One Young World Bursary 2026 in South Africa | Fully Funded
One Young World Bursary 2026 in South Africa
Last Date
02 September 2026
Applications are now open for the One Young World Bursary 2026 in South Africa, officially known as the Brand South Africa | Play Your Part Bursary 2026. This fully funded leadership opportunity will support six outstanding young South Africans to participate in the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town.
The bursary is offered through a partnership between Brand South Africa and One Young World and is aimed at young active citizens who are already creating positive change in their communities. Three bursaries are specifically reserved for applicants based in Cape Town, while another three are available to eligible applicants from across South Africa.
The One Young World Summit 2026 will take place in Cape Town, South Africa, from 3 to 6 November 2026. Selected bursary recipients will receive Summit participation, applicable travel and accommodation support, catering, leadership development opportunities, and lifetime membership of the One Young World Ambassador Community.
Applications opened on 11 August 2026, and the final deadline to apply for the Brand South Africa Play Your Part Bursary is 2 September 2026.
One Young World Bursary 2026 Overview
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Bursary Name | Brand South Africa | Play Your Part Bursary 2026 |
| Popular Name | One Young World Bursary 2026 |
| Host Country | South Africa |
| Summit Location | Cape Town |
| Organizers | Brand South Africa & One Young World |
| Event | One Young World Summit 2026 |
| Summit Dates | 3–6 November 2026 |
| Number of Bursaries | 6 |
| Funding | Fully Funded |
| Eligible Age | 18–30 |
| Eligibility | South African nationals or residents |
| Applications Opened | 11 August 2026 |
| Deadline | 2 September 2026 |
About the Brand South Africa Play Your Part Bursary
The Brand South Africa Play Your Part Bursary 2026 is a leadership opportunity created for young people who are already making a meaningful contribution to South African society.
Brand South Africa describes Play Your Part as an initiative encouraging active citizenship by inspiring individuals, businesses, NGOs, schools, government bodies, faith communities, and other groups to contribute their time, skills, money, or goods toward improving society.
Through its partnership with One Young World, Brand South Africa will provide six young South Africans with the opportunity to attend one of the world’s major gatherings for young leaders.
The programme is particularly relevant to applicants who can show that they have already taken practical action to improve their community rather than simply having an idea for future impact.
About One Young World Summit 2026
The One Young World Summit 2026 will be hosted in Cape Town from 3 to 6 November 2026.
According to One Young World, the Summit is expected to bring together 2,200+ young leaders from more than 190 countries to exchange ideas, build networks and take action on major global challenges.
The 2026 edition will also mark One Young World’s return to Africa for the first time since its Johannesburg Summit in 2013.
Selected Play Your Part Bursary recipients will participate alongside other young leaders, organisations, speakers and changemakers from around the world.
One Young World Bursary 2026 Benefits
The One Young World Bursary 2026 is fully funded and provides selected participants with the following support:
- Full access to the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town from 3–6 November 2026.
- Travel support where required.
- Accommodation support where required.
- Dinner on 3 November 2026.
- Lunch and dinner on 4, 5 and 6 November 2026.
- Access to the One Young World Global Leadership Programme.
- Access to the One Young World Action Accelerator.
- Lifetime membership of the One Young World Ambassador Community.
Important Note for Cape Town Applicants
Candidates who are already based in Cape Town will not receive travel or accommodation support under this particular bursary.
They can, however, still receive the other benefits associated with participation in the programme.
Number of Bursaries Available
A total of six bursaries will be awarded.
They are divided as follows:
- 3 bursaries: Reserved for candidates based in Cape Town.
- 3 bursaries: Available to eligible candidates from across South Africa.
Because the number of funded places is limited, applicants should focus on providing clear evidence of their leadership, community involvement and measurable social contribution.
Eligibility Criteria for One Young World Bursary 2026
Applicants must satisfy the official eligibility requirements.
Candidates must:
- Be 18 to 30 years old at the time of the One Young World Summit 2026.
- Be a South African national or resident.
- Demonstrate commitment to active citizenship.
- Show that they are contributing to positive change in South Africa.
- Have a track record of using their time, money, skills or goods to benefit their community or wider society.
- Demonstrate an understanding of important local and/or global issues affecting South Africa.
One Young World also states that applicants who will still be under 18 at the time of the Summit cannot be accepted.
Who Should Apply?
The One Young World Bursary is suitable for young South Africans who have already demonstrated a commitment to social impact.
Potential applicants may be involved in areas such as:
- Youth empowerment
- Education
- Entrepreneurship
- Community development
- Environmental sustainability
- Social innovation
- Public service
- Gender equality
- Human rights
- Skills development
- Employment initiatives
- Health and wellbeing
- Technology for social good
Applicants do not necessarily need to run a large organisation. What matters is being able to demonstrate real contribution and active citizenship.
What Does “Active Citizenship” Mean?
Active citizenship is an important part of the selection criteria for this bursary.
The official programme specifically looks for applicants who can show a history of using their time, financial resources, skills or goods to support their community or society more broadly.
Examples could include volunteering, leading a community initiative, mentoring young people, running a social enterprise, supporting environmental projects, creating educational programmes or helping address a significant community problem.
Applicants should therefore focus on specific actions and outcomes rather than making general statements about wanting to help society.
How to Strengthen Your Application
Since only six candidates will receive the bursary, applicants should make their answers specific and evidence-based.
1. Explain the Problem
Clearly identify the social or community challenge you are addressing.
2. Describe Your Contribution
Explain exactly what you have personally done rather than only describing the work of your organisation.
3. Show Measurable Impact
Where possible, mention numbers or tangible outcomes such as people reached, students trained, communities supported, projects delivered or resources mobilised.
4. Demonstrate Leadership
Highlight situations in which you initiated action, coordinated others, solved problems or influenced positive change.
5. Connect Your Work to South Africa
The bursary specifically focuses on positive change in South Africa, so clearly explain how your work contributes to the country’s communities and challenges.
6. Explain Why One Young World Matters
Show how participating in the Summit, Global Leadership Programme, Action Accelerator and Ambassador Community could help you expand the impact of your existing work.
How to Apply for One Young World Bursary 2026
Applications must be completed online through the official One Young World application portal.
Follow these steps:
- Visit the official Brand South Africa | Play Your Part Bursary page.
- Carefully read the programme details and eligibility criteria.
- Click the Apply button.
- Complete the online application form.
- Provide clear information about your leadership and community impact.
- Review all answers carefully.
- Submit your application before 2 September 2026.
Applicants should apply through the official One Young World platform rather than submitting an application to third-party scholarship websites.
One Young World Bursary 2026 Deadline
The application deadline for the One Young World Bursary 2026 in South Africa is 2 September 2026.
Applications officially opened on 11 August 2026.
The One Young World Summit will subsequently take place in Cape Town from 3 to 6 November 2026.
Candidates are encouraged to submit their applications early rather than waiting until the final day.
Why Apply for the One Young World Bursary?
The programme offers considerably more than attendance at a four-day event.
Successful candidates can connect with young changemakers from around the world, develop their leadership capabilities and gain exposure to different approaches to addressing social challenges.
After the Summit, delegates enter the wider One Young World community. One Young World says its Ambassador network includes more than 20,500 changemakers, providing opportunities for continued collaboration, visibility and project development beyond the Summit itself.
For young South Africans who already have an established record of community involvement, the bursary can therefore provide a platform to expand their networks and potentially increase the reach of their work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the One Young World Bursary 2026 fully funded?
Yes. The bursary provides Summit access plus travel and accommodation where required, specified catering, access to leadership programmes and lifetime membership of the One Young World Ambassador Community. Cape Town-based recipients do not receive travel or accommodation support.
Who can apply for the One Young World Bursary 2026?
South African nationals or residents aged 18–30 who demonstrate active citizenship and a track record of contributing to positive change in South Africa can apply.
How many bursaries are available?
There are six bursaries in total. Three are reserved for candidates based in Cape Town, while three are available to applicants from across South Africa.
Is IELTS required for the One Young World Bursary?
The published eligibility criteria on the official bursary page do not list IELTS as a requirement. Applicants should follow the requirements shown on the official application form when submitting their application.
Conclusion
The One Young World Bursary 2026 in South Africa is a fully funded leadership opportunity for young South Africans who are already creating positive change in their communities.
Through the Brand South Africa | Play Your Part Bursary, six candidates will receive the opportunity to participate in the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town from 3 to 6 November 2026, with Summit access, catering, applicable travel and accommodation support, leadership development and lifetime access to the One Young World Ambassador Community.
Eligible applicants should prepare a strong, evidence-based application demonstrating their leadership, active citizenship and community impact and submit it before the 2 September 2026 deadline.