Young social entrepreneurs and community leaders have until November 9, 2026, to apply for the 2027 Changemakers for Youth Programme, which supports social and environmental initiatives improving young people’s lives across eight countries in Europe and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Organised by ChangemakerXchange with support from the Drosos Foundation, the initiative combines tailored capacity building, online learning, peer networking and a five-day in-person summit. Participants may also access seed funding for selected cross-border collaborations and request travel stipends to help cover eligible expenses.

The 2027 edition is the programme’s second cohort within a three-year initiative expected to support 80 young changemakers. Selected applicants will join a regional group and gain access to ChangemakerXchange’s wider international community of social innovators.

The programme targets leaders of existing ventures that address social, educational, economic or environmental challenges while developing young people’s skills, confidence, leadership and ability to influence change. Organisers are particularly interested in initiatives that empower young people to participate actively in their communities.

Eligibility requirements

Applicants must be aged 18–35 and currently live, work and create impact in Egypt, Germany, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Switzerland or Tunisia. Applicants based in Germany must demonstrate tangible project impact in Eastern Germany.

Candidates must hold a leadership or decision-making position in an active social or environmental venture or organisation. Their initiatives must focus on empowering young people, strengthening their skills or increasing their participation and leadership.

Applicants must also be proficient in English to participate in workshops, mentoring and the summit, and must be available for the programme activities, including the five-day in-person gathering.

Founders are not the only eligible applicants. Employees and volunteers can apply if they hold leadership or decision-making responsibilities; those without such roles are ineligible.

Eligible initiatives

The programme is open to different sectors, provided young people remain central to the initiative’s work. Relevant areas include education and skills development, employability, leadership training, economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, employment access, climate action, environmental protection, social inclusion, health and wellbeing, civic engagement and community participation.

Organisers favour initiatives that have already been tested and can demonstrate progress or impact. Early-stage ventures may also be considered if they show strong potential, preferably supported by a pilot project.

Programme benefits

Participants will receive capacity-building support tailored to their individual and organisational needs. Online learning sessions will be led by experts and practitioners with relevant experience.

Each cohort will also attend a five-day, in-person summit focused on peer learning, collaboration, wellbeing and relationship-building. The venue and exact dates for the 2027 summit have yet to be confirmed.

Seed funding will be available for selected cross-border collaborations developed jointly by participants. The funding is intended to support collaborative initiatives and is not a guaranteed individual cash award for every participant.

Travel and visa expenses are generally the responsibility of participants. However, applicants can request a travel stipend that may cover some or all eligible costs, depending on individual assessment and available funding.

Eligible expenses may include flights, train or bus fares, visa fees, mandatory travel insurance and necessary accommodation during a layover. Applicants who may struggle to attend because of travel costs should indicate their need in the application and confirmation form.

Beyond the formal programme, participants will join ChangemakerXchange’s international network, creating opportunities to build partnerships, exchange knowledge and access further support.

Application timeline

Applications opened on October 13, 2026, and will close on November 9, 2026. Online interviews are scheduled for November 20 to December 19, 2026, with final decisions expected on January 13, 2027.

The online kickoff is planned for the first week of February 2027, followed by the in-person summit in mid-March 2027. The summit’s exact dates and location remain unconfirmed.

How to apply

Eligible applicants can submit their applications through the official Changemakers for Youth programme webpage:

https://changemakerxchange.org/changemakers-for-youth/

Applicants should outline the social or environmental problem their initiative addresses, describe their leadership responsibilities, explain the impact achieved so far and show how their work strengthens young people’s agency and skills.

Those who require financial assistance with travel should state this in their application and confirmation form for consideration. Travel support is subject to individual assessment and funding availability.

For enquiries, applicants can contact the programme team using the details on the official website and include “Changemakers for Youth” in the subject line.

Source: msmeafrica