MCW Global 2027 Young Leaders Fellowship
MCW Global is accepting applications for its 2027 Young Leaders Fellowship. The programme supports young people developing community projects in education, health or economic security. Applications are open globally, including to Nigerians who meet the requirements. The deadline is 3 December 2026 at 11:59 pm New York time (EST).
Opportunity Summary
| Provider | MCW Global |
|---|---|
| Opportunity type | Fellowships |
| Cycle | 2027 |
| Host country | United States |
| Duration | Described as year-long: one month of community assessment, 10 days of in-person training and 10 months of virtual implementation support. Published dates are inconsistent; applicants should seek clarification. |
| Funding | MCW covers economy flights, housing, three meals daily during the in-person programme, round-trip travel between New York and Burlington, and specified airport public transportation. Passport fees, visa fees and in-country expenses are excluded. Accepted participants must pay a $100 deposit, refundable after successful completion of the in-person training. Participants are responsible for medical-care costs. Travel funding is subject to visa-timing conditions. |
| Application deadline | December 3, 2026, 11:59 PM (NYC EST time) |
About the Opportunity
The fellowship begins with a virtual Community Needs Assessment, helping participants identify and understand local priorities. In-person training follows in New York, New York, and Burlington, Vermont, from 20–29 July 2027. Workshops, speakers and group work help participants turn a community concern into an actionable plan.
Participants then return to their communities to develop and implement their plans with alumni mentorship, quarterly group discussions and ongoing remote communication.
The published schedule needs clarification: eligibility requirements place the assessment in June, the timeline lists June–July 2027, and the entire fellowship is separately dated July 2027–July 2028. Confirm the full commitment before accepting.
Funding and Benefits
- International economy flights for accepted international participants, subject to MCW’s travel conditions.
- Housing from the evening of 19 July through 29 July 2027, with accommodation at New York University and Champlain College.
- Three meals daily from 20–29 July 2027.
- Return travel between New York and Burlington, plus public transportation to and from JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports.
- Leadership training, community assessment tools and alumni mentorship for project development and implementation.
Who Can Apply?
- Be aged 18–26 on 1 June 2027.
- Demonstrate community commitment and identify a local issue involving education, health or economic security.
- Show motivation to create positive change and an interest in social projects, using authentic, original reflections.
- Be fluent in written and spoken English.
- Commit to community assessment, the full July in-person programme and subsequent community project work.
- Have email and internet access for consistent communication throughout the fellowship.
- Be eligible for appropriate visa and travel documentation and follow graduation guidelines supplied upon acceptance.
What Nigerian Applicants Should Know
- Nigerians may apply under the worldwide eligibility provision. This is a community leadership fellowship, not a job or degree programme.
- Funding does not cover passport fees, visa fees, in-country expenses such as airport travel and extra baggage, or medical-care costs. Budget for these separately; this is not an all-expenses-covered award.
- The $100 deposit is refundable after successful completion of the in-person training. Failure to pay by 16 March means MCW will consider you no longer attending. A $50 accommodation cancellation charge can be deducted if you request a room but do not use it.
- Visa eligibility is required, but visa sponsorship is not stated. MCW will withdraw travel provision if delayed visa application results in receipt of the visa less than one month before the programme.
- Virtual phases support work in participants’ home communities, but attendance in the United States is required for the in-person phase.
Required Documents
- An English-language résumé of no more than one page.
- Two English-language recommendation letters from people familiar with your work ethic and community commitment. Friends and family are discouraged as recommenders. Each letter should begin with the recommender’s name, position, contact information and relationship to you.
- A liability waiver included at the end of the application.
How to Apply
- Complete the application in English, including general information and the required supporting materials.
- Answer the essays about a community issue and your proposed response, and a challenge you addressed using leadership skills.
- Review the liability waiver and submit by 3 December 2026, 11:59 pm New York time (EST).
- If shortlisted on 21 December 2026, complete the second-round application by 8 January 2027. Alumni interviews are scheduled for 3–16 February.
- Acceptance decisions are scheduled for 23 February, with acceptance confirmation due 2 March 2027.
- Accepted participants must confirm their US visa interview date and pay the $100 deposit by 16 March 2027. Contact MCW if Square is unavailable in your country.
Visit the official application page
Application Tips
Preparation advice: choose a specific community issue and explain the people affected, your understanding of their needs and how you would respond. Use a genuine example when discussing leadership. MCW explicitly discourages AI-generated responses and values original ideas over polished language. Write your own answers and check that every application component is in English; non-English material will not be read and will make the application incomplete.
Information checked 8 November 2026.
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