Funded MCW Young Leaders Fellowship

MCW Global, a New York nonprofit, runs a year-long fellowship for young leaders aged 18 to 26 from around the world who want to tackle a problem in their own community in education, health or economic security. Fellows map their community's needs in June, come to New York and Burlington, Vermont for a 10-day in-person training from 20 to 29 July 2027, then spend ten months turning their idea into a project with support from alumni mentors.

What you get:

• A 10-day in-person training in New York and Burlington, Vermont, 20 to 29 July 2027, with housing at New York University and Champlain College
• Economy flights to the United States (domestic flights for US participants), housing from the evening of 19 July to 29 July, three meals a day, travel between New York and Burlington and public transport to and from JFK, LaGuardia and Newark
• Ten months of virtual mentoring from fellowship alumni, with quarterly hangouts
• Training in leadership, global citizenship, self-awareness and vision planning through speakers, workshops and group work

What you'll do:

• Complete a one-month Community Needs Assessment of your own community in June 2027
• Attend the 10-day in-person training and turn your community issue into an actionable plan
• Spend ten months carrying out your project with an alumni mentor, from July 2027 to July 2028

Key dates:

• Applications opened 5 November 2026 and close 3 December 2026, 11:59 pm New York time
• 21 December 2026: first-round decisions; shortlisted candidates get a second-round application, due 8 January 2027
• 3 to 16 February 2027: interviews with alumni; acceptances sent 23 February 2027
• 16 March 2027: accepted fellows confirm their US visa interview date and pay the deposit
• June to July 2027: Community Needs Assessment
• 20 to 29 July 2027: in-person training in New York and Burlington, Vermont
• July 2027 to July 2028: the full fellowship

More information:

• Full call, timeline and logistics on MCW Global's 2027 Young Leaders Fellowship page

• Aged 18 to 26 on 1 June 2027, the start of the programme
• Open to young leaders from around the world
• An identified issue in your community in education, health or economic security, and a demonstrated commitment to your community
• Fluent in written and spoken English; the whole application, CV and letters must be in English
• Able to do the Community Needs Assessment in June, attend the 10-day programme in July and work on your project for the following year
• Reliable email and internet access for the year
• Eligible for the visa and travel documents needed to travel to the United States
• Application: two essays, a CV of no more than one page and two letters of recommendation (not from friends or family), plus a liability waiver