Young people with ideas to address challenges in their communities can apply for the Carnegie Challenge for Civic Leadership 2026/2027, a programme offering grants of up to US$5,000 to support youth-led initiatives that drive positive social change.

Organised by Ashoka Changemakers, the initiative invites young people to develop new ideas or strengthen existing projects that promote civic participation, tackle community problems and encourage collective action.

The competition is open to eligible applicants residing in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, the United States and US territories. The final deadline for applications is January 31, 2027.

The challenge aims to help young people identify problems affecting their communities and develop practical solutions by involving others. Applicants do not need to have a registered organisation or a fully developed project. They can apply with a new idea they intend to implement or an existing initiative already making a difference.

Applications will be assessed based on the applicant’s vision for change, ability to mobilise others, creativity and potential to achieve lasting impact.

Successful participants can access financial support, training resources and opportunities to connect with other young changemakers. The programme offers three award categories: the Civic Promise Award, worth US$250 for selected winners; the Civic Impact Award, providing US$1,000 to selected finalists; and the Civic Leadership Award, which awards US$5,000 to grand prize winners.

Participants will also have access to on-demand learning materials and live support sessions. Peer-learning opportunities will allow them to exchange feedback and connect with other young people working on community initiatives. Eligible participants may also qualify for certification as Ashoka Youth Venturers.

Selected award recipients may be considered for an in-person gathering in Kenya during the week of July 26, 2027. Ashoka will cover eligible travel and participation expenses for those selected to attend.

Across Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa, the organisers plan to select 66 winners, distributed equally among the three countries. The awards will comprise 30 grants of US$250 each, 30 grants of US$1,000 each and six grand prizes of US$5,000 each.

To qualify, applicants must be between five and 20 years old as of January 31, 2027, and currently reside in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, the United States or a US territory. Citizenship is not a requirement, provided applicants satisfy the residency conditions.

Projects must be youth-led, with applicants playing a leading role in developing or implementing their ideas. All applications must be submitted in English. Applicants aged 18 or younger in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa must have adult support when completing their applications.

The competition welcomes initiatives addressing community-level challenges and encouraging people to participate in finding solutions. Potential areas include improving access to education and learning resources, addressing environmental challenges, promoting sustainability, increasing youth participation in community decision-making and improving community health and wellbeing.

Other possible areas include tackling social exclusion and inequality, mobilising residents to resolve local problems and creating opportunities for young people to contribute to community development. These examples are illustrative rather than an exhaustive list of eligible themes. Applicants are expected to explain the problem they intend to address and how their proposed solution could create positive change.

The selection process uses four criteria. The first, Dream, considers whether an applicant identifies a meaningful community challenge and presents a clear vision for change. The second, Team, examines how the initiative involves other people and enables them to contribute towards its objectives.

The third criterion, Creativity, focuses on whether a project introduces a new idea, takes a fresh approach or improves an existing solution. The fourth, Changed World, assesses the initiative’s potential to deliver meaningful impact. Applicants with existing projects should demonstrate progress, while those proposing new ideas should explain how they intend to implement them.

Interested applicants can apply through the official Carnegie Challenge for Civic Leadership page on the Changemakers platform at https://www.changemakers.com/en/carnegie-challenge-civic-leadership.

Applicants should create an account or sign in, select the challenge application option and complete the form with information about the community problem, proposed solution, people involved and expected impact. They can save their applications as drafts, review their responses and submit them before the deadline. Clear and specific answers explaining how the proposed ideas will be put into action are encouraged.

The final application deadline is January 31, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

The earlier deadline for the seed grant, which applied to applicants in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa, was October 10, 2026. That deadline has passed, but eligible young people can still submit applications for the main challenge before the January 2027 closing date.

SOURCE: Changemakers