Applications are now open for the One Young World Hauwa Ojeifo Scholarship 2026, a fully funded opportunity for emerging young leaders committed to advancing the rights, health, and wellbeing of women and girls.
Delivered by One Young World in partnership with the Hauwa Ojeifo Global Impact Fund for Women & Girls, this scholarship supports young changemakers working to address deeply interconnected challenges such as child marriage, gender-based violence, mental health disparities, and other critical issues affecting women and girls.
The initiative is led by Hauwa Ojeifo, a prominent mental health advocate and One Young World Ambassador, whose Impact Fund aims to strengthen systems of care for the health and wellbeing of 100 million women and girls by 2030.
About the Scholarship
Now in its second year, the Hauwa Ojeifo Scholarship seeks to empower 16 exceptional young leaders who are driving transformative change in their communities. Scholars will attend the One Young World Summit 2026, scheduled to take place from 3–6 November 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa.
The scholarship equips participants with access to a global platform, leadership development resources, and a powerful international network to scale their impact.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must:
– Be aged 18–30 at the time of the One Young World Summit 2026 (candidates over 30 may be considered based on demonstrated impact and engagement; applicants must not be under 18 at the time of the Summit).
–Hold a leadership role, work within an organisation, or lead an initiative with proven impact aligned with at least one of the following themes:
• Mental Health, including neurodivergence and developmental differences
• Domestic and Sexual Violence
• Disability Rights and the Rights of Older People
• Gynaecological Health and Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights
• Maternal and Child Health
• Issues Affecting the Girl Child (including FGM, child-adolescent pregnancy, and child marriage)
• Non-Communicable Diseases
- Live and create impact in Africa, Asia, or the Middle East.
- Demonstrate willingness to actively engage with fellow scholarship recipients and the wider One Young World community.
Benefits
Selected Hauwa Ojeifo Scholars will receive:
- Full access to participate in the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town.
- Hotel accommodation for the duration of the Summit.
- Return economy travel from their country of residence to Cape Town.
- Catering (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) throughout the Summit.
- Transport between the Summit accommodation and the venue.
- Lifelong membership in the One Young World Ambassador Community.
- Access to the One Young World Global Leadership Programme and Action Accelerator.
- Opportunity to apply for grant funding of up to $25,000 USD to scale their impact initiatives.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should visit the official scholarship webpage to review detailed information and submit their applications:
https://www.oneyoungworld.com/scholarship/hauwa-ojeifo-scholarship-2026
