Application Deadline: 9 November 2026.
Applications are now open for the 2027 Changemakers for Youth Programme. Through Changemakers for Youth, Changemaker Xchange support, connect and amplify the work of social entrepreneurs based in Egypt, Germany*, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Switzerland, or Tunisia who address pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges in their communities, while strengthening the agency and skills of young people. Participants receive access to a global community, customised capacity building and seed funding for cross-border collaborations.
Eligibility Requirements
To apply, you must:
- Country: You must currently live and/or have impact in Egypt, Germany*, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Switzerland or Tunisia.
- Age: Be 18–35 years old.**
- Role: Hold a leadership or decision-making role in an active social or environmental venture or organisation addressing youth development. You do not need to be the original founder, but we cannot accept applications from employees or volunteers without a leadership role.
- Application: Submit a complete application before the deadline.
- Language: Have sufficient English to participate fully, as the programme and Summit are conducted in English.
- Youth focus: For this particular programme, regardless of its specific area, your initiative should strengthen the agency and skills of young people, empower youth, be youth-led or have youth as the key target group.
*Changemakers and their organisations may be based anywhere in Germany, but their project must create tangible impact in Eastern Germany
**Changemakers of other ages may be eligible for other ChangemakerXchange opportunities.
Logistics
- Participants are generally expected to cover their own travel and visa expenses to make it to the Summit city.
- ChangemakerXchange covers accommodation, catering, local transportation during the Summit, venue and materials, facilitation, post-Summit capacity building, and community engagement activities for the duration of the Summit and programme.
Selection Criteria
- Applications are first checked against the eligibility criteria and reviewed by multiple members of the ChangemakerXchange team and community.
- Eligible applications are then assessed based on factors including the initiative’s stage, impact or impact potential, innovation, sustainability, programme fit, and the applicant’s values, mindset, motivation, and readiness to participate.
- Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a 30–45 minute online informal interview. Final decisions also consider the diversity and overall composition of the cohort.
- All applicants will be informed of the outcome. Due to the high number of applications, we unfortunately cannot provide individual feedback.
Application Timeline:
- Applications open: 13 October 2026.
- Application deadline: 9 November 2026.
- Online interviews: 20 November–19 December 2026.
- Final decisions announced: 13 January 2027.
Programme Timeline
- Kick-off call: First week of February 2027 — a two-hour online session to welcome participants, introduce the cohort, and explain the next steps.
- Needs assessment and tailored support: Late February 2027.
- In-person summit: Mid-March 2027 — exact dates and location to be confirmed.
- Public announcement of participants: Late March 2027.
- Check-in calls: Three 90-minute online sessions held throughout the programme.
- Collaborative projects and optional funding: From late March 2027.
- Lifelong community membership: Participants continue engaging with the global ChangemakerXchange network after the programme ends.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Changemakers for Youth Programme
