One Young World The NewNow Leaders Programme 2026 | Fully funded to Cape Town
- Omran Aburayya
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 18 hours ago
If you are a young change-maker from the Global South who is eager to drive systems-level transformation and build a career in leadership, the One Young World (OYW) “The NewNow Leaders Programme 2026 is now open for applications. This opportunity, supported by Virgin Unite, invites bold emerging leaders to join an elite cohort committed to systems-thinking and collective action toward a fairer and more sustainable world. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the opportunity:
🌐The NewNow Programme Summary
Location: Global application; scholarship place at the OYW Summit in Cape Town, South Africa.
Provider: One Young World (with Virgin Unite as supporter)
Level / Type: Emerging leadership programme – fully-funded scholarship to attend a global Summit + membership in a leadership community.
Target Group: Young leaders aged 18-30 from countries in the Global South who have a track record of systems-change initiatives.
Focus Areas: Systems-thinking, collective action, deep transformation of interconnected global and local challenges.
Value & Coverage: Scholarship place at the OYW Summit Cape Town 2026, lifelong membership in the OYW Ambassador Community, media and speaking opportunities, capacity-building workshops.
Application Deadline: 16 February 2026 (opening date 6 November 2025)
Start Date: For the Summit in Cape Town 2026 and intake into The NewNow cohort.
✨ Programme Overview
The NewNow programme is an initiative of One Young World, supported by Virgin Unite, that selects ten of the most trail-blazing emerging leaders from the Global South to join a unique leadership journey.
These selected participants will attend the One Young World Summit in Cape Town in 2026 — a flagship global leadership gathering — and become lifelong ambassadors in a network of changemakers.
Beyond the Summit, The NewNow cohort gain access to exclusive capacity-building workshops, membership in the community of systems-leaders, media amplification, speaking opportunities, and collaboration with peers to initiate joint advocacy or change-projects.
The programme emphasises systems-thinking: recognising that major global challenges (climate, inequality, youth employment, health, education) are interconnected and require strategies that address root structural causes rather than isolated symptoms.
🎁 Benefits
Participants selected for The NewNow Leaders Programme 2026 will receive:
A fully funded scholarship place at the One Young World Summit Cape Town 2026 and membership of the OYW Ambassador Community.
Features on One Young World and Virgin Unite channels, providing global profile and amplification of your work.
Access to the One Young World Global Leadership Programme and Action Accelerator — helping turn ideas into impact.
Inclusion in The NewNow Community: capacity-building workshops, peer collaboration, joint projects, and advocacy networks.
Lifelong access to the One Young World alumni network and resources (tools for scaling social impact, collaboration, mentorship).
✅ Eligibility Criteria
To apply for The NewNow Leaders Programme 2026, you must meet all of the following:
Be aged 18–30 at the time of application.
Be a national of a country classified as part of the Global South.
Demonstrate leadership through real and impactful initiatives in your community or beyond.
Show a strong understanding of local and/or global issues, and evidence of applying systems-thinking principles in your work — i.e., not just addressing symptoms but root causes, interconnections, systemic change.
Be willing to collaborate with your cohort, promote successful examples of systems change through your networks and media channels.
📝 Application Procedure
Visit the One Young World website and navigate to The NewNow Leaders Programme page.
Click on “Apply” to access the application portal (opening date: 6 November 2025).
Complete the online application form with required details about your background, leadership achievements, impact work, systems-thinking approach, and motivations for joining.
Submit the application by 16 February 2026. Late applications will not be considered.
Await communication; if shortlisted, you may engage in interviews or further selection stages (the specific process may vary).
🗂️ Documents / information you may need:
Your personal biography (age, nationality, country of origin)
A detailed description of your leadership initiative(s), impact metrics, evidence of systems-thinking or transformative approach
Supporting materials (reports, media, video, portfolio) of your work
A motivation statement explaining why you wish to join The NewNow cohort and how you will use the opportunity to scale your impact
Commitment to collaborate with cohort and promote systems-change narratives
👌🏻 Tips for Applicants
Clearly articulate systems-thinking in your application: describe not only what you did but how you addressed underlying structures, interconnections, long-term change. Use concrete examples.
Highlight measurable impact: show outcomes from your initiative(s), and describe your leadership role.
Demonstrate your readiness to engage globally: as part of The NewNow cohort you are expected to collaborate with peers, speak publicly, leverage networks — so show examples of networking, advocacy or media engagement.
Familiarise yourself with the themes of the upcoming Summit in Cape Town: placing your work in context of Africa, Global South dynamics, sustainable leadership will strengthen your application.
Submit a polished, authentic application by the deadline — 16 February 2026.
Prepare to engage beyond the Summit: The NewNow is not just an event; it’s a journey. Indicate how you plan to use the community and tools offered to scale your work.
Given the competitive nature (only ten leaders are selected) emphasise uniqueness of your initiative, your systems-approach and your commitment to transformation rather than incremental change.
