Global Changemakers Program
We believe that young people have the creativity and ingenuity to shape the future.
Since 2019, we have provided scholarships to the One Young World Summit: the largest global gathering of socially minded young leaders. So far, more than 150 young leaders from around the world have been able to meet and learn from their peers.
The success of these scholarships inspired us to go further. Through the Global Changemakers Program, we are expanding our support for young people who want to drive positive change. This program connects emerging social leaders with corporate philanthropy, helping them turn their ideas into action.
Following the Summit, our scholars now have the opportunity to apply for holistic post-Summit support through a dedicated fellowship. A smaller number of outstanding applicants are then selected to join this year-long journey designed to help them accelerate their initiatives through tailored capacity development, funding, ecosystem integration and collaboration opportunities.
How the Program works
Creating real change needs time, expertise, visibility, resources, and above all, collaboration. We’re combining all five. Here’s how the Global Changemakers Program will support young leaders:
- Capacity Development
Strengthen participants' ability to design, lead, and communicate impactful solutions through cohort learning and tailored one-on-one support. - Funding
Provide the financial resources needed to implement and grow their initiatives. - Connection and Community
Expand the reach and visibility of young leaders while connecting them to a broader network of peers, partners, and supporters. - Collaboration
Create opportunities to co-design solutions with the Foundation’s partners and fellow participants.
FAQs
We want to empower young leaders from around the world who are working towards creating positive change in their communities. Each year, we select a cohort with a specific regional and thematic focus.
You can apply if you:
- Are 18–30 years old
- Work on social impact in this year's focus area, which will be one of the following: climate resilience, mental wellbeing, or social equity
- Work in the region selected for that year’s cohort
- Work with a formally registered nonprofit organization with a clear social mission
- Lead an early-stage initiative without major corporate or institutional backing
- Lead or have led the initiative as a founder, co-founder, or in a similar role
There is no single set of requirements, skills or experience we look for. Instead, we look at each applicant’s unique story and aims. In general, what we’re looking at is potential: for collaboration, for growth and for learning, and also the unique perspectives and experiences each applicant can bring to the program.
The program is a unique opportunity for young leaders who are dedicated to making long-term impact. It’s a multi-phase journey including 2–3 months of pre-Summit preparation, the One Young World Summit, a post-summit debrief session, and one year of post-Summit support for selected fellows. Participants should expect active engagement across each phase.
In the months before the One Young World Summit, we will run five virtual pre-summit sessions where applicants will get the opportunity to meet their fellow changemakers and participate in personal and professional development workshops.
The day before the Summit, participants will attend an in-person Connection Day. Here, you will meet for orientation and get to know each other and the aims of the Zurich Foundation better.
The One Young World Summit will take place over three days. Scholars and Global Changemakers will have the opportunity to present on the stages at the event and join us at our Exhibition Stand.
Following the Summit, participants will meet for one more virtual session to discuss what they have learned and plan next steps. For a full year after attending, the Foundation will continue to offer capacity building support for selected scholars, helping them amplify their work and achieve their aims.
The first step is to apply for a scholarship to attend the One Young World Summit through the Zurich Foundation. Applications open on 16 March 2026 and will be published on the One Young World website.
Voices of young changemakers
Catch up with our changemakers
In addition to the scholarship, we award grants to extraordinary individuals within our delegation. These scholars are passionate about global issues and have demonstrated commitment to creating positive change and impact in one of our pillars, namely: improving mental wellbeing, enabling social equity, and adapting to climate change.
Expanding Mental Health Support in Laos
In Laos, where access to mental health support remains extremely limited, Pat Vongsaly and Gamlangchai ("encouragement" in Lao) during the COVID-19 pandemic. What began as a grassroots initiative has grown into a vital source of mental health awareness and peer support, reaching more than 11,000 people through workshops, festivals, and community programs, often accompanied by Malie, the team's much-loved therapy dog.
To date, Gamlangchai has trained over 130 individuals in peer support and psychological first aid. With support from the Z Zurich Foundation, Pat is now becoming a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor, helping bring these important skills to workplaces and schools across Laos.
Read more here
Bringing art, healing and hope
When Ssekitto Kalule Emmanuel lost his dream of becoming a professional footballer, it felt like the end of everything he had worked toward since childhood.
This moment became a turning point for him. Emmanuel now helps children and youth process difficult experiences, heal, and build confidence for the future. His organization, Faces Up Uganda, shows how art and creativity can open the door to healing, connection, and hope.
Read his story and discover the impact of his work.
Everyday, we look around and we see things in the world that aren't the way that they ought to be. But if we sit in silence or merely grumble but do nothing, that’s how they will continue to be. I want to be a good leader and use my voice, my platform, and my life to bring the world a little closer to the way it ought to be; where people can access dignified opportunities, no matter their circumstances, which is what my team and I work towards daily at EqualReach.
Listen, unite, inspire. That’s exactly what we strive to do in everything. We create platforms for young people to share their stories, for us to listen and appreciate where they’re at. It’s about understanding and uniting around the feeling we all have about the kind of lives we envision and want to realize. And then, how do we inspire others to prioritize their mental wellbeing and also inspire our leaders and policy makers to create change.
