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The MCW Young Leaders Fellowship 2027 covers your economy flights to the United States, your housing and three meals a day, for a 10-day in-person leadership training in New York and Burlington, Vermont, from 20 to 29 July 2027. It is part of a year-long fellowship run by MCW Global.
It is open to young people aged 18 to 26 from anywhere in the world who want to tackle a problem in their community in education, health or economic security.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | New York and Burlington, Vermont, USA |
| Organisation | MCW Global |
| In-person dates | 20 to 29 July 2027 (fellowship runs July 2027 to July 2028) |
| Funding | Economy flights, housing, three meals a day, local transport |
| Not covered | Passport and visa fees, home-country costs |
| Who can apply | Ages 18 to 26, any country |
| Application fee | None mentioned ($100 deposit, refunded after the program) |
| Deadline | 3 December 2026, 11:59 PM EST |
What is the MCW Young Leaders Fellowship?
MCW Global is a non-profit based in New York. Its Young Leaders Fellowship helps young people turn a community problem into a real action plan. It runs in three phases.
- Community Needs Assessment (1 month, online): in June 2027, you map your community and study its needs.
- In-person training (10 days): from 20 to 29 July 2027 in New York and Burlington, Vermont, you join workshops, talks and group work to build your vision plan.
- Project implementation (10 months, online): back home, you carry out your plan with support from an alumni mentor.
What you get
- International economy flights to the U.S.
- Housing from the evening of 19 July to 29 July 2027, at New York University and Champlain College
- Three meals a day from 20 to 29 July 2027
- Round-trip travel between New York and Burlington
- Public transport to and from JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports
- A year of mentoring from a fellowship alumnus
What is not covered
- Passport fees
- U.S. visa fees
- Costs in your home country, such as getting to the airport or extra baggage
Who can apply
- Aged 18 to 26 on 1 June 2027
- From any country
- Fluent in written and spoken English
- Committed to your community, with a specific issue in education, health or economic security
- Available for the needs assessment in June, the in-person training in July and the year of project work after it
- Regular access to email and the internet
- Eligible for a U.S. visa and travel documents
Is there an application fee or deposit?
No application fee is mentioned. Accepted participants pay a $100 deposit by 16 March 2027. MCW refunds it in full in July 2027 once you complete the in-person training.
What about the U.S. visa?
You pay your own visa fee and must book your visa interview early. MCW asks participants to confirm their interview date by 16 March 2027. If you delay and get your visa less than a month before the program, MCW will no longer provide your travel.
Required documents
- The online application, in English
- Two essays: an issue in your community and how you’d address it, and a time you used leadership to solve a challenge
- A one-page resume
- Two recommendation letters from people who know your work and commitment to your community (not friends or family)
- A signed liability waiver at the end of the form
See our guides on writing a CV and asking for a recommendation letter.
How to write your essays
- Pick one real issue you see where you live, and describe it with details only a local would know.
- Explain clearly what you would do about it.
- For the leadership essay, tell one true story: the challenge, what you did and what changed.
- Write in your own words. MCW says AI-generated answers hurt your chances, and that the strength of your ideas matters more than perfect English.
How to apply, step by step
- Read the full program page on the MCW Global website.
- Choose your community issue in education, health or economic security.
- Ask two recommenders for their letters, with their name, position, contact details and relationship to you at the top.
- Prepare your one-page resume.
- Fill in the online application and submit by 3 December 2026, 11:59 PM New York time.
Selection process
- 21 December 2026: first-round decisions, and the second-round application opens for shortlisted candidates
- 8 January 2027: second-round application closes
- 3 to 16 February 2027: interviews with alumni
- 23 February 2027: acceptances sent
Deadline
Deadline: 3 December 2026, 11:59 PM New York time (EST)
You have a few weeks. Use them to ask your recommenders and write essays that sound like you.
Have a question?
Ask in the comments and we’ll help where we can.
Related reading
- Community Engagement Exchange Program 2027 in the USA (Fully Funded)
- FLEX Global Program 2027-28 in the USA (Fully Funded Exchange for High School Students)
- Human Rights Summit Canada 2027 in Vancouver (20 Fully Sponsored Seats)
- New Generation Leaders Summit 2027 in Bangkok (Fully Funded Seats)
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