The One Young World Bursary 2026 in South Africa is a fully funded opportunity that sends six young South Africans to the world’s premier leadership summit. With the application deadline of September 2, 2026 fast approaching, this is your chance to join 2,000 young leaders from 196 countries in Cape Town this November. Having helped students navigate One Young World applications before, I can tell you this: the key difference between getting selected and getting rejected is how clearly you demonstrate active citizenship — not how many leadership titles you hold.
What is the One Young World Bursary 2026?
The One Young World Bursary 2026 in South Africa — officially called the Brand South Africa Play Your Part Bursary — is a fully funded award that enables young South African active citizens to attend the One Young World Summit 2026.
Brand South Africa, in partnership with One Young World, offers this bursary to identify and support young leaders who are already making a difference in their communities. This isn’t a scholarship for future leaders — it’s for people who have already started creating change and want to take their impact global.
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What is the One Young World Summit?
The One Young World Summit is the annual gathering of the world’s most promising young leaders. The One Young World Summit 2026 takes place in Cape Town, South Africa, from November 3–6, 2026. It brings together delegates from nearly every country to debate, share solutions, and build networks that address the world’s most pressing challenges.
Past Summits have featured speakers like Sir Bob Geldof, Mary Robinson, and Kofi Annan. As a delegate, you’ll sit alongside young entrepreneurs, activists, and innovators who are reshaping their countries and industries.
What does the One Young World Bursary cover?
Here’s exactly what the One Young World Bursary includes — and what it doesn’t:
Estimated value: While the bursary doesn’t specify a cash amount, a fully funded Summit place typically represents $5,000–$10,000 USD in value when you factor in travel, accommodation, catering, and Summit access.
See Also: Open Doors Russia Scholarship 2026
Who is eligible for the One Young World Bursary 2026?
The One Young World Bursary 2026 eligibility requirements are specific. This is not an international scholarship — it’s for South Africans only.
You must meet ALL of these criteria:
- ✅ South African national or resident
- ✅ Aged 18–30 at the time of the Summit (November 2026)
- ✅ Demonstrate commitment to active citizenship — using time, money, skills, or goods to benefit your community or society
- ✅ Show understanding of key local and/or global issues facing South Africa
- ✅ Have a track record of generating positive change
What “active citizenship” means in practice: This is the most misunderstood requirement. The committee isn’t looking for people who want to be leaders. They’re looking for people who are already leading — even if it’s small. Organizing a community clean-up counts. Starting a tutoring program for underprivileged kids counts. Volunteering at a shelter counts. The scale doesn’t matter as much as the impact and initiative.
Note: One Young World Leading Scholarship applicants can be aged 18–35 and come from almost any country. But for this specific Brand South Africa bursary, the age limit is 18–30 and nationality is strictly South African.
Required documents for the One Young World Bursary
The official application portal (www.oneyoungworld.com) hosts the online form. While the exact document list isn’t publicly detailed, here’s what you should prepare based on similar One Young World scholarships:
- Personal information (name, age, contact details, location)
- Proof of South African nationality or residency (ID or passport)
- Leadership/impact summary — a description of your active citizenship work
- Short answers to questions about your community impact and understanding of South African issues
- References may be requested — have contacts ready who can verify your community work
Pro tip: Don’t wait until the last day to start the application. The portal may require you to create an account, and technical issues are common close to deadlines.
How to apply for the One Young World Bursary 2026 step by step
Follow this One Young World Bursary application walkthrough carefully. Missing a step could disqualify you.
- Go to www.oneyoungworld.com — This is the official application portal. Do NOT apply through third-party sites.
- Create an account — You’ll need a valid email address. Use one you check regularly — all communications will go here.
- Find the Brand South Africa Play Your Part Bursary — Navigate to the scholarships section. Look for the specific bursary listing (not the general Leading Scholarship or other partner scholarships).
- Read the full terms — Review the location-specific conditions carefully. Cape Town-based applicants have different travel/accommodation arrangements.
- Fill in your personal details — Complete all required fields. Double-check your age (18–30) and nationality.
- Write your impact statement — This is the most important part. Describe your active citizenship work in detail. Be specific about what you did, how many people you helped, and what changed as a result.
- Answer the country-specific questions — Expect questions about your understanding of South Africa’s challenges and how you’re addressing them.
- Review everything — Check for spelling errors, incomplete answers, and formatting issues.
- Submit before September 2, 2026 — The application closes on this date. There are no extensions.
- Wait for notification — Selections are made on a rolling basis between June and October 2026. If you’re selected, you’ll hear directly from One Young World.
How to write a winning application for the One Young World Bursary
Generic advice like “write a strong application” is useless. Here’s what actually works for this specific bursary.
What the committee wants to see:
The One Young World Bursary selection committee is looking for evidence of active citizenship. That means they want to see:
- Specific actions you’ve taken — not what you plan to do, but what you’ve already done
- Measurable impact — numbers matter. “Helped 50 students” is better than “helped students”
- South Africa focus — your work should connect to South African issues
- Initiative — did you start something, or did you just participate?
How to structure your answers:
- Opening: State the problem you saw in your community
- Action: Describe exactly what you did (use active verbs: organized, founded, led, created)
- Impact: Share the results — numbers, stories, changes
- Learning: What did you learn? How did it change you?
- Future: How will attending the Summit help you do more?
What to avoid:
- ❌ Vague statements (“I’m passionate about change”)
- ❌ Future plans without past action (“I want to start a nonprofit”)
- ❌ Generic leadership language (“I’m a natural leader”)
- ❌ Copying from other scholarship applications
Opening sentence example:
“In 2024, I noticed that students in my township were dropping out of school because they couldn’t afford transport. I organized a carpool network with 12 volunteer drivers, which has kept 47 students in school over the past 18 months.”
This is specific. It shows action, impact, and initiative. This is what wins.
Selection criteria — what the committee really looks for
The official selection process is “rolling basis” with notifications between June and October 2026. But here’s what that actually means for you.
Priority is given to:
- Applicants from under-represented backgrounds
- First-time attendees (not existing One Young World Ambassadors)
- People with clear, measurable community impact
The insider perspective:
From analyzing past One Young World scholarship winners, the strongest applications share three things:
- Narrative clarity — They tell a story about a specific problem they solved, not a list of achievements
- South African context — They connect their work to South Africa’s specific challenges (inequality, education, unemployment, climate)
- Humility + ambition — They show what they’ve done and what they’ll do with the Summit experience
Common misconception: Many applicants think they need to be a CEO or NGO founder. You don’t. The committee values grassroots impact over titles. A teacher who started a reading program in a rural school is just as competitive as a corporate executive.
One Young World Bursary vs other One Young World scholarships
This bursary is one of many One Young World scholarships. Here’s how it compares:
If you’re South African, the Brand South Africa bursary is your best shot because the applicant pool is smaller (only South Africans can apply). The Leading Scholarship is more competitive because it’s global.
Success tips for South African applicants
These tips are specific to the One Young World Bursary 2026 in South Africa — they won’t work for other scholarships.
- Emphasize your South African context — The committee wants to see you understand South Africa’s unique challenges. Mention specific issues: load-shedding, inequality, education gaps, youth unemployment.
- Show local impact — If you’ve worked in a township, rural area, or underserved community, highlight that. Local impact matters more than international experience for this bursary.
- Be honest about your location — Three bursaries are reserved for Cape Town-based applicants, and three for the rest of South Africa. If you’re in Cape Town, you’re in a smaller applicant pool — use that advantage.
- Apply early — Rolling basis means applications are reviewed as they come in. The earlier you apply, the more spots are available.
- Get someone to review your application — A fresh pair of eyes catches mistakes you’ll miss. Ask a mentor, teacher, or friend to read your impact statement.
What happens after the Summit?
If you’re selected for the One Young World Bursary, the opportunity doesn’t end in November.
You’ll receive lifetime membership in the One Young World Ambassador Community — a network of over 20,000 young leaders from 196 countries. This gives you access to:
- Exclusive speaking events and regional networking sessions
- Mentoring opportunities with global experts
- The chance to wave your country’s flag at the Opening Ceremony
- Greater visibility for your work
- Ongoing leadership development through the Action Accelerator
Many One Young World Ambassadors go on to speak at global events, launch international initiatives, and build careers in leadership and social impact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the One Young World Bursary 2026 open to international students?
No. The One Young World Bursary 2026 is only for South African nationals or residents. International students cannot apply for this specific bursary, but they can apply for other One Young World scholarships like the Leading Scholarship.
What is the application deadline for the One Young World Bursary 2026?
The deadline is September 2, 2026. Applications must be submitted through the official One Young World portal before this date. No extensions are given.
How many One Young World Bursary awards are given?
Six bursaries are awarded total. Three are reserved for applicants based in Cape Town, and three are open to applicants from across South Africa. This is a highly competitive opportunity.
What does the One Young World Bursary cover?
The bursary covers full Summit delegate access, travel and accommodation (as required), catering, leadership programming, and lifetime One Young World Ambassador community membership. Cape Town-based applicants do not receive travel or accommodation support.
Can I apply if I’m over 30?
No. You must be aged 18–30 at the time of the One Young World Summit 2026 (November 2026). If you’ll turn 31 before November 2026, you are not eligible for this bursary.
Do I need a visa to attend the One Young World Summit in South Africa?
If you’re a South African citizen, you do not need a visa to attend the Summit in your own country. If you’re a foreign national selected for other One Young World scholarships, you must cover visa costs yourself.
