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Generation Connect Young Leadership Programme (GCYLP) is an exciting programme to engage, empower, and inspire young digital leaders and changemakers. GCYLP aims to support young visionaries from around the world who propose creative, far-reaching, innovative, and feasible community-driven projects aimed at creating a more inclusive and empowered digital future. 

ITU in partnership with Huawei, is providing guidance, training, and financial support to 30 young fellows per year to enable them to practically implement digital development projects in their diverse communities across the world. Through this programme, young leaders have the unique opportunity to make new digital development ideas a reality, or to expand the impact of their existing projects!

Who should apply?

  • Are you a young person aged 18-28?
  • Are you interested in making real impact in your communities by leading your own digital development project?
  • Are you currently enrolled or recently graduated from a tertiary education institution from a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) or a demonstrably STEM-related academic programme?
  • Are you able to communicate in English, the main language of the programme? This language requirement is to ensure that all fellows can benefit from the planned offerings of trainings, networking, and events.

What will you get?

  • Virtual mentorship and leadership training sessions from ITU and Huawei.
  • Participation in an in-person global training week (location TBC).
  • Up to USD 10,000 grant to implement a digital development project of your choice. All 30 selected fellows will receive an initial USD 5000 grant towards the implementation of a digital development project of their choice. The most impactful projects at the end of the year will receive an extra USD 5000 grant to scale up.

The programme on Generation Connect Young Leadership will be conducted in English only.

Applications Intake Closed!

The deadline for submissions was 23:59 CEST on 23 March 2024. Thank you for your interest.

If you have any questions on the application and selection process and please check the Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs] here. For any further enquires, email GCYLP@itu.int.

The ITU Generation Connect Young Leadership Programme is a project of the ITU Telecommunication Development Sector in partnership with Huawei