Apply for a Free Youth Fellowship in Social Impact: HundrED Youth Ambassador Programme 2026 (Build SDG Projects, Mentorship, Global Network)

If you are 13–19 and sick of ideas that live only in your head, this is the kind of programme that helps those ideas stand up and do something useful. HundrED’s Youth Ambassador Programme 2026 is a free online fellowship that guides young changemakers through designing, testing, and growing social-impact projects tied to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It runs March–May 2026, and applications close on January 13, 2026 at 23:59 GMT.

Think of it as a short, intense bootcamp for social impact: workshops, group discussions, mentoring, a MOOC to structure your learning, and a private Discord where you’ll meet peers who actually care about solving problems—not just posting about them. This is not paid work and it’s not a contest where only one winner walks away. The real payoff is the skills, clarity, and network you build—and the confidence to move from “what if” to “what I did.”

Below I’ve laid out everything you need to know to decide whether to apply and how to make an application that stands out. Expect practical tips on the pre-recorded video, a realistic timeline, common mistakes to avoid, and sample project ideas that fit the programme style.

At a Glance

Why This Programme Matters (A Short Case for Applying)

Young people are leading change in surprising places—community gardens, low-cost education tools, waste-collection schemes, mental health campaigns. But ideas need structure to grow. HundrED’s Youth Ambassador Programme gives that structure. Over a brisk three months you’ll get a mix of practical instruction and peer feedback that speeds up learning. It’s the difference between trying to figure things out alone and having a small, smart team of mentors and peers guiding the process.

There’s also the learning pathway. The MOOC provides a scaffolded course so you don’t waste time guessing what to do next. The Discord channel is where messy, real-world stuff gets solved—partners found, pilot plans critiqued, and morale boosted when experiments fail. You’ll learn project design, measurement basics, communication skills, and how to iterate when reality disagrees with your plan.

Finally, the programme sits within Festival of Hope and has IBO partnership—signals that your work will be visible to educators and changemaker networks who care about scalable, student-led impact. That visibility matters later when you want partners, funding, or schools to pilot your idea.

What This Opportunity Offers

HundrED’s programme is short on pomp and long on practical support. It offers three core benefits: guided learning, mentorship, and community.

Guided learning comes from the MOOC and structured workshops. Rather than random webinars, you’ll get a sequence of lessons: problem definition, stakeholder mapping, designing simple pilots, basic impact measurement, and storytelling for audiences. These are the areas young projects most commonly stumble on, so having them packaged into a guided course saves months of trial and error.

Mentorship arrives through curated interactions. You won’t get a single contact who disappears; instead the structure provides ongoing mentorship opportunities in small-group formats and one-on-one touchpoints where available. Mentors give feedback on your idea, suggest practical next steps, and help you refine metrics that actually show whether your project is working.

Community is the third pillar. The closed Discord is where the programme breathes—peer critique, collaboration offers, joint events, and emotional support when things go sideways. That social side is often the most valuable; many Youth Ambassadors continue working together after the cohort finishes.

Beyond these, the programme builds resilience skills: learning to adapt when a pilot fails, and reframing failure as data rather than disgrace. You’ll also deepen your understanding of the SDGs and how they translate into local, achievable projects.

Who Should Apply

This programme is for driven young people who want to take an idea beyond social media and into real-world practice. It’s especially useful for participants who meet these real-world profiles:

• A high school student in Accra who runs a weekend tutoring circle and wants to measure learning outcomes, expand the model, and approach schools for collaboration.
• A 16-year-old in Nairobi piloting a low-cost community composting project and wanting to learn how to recruit volunteers and report impact.
• A teen in Lagos organizing peer mental health check-ins and looking for frameworks to protect privacy and scale responsibly.
• A young person in a small town who’s started a plastic cleanup initiative and needs help converting enthusiasm into sustained community partnerships.

You do not need a finished project. You don’t need previous awards. What matters is curiosity, commitment, and willingness to work in English. If you can communicate ideas clearly and commit time to online workshops and Discord interactions, you’ll get a lot from the cohort.

If you’re only looking for a cash grant, note: the programme is about skill-building and network development rather than direct funding. But what you gain may improve your chances of securing later funding.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

Below are five practical strategies that increase your odds of acceptance and make your application work harder for you.

1. Start with a crisp problem statement. Reviewers and mentors want to know what problem you are trying to solve and why it matters locally. Instead of a vague mission like “improve education,” write: “Many students in my neighborhood miss school because they cannot afford exam fees; I organize a peer-led tutoring group to help students pass critical exams.” Specificity sells.

2. Show early traction. Even tiny pilot data beats big promises. If you’ve run one session, surveyed ten students, or collected before/after photos, say so. Traction signals you can follow through.

3. Use the pre-recorded video to show personality and proof of work. Keep it short (60–120 seconds), use clear audio, and say: who you are, what problem you are solving, one concrete example of what you’ve done, and one thing you want from the programme. Don’t script every word—authenticity resonates.

4. Demonstrate learning appetite. Name one book, article, or online course you’ve read about your topic and one thing you want to learn through HundrED. That shows you’re reflective and coachable.

5. Be realistic about language and time. If English is not your first language, focus on clarity over fancy words. If you’ll be traveling or have a full exam schedule, note that briefly so organisers understand your availability.

6. Engage referees early (if the form asks for contacts). Choose teachers or mentors who know the project specifics and can confirm your role and commitment.

7. Polish the application early and submit 48+ hours before the deadline. Technical errors are common, and early submission reduces stress and gives you time to fix things if a file won’t upload.

Application Timeline (Work Backwards from January 13, 2026)

• January 11–13: Final checks and submit no later than 23:59 GMT on January 13, 2026. Aim to submit by January 11 in case of technical issues.
• Late December – early January: Record and edit your pre-recorded video. Create your HundrED account and confirm you can log in.
• Mid December: Draft your written answers and problem statement. Get feedback from one teacher or peer.
• Late November – early December: Run a small pilot or collect a few data points if possible. Draft the metrics you’ll use to judge your project during the cohort.
• October – November: Brainstorm ideas and decide which to apply with. Research related projects so you can position yours clearly.

Start early. The best applications are thoughtful, not rushed.

Required Materials and How to Prepare Them

You’ll need to create a HundrED account and prepare a pre-recorded video, plus answer written questions in the online form. The exact application flow is on the HundrED site, but plan for these items:

• Short project description (200–400 words): Present the problem, your approach, and a measurable goal.
• Pre-recorded video (60–120 seconds recommended): Show you and your project work. Good audio and natural light go a long way.
• Personal information: Basic profile details and age verification.
• Answers about motivation and commitment: Explain why you want to be an ambassador and how much time you can commit.
• Optional supporting materials: Photos, short surveys, or a one-page project snapshot if there’s an upload field.

Preparation advice: draft your written responses in a document so you can edit and get feedback. Rehearse the video once or twice—don’t over-edit. Realness beats polish when authenticity is relevant.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Reviewers are looking for impact potential plus maturity. Several specific cues make reviewers sit up:

• Clear problem + measurable outcome. “Reduce missed school days by 30% among my tutoring participants” is more compelling than “help students study.”
• Evidence of community support. Letters aren’t always required, but even mentions of partner schools, volunteers, or community groups indicate feasibility.
• Iteration mindset. If your application shows you tested an idea, learned from it, and changed course, it signals you will use the programme well.
• Team orientation. Projects with a small team rather than a lone operator often scale faster. Mention collaborators and roles.
• Learning goals. Applicants who state what skills they want to acquire (e.g., monitoring and evaluation, volunteer management) appear more coachable.

In short: show that you’re doing something concrete, you know how you’ll measure progress, and you want to learn from a community.

Common Mistakes to Avoid and How to Fix Them

1. Submitting a vague problem statement. Fix: be specific—name the community, the pain point, and who is affected.

2. Overpromising outcomes. Fix: propose realistic, measurable short-term goals you can reasonably achieve in the programme timeframe.

3. Making a video that adds nothing. Fix: use the video to convey enthusiasm, show proof of work, and state one clear ask.

4. Ignoring English clarity. Fix: write plainly. If English is not your first language, ask a teacher to proofread.

5. Waiting until the last minute. Fix: finish drafts early and upload at least 48 hours before the deadline.

6. Treating the programme like a prize rather than a learning opportunity. Fix: show how you’ll use the mentorship and community to improve your project.

Avoid these traps and you’ll both increase your odds and enter the cohort better prepared.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who can apply? A: Young people aged 13–19 during the programme dates. The programme is run in English, so applicants should be comfortable communicating in English for online sessions and written materials.

Q: Is there a fee? A: No. Participation is free. You may need access to the internet for workshops and Discord.

Q: Do I need a fully-formed project? A: No. Many successful applicants have early-stage ideas or pilots. What matters is clarity and commitment.

Q: How much time will the programme take? A: Expect a mix of asynchronous MOOC content and synchronous sessions. Plan for several hours per week for workshops, discussion, and project work. Exact time commitments will be shared after selection.

Q: Are there grants or seed funds included? A: The programme emphasizes mentorship, learning, and community rather than direct funding. However, participation can increase your chances of finding funding later.

Q: Is there geographic eligibility? A: The programme appears global; HundrED often supports international cohorts. The listing is tagged Africa, suggesting particular outreach or relevance, but applicants from other regions are usually welcome.

Q: What if I’m under 13 or over 19? A: You won’t meet the age eligibility. Look for other HundrED or local youth programmes targeted to your age group.

Q: Will I receive a certificate? A: Many programmes offer completion recognition; check the HundrED page for details after selection.

Next Steps — How to Apply

Ready to apply? Do these five things immediately:

1. Create a HundrED account so you’re not rushed on submission day.
2. Draft a short, specific project description and practice a 60–90 second video pitch.
3. Gather any photos or short evidence of your work to upload.
4. Ask one teacher or mentor to read your application draft.
5. Submit at least 48 hours before January 13, 2026 — the form closes at 23:59 GMT.

Get Started

Ready to apply? Visit the official application page and follow the instructions: https://hundred.org/en/free_form_requests?free_form_request_group_id=255

If you want feedback on your draft problem statement or video script before you submit, paste it here and I’ll give concrete edits. Apply early, be specific, and treat this as a chance to sharpen your project—not just win a spot. Good luck.