Application Deadline: March 1, 2021
The Young Leaders Access Program is a year-long program that prepares young people, 18 to 26, to become leaders of change in their communities through leadership development, global citizenship, self-awareness, and vision planning. Throughout the whole year, YLP team, mentors, and mentees all work together to impact communities through innovative ideas and concrete projects, hence truly accomplishing the purpose of Local Change Through Global Exchange®.
Given the situation with the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic, the YLP team is implementing the program to fully virtual by through e-modules, Zoom discussions, and virtual one-on-one learning between mentors and mentees.
Young Leaders Access Program 2021 begins with the Community Needs Assessment, a 2-month community needs mapping project that prepares young people to better understand their own local community. After the community needs assessment, Young Leaders participate in a 3-month intensive Virtual Program that helps them become leaders of positive change in their communities. After Virtual Learning, participants spend 7 months developing their action plans with support from alumni mentors.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Young Leaders Must:
- Demonstrate commitment to their community;
- Identify an issue in their community to address;
- Be between the ages of 18-26 at the start of the program (July 1, 2021);
- Be fluent in written and spoken English;
- Commit to completing the Community Needs Assessment over the summer, attending the 3-months Virtual Learning program, and spending the following year aiming to execute their community project;
- Have access to email and internet to allow for consistent communication with the MCW Global Team and Young Leaders Program alumni-mentor for the duration of the year-long program;
- Adhere to Young Leaders Access Program graduation guidelines (to be provided upon acceptance to the program);
- Submit a completed application on or before March 1, 2021 end of the day (NYC EST time).
2021 – 2022 TIMELINE
- January 15, 2021: Young Leaders Access Program application opens;
- March 1, 2021: Young Leaders Access Program application closes;
- March 31, 2021: First round decisions sent out; shortlist candidates notified; second-round application opens;
- April 18, 2021: Second-round application closes;
- May 1-28, 2021: Interviews with Alumni;
- June 1, 2021: Acceptances sent out;
- June 15, 2021: Confirmation of acceptance;
- July 1, 2021 – August 27, 2021: Community Needs Assessment;
- September 1, 2021 – December 15, 2021: Young Leaders Access Program Virtual Learning;
- December 15, 2021 – July 1, 2022: Young Leaders Access Program duration.
APPLICATION INFORMATION
The application must be filled out in English.
Letters of recommendation and resume also need to be written in English. Any part of the application that is not written in English will not be read and be considered incomplete.
The application includes:
- General Information
- Essay Questions
- Identify an issue in your community that concerns you. How would you address this issue?
- Describe one time you have faced a challenge and used a leadership skill to come up with a solution.
- Resume
- Your resume should not be more than 1 page. We suggest that it be prepared in Times New Roman, 12 font, with 1-inch margins.
- Two Letters of recommendation
- Your letters should come from people who know your work ethic and commitment to your community. Friends and family members are discouraged from writing letters of recommendation.
- Recommenders should state their name, position, and relationship to the applicant at the top of the letter.
- Liability Waiver
- At the end of the application, please review the terms and conditions.
- Application Portal
- Click here to create an account and submit the application, by March 1, 2021.
LOGISTICS INFORMATION
Please read carefully the following logistics information:
- In an effort to make the program accessible to all participants, the Young Leaders Access Program is free of charge.
- MCW Global will also cover the costs of program tools, e-modules, speakers, and additional program expenses during the community needs assessment period, virtual learning, and the remaining part of the program.
Given the current circumstances and safety measures for international travel and public gatherings, the Young Leaders Access Program 2021 will be fully implemented virtually. We hope to organize an in-person meeting in early 2022 if circumstances allow.
**If you have any questions or need further clarifications, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the MCW Global Young Leaders Access Program 2021