides a platform for young leaders and change-makers to unlock their potential and drive social change. Carrying forward Akhuwat’s vision of creating a poverty-free society, Akhuwat has now trained over a thousand young adults to play their part in resolving the varied and complex development challenges we are facing today. Given the current state of the country because of the COVID-19 crisis, the AFP will take place online. There will be various webinars, interactive sessions, and activities as well as guest lectures from some of the top development practitioners of Pakistan which will guarantee it as a great learning experience. In the past, the AFP fellows have gained extensive exposure to the various facets of Akhuwat via a comprehensive social development training platform. Their exposure combined with familiarity with fieldwork, project development and research provided them with the analytical and leadership skills required to excel in their field while creating a meaningful impact in society.

Location: Online

Benefits

• Since 2010, the Akhuwat Fellowship program (AFP) has been investing in future leaders; who wish to tackle complex issues that the world faces. Whether you are a student, a young professional interested in social development, or someone who wants to embark on a journey of self-transformation; this program is for you!
• Through a combination of virtual training, activities, thoughtful discussions and field visit the Fellowship aims to equip you with the courage to think differently and cultivate a community of motivated changemakers who are dedicated to make a meaningful impact in society and create a more compassionate world.
• This program will also allow you to connect with a diverse group of people from various backgrounds as well as development professionals who are experts in their field in Pakistan.

Eligibilities

• Applicants are over 16 years of age
• Applicants display a keen interest in social issues that are engrained in our society
• Applicants are willing to take online sessions throughout the course of the program

Eligible Regions: Open For All

7th Annual Millennium Oceans Prize 2021

The Millennium Oceans Prize is returning for its seventh year to support and celebrate students who are passionate about conserving, protecting, and sustainably using oceans, seas, and marine water and life.

The Millennium Oceans Prize celebrates youth activism advancing Marine and Freshwater conservation, and sustainable use of oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, and marine resources. Initiatives that champion sustainable fisheries will receive special consideration. The objectives of this Prize are reflected in the proposed United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #14. Prize winners will receive mentorship and a $5,000 prize for the implementation of a concrete campaign idea to spark change and garner support in advocacy, policy, and leadership for oceans and freshwater systems. The Prize and Campaign it enables is supported by Millennium Campus Network (MCN) and the Remmer Family Foundation.

They are looking for campaign ideas that are concrete and can rally peers to mobilize in this sector. How can one engage youth leaders on other campuses and in communities across the globe to fight for and champion advocacy and leadership for the oceans, freshwater systems, sustainable fishing, and marine conservation? The campaign could take shape through activism, social entrepreneurship, or research. How will one mobilize their community and inspire youth leaders worldwide to take part in the fight for sustainable practices that protect oceans and freshwater systems?

Benefits

The best part of this prize is the opportunity to cultivate a community of peers who care just as much about the oceans and marine resources as you do. Here are the specifics:

• Up to $5,000 to implement the winning campaign
• Mentorship and support from MCN
• Co-curate campaign action groups, mobilizing and coordinating with peers who are passionate about SDG 14
• Write for our media partners about the campaign
• Co-curate global webinars with the MCN and the Remmer Family Foundation during the academic year to keep peers engaged and involved

Eligibilities

• Young leaders who have demonstrated the ability to galvanize peers and sustain active engagement for a full academic year.
• Although the campaigns will be time-bound, their impact should pave the way for the next series of student movements to transpire.
• Thereby only undergraduate students are eligible to apply.

Eligible Regions: Open for all

Young Writers Program 2021

Young Writers Program 2021 is a unique initiative by Mindselo where they are inviting writers, bloggers, journalists, and other conscious minds to express their unique ideas on various topics in the form of a blog/article. Through this program, they aim to build a community of passionate & conscious minds who can contribute in making this world a better place with their skills.

Location: Online

Benefits

• Winners of this program will receive a Unique Title – Mindselo Bloggers
• Best submissions will be featured on their official website reaching a global audience
• Access to Mindselo Creators Program
• Certification and many other future opportunities

Eligibilities

• Proven ability to tell rich stories in words, video or both.
• The language should be Hindi/English.
• The Word limit is 250 words minimum and 1000 words maximum.
• The article should be the author’s original work and should not be published anywhere in any form
• No Age Restrictions
• No Region Restrictions

Eligible Regions: Open for All

The 5th Global Youth Environmental Essay Competition 2021

The Korea Educational Association for Empowerment of Software has chosen “Climate Change and Economy” as the topic of “The 5th Global Youth Environmental Essay Competiton 2021”. Through this competition, they are hoping to provide a special opportunity for teenagers, who will become the leading players in the future, to seriously consider and explore the effects of climate change on future economic and industrial structure, social ramifications, roles of all walks of life as well as coping measures.

Essay Topic: Climate Change and Economy

Location: Online

Benefits

• 51 awardees will be selected.
• No entry fee

Eligibilities

Open for middle and high school students from any country (between 7th-12th grades or equivalent on May 31, 2021)

Eligible Regions: Open for All.

Africa4Her Pledge

When women succeed, we all succeed. By amplifying the call for gender equality in political participation, peace-building and security, and business, you are investing in the strength of your community. That’s because when women are given fair access to opportunities, their families, communities, and countries grow with them.

Together, let’s stand up for women’s rights. Throughout Africa4Her, you’ll learn more about the unique challenges facing women across sub-Saharan Africa and how we can all advocate for women’s rights in our communities! 

Strong women make for a strong future for all of us. Use the resources below (see the link) to join Africa4Her and make a stand for women today. 

The IDEX Fellowship Program 2021

IDEX was launched in 2010 as a professional fellowship program for aspiring social enterprise practitioners. IDEX is developing the next wave of “social intrapreneurs” who will support, lead and advance the work of socially-focused enterprises around the world.

This fellowship that they are offering is for any professional from across the globe who wants to dive deep into the social impact sector and make the transition to social enterprise practitioner.

This is a 6-month virtual program (approx. 8-10 hours per week) that is designed to enable professionals to acquire the tools and resources to operate virtually as well as upskill themselves for a successful career in social impact and entrepreneurship. 

Location: Online

Benefits

• Adding professional credibility while accessing relevant and progressive Professional Development Learning Labs covering themes of human-centered Design, Resource Mobilization, Monitoring & Evaluation, Communication Strategies.
• Subject Matter Experts, seasoned professionals, and thought leaders in their respective fields engaging you in Capacity Building Sessions at a group and individual level
• Exposure to invaluable professional networks and alumni network opportunities
• Internationally recognized Professional Certification in Social Enterprise
• Professionally attested experience letters detailing project engagement with global impact organizations
• Post Fellowship Support and a global family for life!
• The IDEX Fellowship Program tuition is $5950 USD. However, IDEX also offers generous partial scholarships on program tuition to a select number of applicants (men and women) to attend the fellowship.

Eligibilities

Suitably designed for early-, mid-, and senior-level professionals looking to equip themselves with the tools and resources to work effectively in a virtual environment and a deep desire to engage in an intense professional development experience supported by key theory and practical subject knowledge training while applying creative solutions to deepen the impact.

Eligible Regions: Open for all.

YES Alumni Spotlight Nominations

The monthly YES Alumni Spotlight shares the experience of YES alumni who have been active in their communities and continue to exemplify the values of activism, community service, and leadership. If you would like to nominate yourself or a YES alumnus/a to be featured as a monthly Alumni Spotlight on the YES program website, please fill out the form below. Only YES alumni can be selected to be featured in the Spotlight.

Guidelines: Submit your story in English, and try to include information about the Who, What, Where, When and Why of your projects. Remember to add as many details as possible. Don't worry about getting your story perfect. Our editors will help you to improve your story after reviewing it for potential publication according to their discretion. An example of a well-rounded Alumni Spotlight article can be found here.

Eligible Regions: Open for all.

Savvy Fellowship Online Program for Aspiring and Early-Stage Entrepreneurs

Applications are now being accepted for Savvy Fellowship Program 2020. Are you passionate about solving some of Africa’s most pressing problems through innovation? Have you ever wanted to build your own impact-driven business, but didn’t know how to? Do you own an early-stage business and you want to grow and scale your impact into new markets or verticals? Then, Savvy Fellowship is looking for you. Savvy is a virtual Fellowship program for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many have lost their jobs and are now living in an uncertain world. Savvy Fellowship was launched to equip passionate and brilliant individuals with the necessary knowledge and skill that they need to start their own impact-driven business and succeed as entrepreneurs.

Benefits

• E-Learning: Savvy Fellowship kicks off with a rigorous 12-weeks e-learning experience. As a Savvy Fellow, you will get to learn everything from ideation to venture scaling, including how to start, build, and scale an impact venture. Using visual presentations, we’ll help you answer all the relevant questions you need to kickstart that amazing impact venture, gain early traction, achieve product-market fit, and scale into newer markets. Some of the things you’ll learn during the program are ‘understanding your customer’, ‘building a product or service that effectively solves their key challenges’, and ‘effectively positioning your solution in the market.’ Savvy is for every impact entrepreneur, no matter what stage your venture is.
• Assessment: During the 12 weeks of learning, unlearning, and relearning, you can test your understanding by taking our weekly quizzes. The quizzes are a combination of multiple choices, Yes or No, and True or False. Assessments are the best way to identify your strengths and areas of weaknesses. Knowing your weaknesses helps you work effectively on them.
• Simultaneous Mentorship: While learning, you’re offered mentorship as well, from entrepreneurs who have built post-revenue businesses in diverse sectors, which is a great way to have a better understanding of your industry. The Savvy mentorship team includes over 50 changemakers from 20 countries, with a combined experience of over 200 years. Our peer-to-peer mentorship program helps Fellows learn from each other, as they ask questions, and have other Fellows help answer them.
• Life-long Community: “Once a Savvy Fellow, always a Savvy Fellow.” Savvy isn’t just a 12-weeks learning, assessment, and mentorship program, it’s a life-long entrepreneurial learning process. After the Fellowship program, you can constantly access your Savvy Fellowship account and have access to our weekly updated resources, in the form of entrepreneurial tips, nuggets, and opportunities.

Eligibilities

• Savvy is for everyone.
• New Fellows between the ages of 18 – 40.

Eligible Regions: Open for all

Peace First COVID-19 Rapid Response Grants

Peace First is launching a rapid response grant process to help young people around the world lead projects that address community impacts of COVID-19, from providing meals to elderly neighbors to launching digital mental health campaigns to support youth feeling isolated.

Globally, COVID-19 is a public health challenge — it has laid bare the consequences of persistent systemic inequality for all to see, and is threatening our social fabric, mental health, trust in institutions, and the economic security of billions of people. This is a critical time for all of us to support each other. As a global community, they know that this is a key moment to take action.

Benefits

Grants of up to $250, mentorship, and project support to young people leading initiatives to address secondary effects of COVID-19 in their communities.

Eligibilities

• Candidates must be between the ages of 13-25 to apply. Moreover, the Peace First welcomes young people from any region to apply.
  Candidates may apply as an individual or a team.
• Moreover, the project should address the secondary effects of COVID-19 (i.e. mental health, educational disruption, food insecurity, economic insecurity, supply shortages, etc).
• In addition to that, the project should be specific and time-bound, and the applicant should be able to complete the main goals of the project within 3 months.

Eligible Regions: Open for All