Apply Now: Max Thabiso Edkins Youth Ambassador Program 2026 — A Global Youth Leadership Opportunity

Are you a young changemaker passionate about sustainability, innovation, and community impact? The Max Thabiso Edkins Youth Ambassador Program is open for applications — offering a unique chance to learn, connect, and act on some of the world’s most pressing development and climate challenges. 

📌 What Is the Max Thabiso Edkins Youth Ambassador Program?

The Max Thabiso Edkins Youth Ambassador Program is a global leadership and capacity-building initiative run by the World Bank Group’s Youth2Youth (Y2Y) community in partnership with Connect4Climate (C4C). It honors the legacy of Max Thabiso Edkins, a champion for youth inclusion and climate action, by empowering the next generation of leaders to design sustainable solutions for a livable planet. 

This fully virtual 6-month program brings together young people from around the world to learn from experts, work on real-world challenges, network with global peers, and engage in meaningful campaigns that align with global development priorities. 

🌱 What You’ll Gain as an Ambassador

If selected, 2026 Youth Ambassadors will enjoy a range of non-monetary benefits aimed at strengthening leadership, knowledge, and impact:

✅ Learn from experts — Join sessions led by World Bank Group specialists and partners on topics like energy, water, agribusiness, gender equality, health, tourism, digital innovation, and more. 

✅ Participate in global campaigns — Contribute to initiatives like Health Works, Mission300, Empowering Women, and AgriConnect.

✅ Build connections — Network with peers, professionals, and sector leaders from across the globe. 

✅ Join an active alumni community — Engage with past ambassadors and access ongoing collaboration opportunities beyond completion. 

🧠 Who Can Apply?

This opportunity is open to global youth who are eager to amplify their impact. To be eligible, you must:

🔹 Be between 20 and 30 years old

🔹 Be studying, entering the job market, or building a career in a relevant sector

🔹 Have a strong interest in sustainability, green jobs, or community development

🔹 Be curious, motivated, and collaborative

🔹 Have interest in areas like energy, water, agribusiness, gender equality, health, tourism, or digital innovation

🔹 Be committed to diversity, dialogue, and exchange of ideas across cultures 

👉 Applicants from all countries are welcome, and the program runs online, so you don’t need to relocate to participate. 

🗓 Key Dates & Application

📅 Application Deadline: 24 February 2026 — make sure to submit your form before this date to be considered for the 2026 cohort. 

💡 Important Notes:

• The program is non-monetary — it focuses on skills, learning, and networks, not stipends or funding. 

• Use of AI-generated responses for application materials is prohibited and could disqualify your submission. 

• Previous ambassadors and current World Bank Group employees are not eligible. 

✨ Why You Should Apply

The world is at a turning point — and young leaders are at the heart of shaping its future. The Max Thabiso Edkins Youth Ambassador Program isn’t just about personal skill-building; it’s about becoming part of a global movement of youth poised to create change in sustainable development, climate resilience, and community advancement.

Whether you dream of influencing policy, launching impactful projects, or building networks that span continents, this program gives you the platform to grow — and the support to carry your ideas forward.

Apply using the link below 👇🏼 

https://tinyurl.com/3xkz5z2h