YBB – Young people interested in creating positive change in their communities can apply for the MCW Global Young Leaders Fellowship 2027–2028 in the United States. Organized by MCW Global, the year-long fellowship is open to individuals aged 18–26 from around the world who want to address community issues related to education, health, and economic security.
The programme aims to equip young people with the skills and resources to become leaders of change in their communities. Through leadership development, global citizenship, self-awareness, and vision planning, participants will learn how to identify local challenges and develop actionable plans to address them.
Program Overview
- Programme: Young Leaders Fellowship
- Host Organization: MCW Global
- Location: New York, New York, and Burlington, Vermont, United States
- Eligible Applicants: All nationalities
- Age Requirement: 18–26 years old at the start of the programme
- Programme Duration: July 2027 – July 2028
- In-Person Training: July 20–29, 2027
- Programme Focus: Education, Health, and Economic Security
- Funding: Programme-related expenses covered by MCW Global, subject to its stated conditions
- Application Opens: November 5, 2026
- Application Deadline: December 3, 2026
About the Fellowship
The MCW Global Young Leaders Fellowship is a year-long leadership programme designed for young people who want to address issues in their communities.
The programme focuses on three areas: education, health, and economic security. It aims to mobilize young people with the skills and resources needed to create and implement vision plans that respond to community needs.
Throughout the fellowship, participants will develop their understanding of local challenges, strengthen their leadership abilities, and work toward creating positive change. They will also have opportunities to connect with other young leaders and receive guidance from fellowship alumni.
The programme is structured around three phases, combining virtual activities, in-person training, and community project development.
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Programme Structure
The Young Leaders Fellowship consists of three main phases:
- Community Needs Assessment – 1 Month
The fellowship begins with a one-month Community Needs Assessment. During this phase, participants will conduct community mapping and assess the needs of their local communities.
MCW Global provides participants with the tools and knowledge needed to understand community challenges. This assessment helps participants gain a clearer understanding of the issues they want to address before attending the in-person training programme.
- Vision Planning and Project Development – 10 Days
Participants will attend an intensive 10-day training programme in New York, New York, and Burlington, Vermont.
During this phase, participants will develop their ideas into concrete plans for community change. The training includes:Leadership workshops.
- Sessions with diverse speakers.
- Events and group activities.
- Facilitated group work.
- Vision planning and project development.
Through these activities, participants will learn how to connect local issues with broader global contexts and identify the tools and skills needed to develop actionable plans.
- Project Implementation and Alumni Mentorship – 10 Months
After completing the in-person training, participants will return to their communities to further develop and implement their actionable plans.
During this phase, each participant will be paired with an alumni mentor who has completed the Young Leaders Fellowship. Mentors will provide guidance through quarterly online hangouts and ongoing remote communication throughout the programme.
This phase allows participants to continue developing their community projects with support from the fellowship’s alumni network.
Fellowship Benefits and Programme Coverage
The covered expenses include:
- International round-trip airfare support for participants from outside the USA.
- Domestic economy-class flight tickets for participants from the USA.
- Accommodation during the in-person program.
- Meals during the program.
- Round-trip transportation costs between New York and Burlington.
- Access to workshops, leadership training, and project development activities.
- Online support and mentorship from fellowship alumni.
Note: Applicants should note that not all expenses are covered by the organization. The following costs remain the participant’s responsibility: passport fees, visa fees and, in-country costs, including travel to the airport and extra baggage fees. Accepted participants also must pay a US$100 deposit by March 16, 2027. The deposit will be refunded in full in July 2027 after participants successfully complete the 10-day in-person training programme.
The deposit is required to cover costs that MCW Global may incur if a participant cancels after April 1, 2027. If the deposit is not paid by March 16, 2027, the participant will be considered no longer attending the fellowship.
Eligibility Requirements
The MCW Global Young Leaders Fellowship is open to young people from all nationalities. Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be between 18 and 26 years old at the start of the programme on June 1, 2027.
- Demonstrate a commitment to their community.
- Identify a community issue related to education, health, or economic security.
- Demonstrate strong motivation to create positive change and an interest in social projects.
- Be fluent in written and spoken English.
- Commit to completing the Community Needs Assessment in June, attending the 10-day in-person programme in July, and spending the following year working toward implementing their community project.
- Have access to email and the internet for consistent communication with the MCW Global team and alumni mentors throughout the programme.
- Adhere to the Young Leaders Fellowship graduation guidelines, which will be provided upon acceptance.
- Be eligible to obtain the appropriate visa and travel documentation.
- Submit a completed application by December 3, 2026, at 11:59 PM New York time.
Required Application Documents
Applicants must complete the online application in English and prepare the following materials:
- CV or Resume (One Page)
- Two Letters of Recommendation
- Answers to Essay questions
- Complete liability waiver
Important Application Instructions
MCW Global requires the application, resume, and recommendation letters to be written in English. Any part of the application that is not written in English will not be read and will be considered incomplete.
Applicants are also advised to avoid AI-generated responses. MCW Global states that authentic and original thoughts are valued more than AI-generated responses. The strength of applicants’ ideas matters more than the language they use.
Application Timeline
Applicants should take note of the following important dates for the 2027–2028 Young Leaders Fellowship:
- November 5, 2026: Application opens.
- December 3, 2026: Application closes.
- December 21, 2026: First-round decisions are sent, shortlisted candidates are notified, and the second-round application opens.
- January 8, 2027: Second-round application closes.
- February 3–16, 2027: Interviews with alumni.
- February 23, 2027: Acceptance notifications are sent.
- March 2, 2027: Confirmation of acceptance.
- March 16, 2027: Confirmation of U.S. visa interview date and deposit payment by mentees.
- June–July 2027: Community Needs Assessment.
- July 20–29, 2027: In-person training programme.
- July 2027–July 2028: Young Leaders Fellowship programme duration.
Also read: Lingnan University Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2027–2028
How to Apply
Follow these steps:
- Visit the official MCW Global Young Leaders Fellowship application page.
- Create an account and complete the online application form in English.
- Answer both essay questions with specific and original responses.
- Prepare and upload a resume of no more than one page.
- Arrange two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your work ethic and community commitment.
- Review and complete the liability waiver.
- Check that all sections and supporting documents are complete before submitting the application.
- Submit the application before December 3, 2026, at 11:59 PM New York time.
For more information: https://mcwglobal.org/
Conclusion
The MCW Global Young Leaders Fellowship 2027–2028 offers young people from around the world an opportunity to strengthen their leadership abilities and develop community projects in education, health, and economic security.
Young people aged 18–26 who are committed to creating positive change in their communities are encouraged to review the eligibility requirements and prepare their applications before December 3, 2026.
