Ashoka
The Nomination Process
Stage 1: Online Nomination & Screening
Nominate yourself or someone you know through the online form. Reflect on your journey as a Changemaker and access inspiring ideas to advance your initiative.
Stage 2: National Review
Interact with the Ashoka team in your country. Learn more about the co-leadership opportunities for you to contribute and useful insights to help you accelerate the growth of your leadership and changemaking competencies.
Stage 3: International Review
Interact with a Senior Leader from the Ashoka team and with young changemakers from our global network. Understand Ashoka better, and gain expert insights to advance your changemaking journey.
Stage 4: Selection Panel*
Attend an in-person discussion and selection panel, that would include top social entrepreneurs, journalists and other leaders. Meet other top young changemakers and discuss ideas to influence youth culture in your country and to co-lead the Everyone a Changemaker movement.
*Reimbursements are available for all candidates to cover panel related expenses like domestic travel, accommodation, and food. Candidates can also bring a parent or adult ally during the visit.
Ashoka Young Changemaker nominations are accepted year-round**
**You can only apply to AYC in the country that you are a resident of. Currently, the AYC program is recruiting for Nigeria, Brazil, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the United States. If you do not live in these countries, please write to your Ashoka country office for youth-related opportunities in your country.
Note: By completing a nomination form, you are expressing interest to be considered for the upcoming selection panels in that country
Frequently Asked Questions
I submitted my nomination. What happens next?
Based on where you live, we will notify you once the next round of applications for Ashoka Young Changemakers is available in your country. You will be notified several weeks in advance before the deadline through the email provided on the nomination form.
Follow us on social media, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram for more updates on upcoming application cycles.
Is a nomination require to apply to the program?
No! Nominations are not required to apply to be an Ashoka Young Changemaker. Nomination forms are simply an expression of interest before applications open in your country.
I submitted my nomination a few weeks ago, but a lot has changed since then. What do I do?
Awesome! You can update your nomination by re-nominating yourself with additional information. In the description, reference your previous nomination, so the reviewer knows to look for multiple submissions. You can also wait and provide a full update in your written application once applications are open for the next cohort in your country. Please note, nominations are not required for applying to the program.
Is there a fee associated with the program?
No! There is no fee or cost to apply or participate in the Ashoka Young Changemaker program.
What happens after selection?
The panel and Ashoka will invite a select group to become Ashoka Young Changemakers. You are inducted into a global community and gain access to co-leadership bootcamps, media partnerships, public speaking platforms, exposure visits, strategic allies and more opportunities to grow yourself and to influence youth culture in your country.
Every Ashoka Young Changemaker is tasked with the responsibility of co-leading the Everyone a Changemaker movement. As a co-leader, you can drive existing Ashoka initiatives for young people or come up with new ideas to fuel the movement.
For example:
- Be a peer ally to other young people and help kick-start their changemaking journeys
- Engage with top social entrepreneurs and thought leaders
- Create opportunities within your own venture for other young people to step up and lead change
- Speak at reputed public platforms and share your story through media partnerships
- Influence your school/community to trust in youth to lead
- Build partnerships to start and scale effective solutions that can end the new inequality
- Access resources and networks to achieve greater impact
- Come up with your own ideas to fuel the movement and test them in a supportive community
What does an Ashoka Young Changemaker look like?
Explore the profiles and featured stories of our global community of Ashoka Young Changemakers. See More>
Have additional questions?
Read our detailed FAQs
And we'd love to hear from you! Write to us at [email protected]