Program overview

Applications for The Young Leaders Access Program is now open. It is a year-long program that trains and empowers 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 bring together their innovative ideas and concrete projects to make changes in communities hence truly accomplishing the purpose of Local Change Through Global Exchange®.

Quick Details:

• November 5, 2025: Young Leaders Fellowship Application Opens
• December 3, 2025: Young Leaders Fellowship Application Closes
• December 22, 2025: First-round Decisions Sent Out; Shortlisted Candidates Notified; Second-Round Application Opens
• January 11, 2026: Second Round Application Closes
• February 3 – 12, 2026: Interviews with Alumni
• February 19, 2026: Acceptances Sent Out
• February 26, 2026: Confirmation of Acceptance
• March 5, 2026: Confirmation of U.S. Visa Interview Date and Deposit by Mentees
• June 8 – July 3, 2026: Community Needs Assessment
• July 21 – July 30, 2026: In-Person Training Program – Young Leaders Fellowship
• July 2026 – July 2027: The Entire Young Leaders Fellowship Duration
• Organizer: MCW Global 
• Duration: 1 year

Benefits:

Program structure

1. Community Needs Assessment Through Virtual Learning (1 month):
   • The Fellowship begins with a thorough mapping and needs assessment of the community.
   • Young Leaders will be given the tools and knowledge they need to assess their community.
   • This phase is implemented prior to beginning in-person training to provide young leaders with a better understanding of the community’s needs.
2. In-Person | Vision Planning & Project Development (10 days):
   • Participants come to the Fellowship with a specific community issue in mind. The process of transforming passion into a concrete, measurable plan for change is known as vision planning.
   • Participants can put their local issues into a larger global context while understanding why they are uniquely positioned to change their community through the in-person training program, which includes diverse speakers, workshops, events, and facilitated group work.
   • Participants will also decide which tools and skills can be used to create a workable plan.
3. Project Development Through Virtual Learning (10 months):
   • Young Leaders are paired with alumni mentors who will guide them through the in-person program toward creating an actionable plan in order to further develop and execute their actionable plans. These mentors have completed the Fellowship program and graduated with honors.
   • Throughout the year, alumni mentors provide assistance to participants by hosting quarterly “hangouts” and ongoing remote communication.
   • Prior to the start of the program, alumni mentors receive customized training to support team building and cultural competency among the diverse group of Young Leaders.

Costs Coverage:

Covered by MCW:

• International Economy Flights
• Domestic Economy flights for U.S. fellows
• Housing from July 20 – 30, 2026
• Three meals every day from July 21 to July 30, 2026
• Round Trip Journey from New York, New York to Burlington, Vermont
• Public Transportation to/from JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark Airports

Not Covered by MCW:

• Visa Fees
• Passport Fee
• In-Home Country Costs (transportation to the airport, extra baggage fees, & etc.)

Deposit Fee:

• MCW requires a $100 deposit fee from all accepted participants by March 5, 2026. Upon successful completion of the Fellowship’s in-person training program, the deposit will be refunded in full on July 2026.
  The deposit is required to cover all costs incurred by MCW Global if a participant cancels after March 1, 2026.
• Payment can be made using either Square or PayPal. If no payment is received by March 5, 2026, you will be considered to have left the Fellowship.
• Please contact MCW Global if Square or PayPal are not available in your country/territory.

Eligibilities:

To be eligible to participate, Young Leaders Must:

• Show a clear dedication to improving their community.
• Pinpoint a challenge within the fields of education, health, or economic stability that affects their local context.
• Exhibit strong drive, sincere originality, and genuine enthusiasm for social impact initiatives.
• Be between 18 and 26 years old as of June 1, 2026.
• Possess solid written and spoken English skills.
• Be prepared to complete the Community Needs Assessment in June, participate in the 10-day in-person program in July, and devote the following year to advancing their community-focused project.
• Maintain reliable access to email and the internet to ensure ongoing communication with the MCW Global Team and their alumni mentor throughout the yearlong fellowship.
• Comply with all fellowship completion requirements, which will be shared upon acceptance.
• Meet all visa or travel documentation requirements necessary for participation.
• Submit a full application no later than Wednesday, December 3, 2025, by 11:59 PM (NYC EST)

How to apply?

Qualified applicants can apply online.

APPLY HERE

The application must be filled out in English. Besides, letters of recommendation and resumes must be written in English. Any part of the application not written in English will not be read and be considered incomplete.

The application consists of:

• General Information
• Essay Questions
  • Identify a problem/challenge 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 tackle that.
• Resume
  • Your resume should not exceed 1 page. Preparation in Times New Roman, 12 font, with 1-inch margins is recommended.
• Two Letters of Recommendation
  • Your referees should be people who know your work ethic and commitment to your community. Friends and family members may not qualify for writing letters of recommendation.
  • Recommenders should indicate their name, position, and relationship to the applicant at the top of the letter.

Note: Do not forget to review the terms and conditions at the end of the application.

For more information concerning this program, refer to the MCW Global website.

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