MCW Global 2026 Young Leaders Fellowship
- Omran Aburayya
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
Are you a motivated young changemaker eager to lead positive transformation in your community? Applications are now open for the MCW Global 2026 Young Leaders Fellowship — a one-year leadership journey designed for young people from around the world who are ready to turn ideas into action in the areas of education, health, and economic security. Here's everything you need to know.
ℹ️ Fellowship Summary
Location: United States (In-person training in New York City and Burlington, Vermont)
Host Institution: MCW Global (New York)
Type: Fellowship / Leadership programme (not an academic degree)
Target group: Young people aged 18-26 worldwide who are committed to community change through education, health or economic security.
Fields of focus: Community impact in education, health and economic security; leadership development, global citizenship, self-awareness and vision planning.
Value and coverage:
International economy flights for non-US participants; domestic economy flights for US participants.
Housing (for the in-person 10-day segment) and meals provided.
Round-trip travel between New York and Burlington, Vermont during in-person portion.
The fellowship does not cover passport or visa fees, nor in-country incidental costs (airport transportation, extra baggage).
Duration: Approx. 1 year (comprising virtual and in-person phases)
Application deadline: For 2026 cycle: Wednesday, December 3, 2025 (11:59 PM NYC EST).
Start date: Program begins with virtual Community Needs Assessment on June 8 2026, followed by in-person training July 21–30, 2026, then a 10-month implementation phase.
Eligible to: Applicants aged 18-26 as of June 1, 2026; global nationality. Must be fluent in spoken & written English.
🌎 Fellowship Overview
The 2026 Young Leaders Fellowship is structured in three phases:
Virtual | Community Needs Assessment (1 month): Participants begin by conducting virtual community-mapping and needs-assessment in their own locales. This equips them with tools and knowledge to deeply understand community issues ahead of in-person training.
In-Person | Vision Planning & Project Development (10 days): Fellows travel to the US (New York & Burlington, Vermont) for a focused 10-day training. This includes workshops, speaker sessions, group work, and vision-planning to transform their community ideas into actionable plans.
Virtual | Project Implementation & Alumni Mentorship (10 months): After the training, fellows return home and execute their action plans over the next 10 months. They are paired with alumni mentors who provide guided support via quarterly meet-ups and ongoing communication.
💲 Benefits
Fully funded travel and accommodation: Economy class flights (international/domestic as appropriate), housing during the in-person training segment, meals provided during this period.
Program logistics handled: Public transportation to/from major airports (JFK, LaGuardia, Newark) covered for in-person portion.
Skills & network building: Intensive leadership development, global citizenship insight, cross-cultural exchange with peers, and direct mentorship from alumni.
Project implementation support: After training, you will implement a community-based project over 10 months, with mentor guidance and network support.
Refundable deposit: Participants pay a refundable US$100 deposit by March 5 2026 (for the 2026 cycle) which is returned upon successful completion of the in-person segment.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
Be aged 18-26 at the program start (June 1, 2026) and available for the full duration.
Demonstrate commitment to their community and identify a community issue in the fields of education, health or economic security.
Be fluent in English (both written and spoken) and able to communicate via internet/email throughout the programme.
Have access to email/internet for the full year of the fellowship.
Be eligible for necessary visa and travel documentation for the in-person US segment.
Submit a completed application (in English). Any part not in English will be considered incomplete.
📝 Application Procedure
Access the official online application form via MCW Global’s website.
Complete general information and essay questions (in English).
Submit by the deadline: December 3 2025 (11:59 PM NYC EST) for the 2026 cycle.
🗂️ Documents required
A CV/resume (1 page max).
Two letters of recommendation (not from family/friends; from individuals who know your work ethic and community commitment). Reference should include name, position, contact info, and relationship to applicant.
Essays: Applicants must:
Identify a real community issue (in education, health or economic security), share a story or example, and state the first step they wish to take to address it.
Describe a challenge they faced, how they showed leadership (even informally), what they did, and what they learned.
Liability waiver: At the end of the application you’ll review and sign liability/participation terms.
👌🏻 Application tips
Use your authentic voice—the selection values original ideas more than polished language or heavily AI-generated content.
Make sure every component is in English. Non-English parts will render application incomplete.
Demonstrate community commitment, not just enthusiasm. Show tangible involvement or reflections on real issues.
Ensure your availability: the in-person segment is mandatory (July 21-30, 2026) and the full year of follow-through is expected.
Prepare for visa/travel early—delayed visa approval (less than a month before program begins) may affect travel coverage eligibility.
📝 Tips for Applicants
Begin early: given the December 3 deadline and the deposit due in March, plan your time for essay writing, securing strong recommendation letters, and gathering travel/visa logistics.
Choose a specific, locally relevant issue (within the areas of education, health or economic security. Avoid vague statements like “I want to help youth everywhere.”
Reflect on a real example of you applying leadership (even outside formal roles) — highlight what you did, how you learned, and how that informs your vision.
Show how you will implement the project — even though the fellowship will support you, the idea and first steps should be credible and actionable.
Clarify your internet/email access and ability to commit to a full year of virtual mentorship and implementation.
Prepare ahead for visa/travel: international flight and housing for the in-person segment are covered, but you will be responsible for passport/visa fees and in-country costs.