MCW Global Young Leaders Fellowship 2027

Scholarship Details

Young people who are passionate about creating positive change in their communities can now apply for the 2027 MCW Global Young Leaders Fellowship. The year-long programme is open to applicants from all countries and is designed to equip young leaders with the knowledge, skills and resources needed to develop and implement community projects.

The fellowship focuses on three major areas: education, health and economic security. Selected participants will take part in virtual learning and community assessment, a 10-day in-person training programme in the United States, and ten months of project development and implementation with support from experienced alumni mentors.

Applications are open to young people aged 18–26 who are committed to addressing challenges in their communities.

About the MCW Global Young Leaders Fellowship

The Young Leaders Fellowship is organised by MCW Global (Miracle Corners of the World). It aims to mobilise young people and prepare them to become leaders of positive change in their communities.

The programme begins with a one-month Community Needs Assessment, during which participants learn how to understand and assess the needs of their local communities. This is followed by an intensive 10-day in-person training programme focused on vision planning, leadership development and project creation.

After the training, participants return to their communities and spend ten months developing and implementing their action plans with virtual support from alumni mentors.

The fellowship is a year-long opportunity that combines leadership development, global citizenship, self-awareness and practical community project planning.

Benefits of the Fellowship

MCW Global will provide the following support for accepted participants:

• International economy flights: Economy flights for international participants. Participants from the United States will receive domestic economy flights.
• Accommodation: Housing from the evening of July 19 to July 29, 2027.
• Meals: Three meals per day from July 20 to July 29, 2027.
• Transportation: Round-trip travel between New York City and Burlington, Vermont.
• Airport transportation: Public transportation to and from JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports.
• Leadership training: A 10-day in-person programme featuring speakers, workshops, events and facilitated group activities.
• Community project development: Guidance to transform a community issue into a practical action plan.
• Alumni mentorship: Participants will be paired with fellowship alumni who provide guidance throughout the implementation period.
• Networking and global exposure: Opportunities to connect with young leaders from different parts of the world.

Alumni mentors will support participants through quarterly virtual hangouts and ongoing remote communication. The mentors also receive customised training to help them support teamwork and cultural understanding among the diverse group of fellows.

Fellowship Structure

The programme is divided into three phases:

1. Virtual Community Needs Assessment – One Month

Participants begin by mapping and assessing the needs of their communities. They will receive tools and knowledge to understand local challenges before attending the in-person training.

2. In-Person Vision Planning and Project Development – 10 Days

Participants attend an intensive training programme from July 20–29, 2027. They are expected to come with an idea of a community issue they want to address.

Through workshops, diverse speakers, events and group activities, participants will learn how to turn their ideas and passion into practical plans for change. They will also explore how local challenges connect to wider global issues and identify the skills and tools needed to implement their projects.

3. Virtual Project Implementation and Alumni Mentorship – 10 Months

After the in-person training, participants return to their communities to develop and execute their action plans. Each participant will be paired with an alumni mentor who will provide guidance through quarterly hangouts and regular online communication.

The entire fellowship runs from July 2027 to July 2028.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the 2027 MCW Global Young Leaders Fellowship, applicants must:

• Be between 18 and 26 years old at the start of the programme on June 1, 2027.
• Demonstrate commitment to their community.
• Identify a community issue they want to address in education, health or economic security.
• Show strong motivation to create positive change and an interest in social projects.
• Be fluent in written and spoken English.
• Be available to complete the Community Needs Assessment in June 2027, attend the 10-day in-person programme in July and spend the following year working towards implementing their community project.
• Have access to email and the internet for regular communication with MCW Global and their alumni mentor throughout the programme.
• Agree to follow the fellowship graduation guidelines, which will be provided after acceptance.
• Be eligible to obtain the required visa and travel documents.
• Submit a completed application before the deadline.

MCW Global places particular importance on authenticity. Original ideas and genuine personal reflections are valued more than AI-generated responses.

Required Documents and Application Components

The application must be completed in English. Recommendation letters and resumes must also be written in English. Any part of the application submitted in another language will not be read and may result in an incomplete application.

Applicants should prepare the following:

1. General Information

Complete the personal and general information section of the application form.

2. Essay Questions

Applicants must respond to two essay questions:

• Identify an issue in your community that concerns you. How would you address this issue? Applicants should be specific and explain their community’s needs and what matters to them.
• Describe one time you faced a challenge and used leadership skills to develop a solution.

MCW encourages applicants to provide original, personal responses rather than generic or AI-generated answers.

3. Resume

Applicants must submit a resume that is no longer than one page.

4. Two Letters of Recommendation

Applicants must provide two recommendation letters from people who know their work ethic and commitment to their community.

Friends and family members are discouraged from serving as recommenders. Each recommender should include their name, position, contact information and relationship to the applicant at the top of the letter.

5. Liability Waiver

Applicants must review the terms and conditions and liability waiver at the end of the application.

The waiver includes provisions concerning responsibility for injuries or property loss connected with programme participation and travel, responsibility for medical expenses incurred during the in-person training, confidentiality, and MCW Global’s use of photographs, videos, audio and written materials. Participants also agree to follow programme instructions, remain with the group throughout the training and comply with applicable US laws and programme accommodation rules.

Programme Location and Costs

The 2027 in-person fellowship will take place in New York City, New York, and Burlington, Vermont, USA, from July 20 to July 29, 2027.

Accommodation will be provided by New York University in New York and Champlain College in Burlington.

Refundable deposit

Accepted participants must pay a US$100 deposit by March 16, 2027.

The deposit will be refunded in full in July 2027 after the participant successfully completes the in-person training programme. MCW requires this payment to cover costs it may incur if a participant cancels after April 1, 2027.

Payment is made through Square. Applicants whose countries or territories do not support Square payments should contact MCW Global. Failure to make the payment by March 16, 2027 means the participant will be considered no longer attending the fellowship.

Costs covered by MCW Global

• International economy flights for international participants.
• Domestic economy flights for participants from the United States.
• Housing from the evening of July 19 to July 29, 2027.
• Three meals per day from July 20 to July 29, 2027.
• Round-trip travel between New York City and Burlington, Vermont.
• Public transportation to and from JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports.

Flights will be booked in economy class using the most cost-efficient available route. MCW will arrange flights to arrive one day before the programme and depart one day after it. Participants who wish to travel in the United States for longer must arrange their own additional travel. MCW may reimburse the cost based on what it would have booked.

Participants who delay their visa application after acceptance and receive their visa less than one month before the programme begins will no longer receive travel support.

Costs not covered by MCW Global

Applicants and accepted participants are responsible for:

• Passport fees.
• Visa fees.
• Travel to the airport within their country.
• Extra baggage fees.
• Other in-country expenses.

MCW will provide accommodation on July 19 and July 29 for participants whose flight schedules require them to arrive the day before or leave after the programme. Participants who do not need the additional New York accommodation must inform MCW at least two months before the programme begins.

MCW does not provide accommodation before or beyond the programme’s designated travel days. If a participant requests a room but does not use it, a US$50 NYU cancellation fee will be deducted from their deposit.

Application Timeline

Applicants should take note of the following dates:

• November 5, 2026: Applications open.
• December 3, 2026: Application deadline.
• December 21, 2026: First-round decisions sent to applicants; shortlisted candidates notified and second-round application opens.
• January 8, 2027: Second-round application closes.
• February 3–16, 2027: Interviews with alumni.
• February 23, 2027: Acceptance notifications sent.
• March 2, 2027: Confirmation of acceptance.
• March 16, 2027: Confirmation of US visa interview date and payment of deposit.
• June–July 2027: Community Needs Assessment.
• July 20–29, 2027: In-person fellowship training.
• July 2027–July 2028: Full fellowship duration.

How to Apply for the MCW Global Young Leaders Fellowship 2027

Interested applicants should visit the official application portal and complete the online application in English.

Before submitting, prepare your one-page resume, two recommendation letters and responses to the essay questions. Ensure that your answers reflect your genuine experiences, leadership abilities and understanding of the community issue you intend to address.

Applicants should avoid AI-generated responses, as MCW Global states that these may negatively affect their chances of selection.

Application portal: https://applicant.mcwglobal.org/apply/2027-mentee-call-young-leaders-fellowship

Official fellowship information: https://mcwglobal.org/young-leaders-fellowship-2027/

Free Learning Resources

MCW Global also provides additional resources for people interested in the programme.

Applicants and other interested young people can access a free online leadership course to learn more about the fellowship’s approach to leadership. The organisation also provides a project toolkit containing resources for developing community projects in health, education and economic security.

These resources can be accessed through the official fellowship page.

Conclusion

The MCW Global Young Leaders Fellowship 2027 offers young people an opportunity to develop their leadership abilities, receive mentorship and work towards solving challenges in their communities. With international travel, accommodation, meals and training covered by MCW Global, it is a valuable opportunity for young changemakers from Nigeria and other countries.

If you have a genuine interest in community development and a practical idea for creating positive change, consider applying before the December 3, 2026 deadline.

Application Deadline: December 3, 2026, at 11:59 PM New York time.