Applications for the 2025 One Young World Summit in Munich are open, initiating a competitive selection process to identify 2,000 young leaders from over 190 countries. The summit, scheduled for Nov. 3-6, offers multiple pathways to attendance, according to Kate Robertson, who co-founded One Young World alongside David Jones.
There are three main ways to join the summit. First, you can attend through a partner organization. Many leading companies, universities, and foundations send delegates. Second, if you’re an individual without organizational backing, you may qualify for one of several scholarship opportunities. Third, previous Summit ambassadors can return to future events for a set fee.
Candidates must be between 18 and 30 years old and demonstrate leadership experience in their chosen fields. The application requires detailed documentation of past achievements and future plans.
Scholarship Programs Bridge Economic Gaps
The summit offers multiple fully funded scholarships covering travel, accommodation, and participation costs with a July 7, 2025, application deadline. These target candidates from low-income countries and underrepresented communities.
“Our scholarships aim to ensure that no one with the passion and potential to create a better world is left behind,” Kate Robertson explains. “We urge young leaders to apply and become part of this life-changing experience.”
Corporate partners, including several German multinationals, fund many scholarships. Recipients commit to implementing specific projects in their home communities after the gathering.
“Scholarships provide the opportunity for exceptional young people to attend on the merit of their proven leadership and ability to create change in their home country,” oneyoungworld.com says.
“The Leading Scholarship is designed specifically to identify and support outstanding young leaders from countries that are often underrepresented at global forums and decision-making spaces.”
Key selection criteria include demonstrated leadership experience, a clear vision for social impact, the ability to implement learning in the home community, the potential to influence policy or practice in a chosen field, and commitment to cross-cultural collaboration.
Some of the scholarships include the WE Award 2025: Together Against Loneliness, which is designed for applicants who are “promoting social connection and tackling loneliness.” It has an April 7, 2025, application deadline. The Sandoz Scholarship is dedicated to applicants “generating impactful and innovative solutions to address health care disparities or promote universal access to pharmaceuticals,” and has a March 28, 2025, deadline.
Post-Selection Requirements
Selected delegates must complete pre-summit preparation modules covering global challenges, cross-cultural communication, and project development. Delegates also secure funding commitments for their proposed initiatives. While scholarships cover summit attendance, implementation funding requires additional support.
“Munich will provide the perfect backdrop for collaboration and innovation,” Kate Robertson remarks. “From tackling climate change to driving equity in health care and technology, we need young leaders to lead the way.”
Munich’s leaders are also expressing their excitement about welcoming One Young World back to Germany in the fall.
“We’re delighted to showcase Munich’s hospitality by welcoming over 2,000 of the world’s brightest young leaders back to our beautiful city for the landmark leadership event of the year, the One Young World Summit,” Dieter Reiter, mayor of Munich, said in a YouTube video.
What One Young World Ambassadors Are Saying About Summits
In September 2024, Montreal hosted the 14th One Young World Summit, bringing together more than 1,950 emerging leaders representing over 190 nations. The four-day gathering, which ran from Sept. 18 through 21, featured prominent international figures, including environmental activist David Suzuki, Jordan’s Queen Rania, former Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla, and Nobel Peace laureate Tawakkol Karman. These distinguished speakers joined forces with summit delegates to tackle critical global challenges, from promoting peace and reconciliation to confronting the urgent climate crisis.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s actually like to attend a One Young World Summit, perhaps it’s best to hear from the ambassadors themselves.
“I received support from One Young World global community when I needed it most,” One Young World ambassador Jaha Dukureh said of attending last year’s summit in Montreal.
Alice Hendy founded the suicide prevention organization R;pple after grieving the painful death of her brother.
“One Young World is a wonderful opportunity for young people to
have a voice,” Hendy said.
Hendy’s contribution to humanity is one of many One Young World is eager to spotlight. “Our Ambassador Alice Hendy founded @ripplesuicideprevention after her brother tragically took his own life,” One Young World posted on its Instagram. “She founded R;pple, an innovative online tool designed to ensure more help and support is provided to individuals conducting searches related to self-harm or suicide. So far, R;pple has had over 1.9 million active users and has intercepted more than 44,500 harmful searches.”
For those seeking a chance to follow in the footsteps of Hendy and become a One Young World ambassador, visit oneyoungworld.com for more information.