The Global Engagement Summit or GES believes that by connecting and empowering students we can begin to meet pressing social needs. Hence, GES connects delegates with experts in international development and successful entrepreneurs. Further, it creates a launchpad that transforms ideas into realities.

The global summit is a week-long conference that Northwestern University holds every April. Delegates from around the world arrive with change-based projects that can tackle any social change from education to healthcare to sustainability. If their project is in the ideas phase, GES helps them make their plan a reality. Further, for already up and coming projects, GES helps them become more impactful.

Delegates leave the Summit with tangible skills and newly learned strategies to improve their project and create change in the most effective way possible. Past projects include a creative arts education center in Cambodia, a marketing NGO for small businesses in Egypt and an organization that connects local food pantries with college dining halls to minimize food waste in the U.S.

The Summit offers a wide variety of capacity-building programs ranging from hands-on workshops to individualized mentoring sessions. Moreover, the Global Engagement Summit offers a customizable program that tackles different types of social challenges worldwide. Once accepted, delegates will apply for and be placed in workshops relevant to their specific project.

Funding for Global Engagement Summit 2020

Moreover, the Global Engagement Summit provides need-based financial aid. Financial aid will be available on a case by case basis to cover some/all of the cost of the summit and travel expenses. However, Participants should note that in order to receive financial aid, you must apply before the priority deadline.

Who can apply for the GES 2020?

Each year, GES brings people from over 40 countries, 50 universities, and 35 businesses and organizations to Northwestern’s campus. The delegates are young social entrepreneurs with ideas, energy, and determination to put their projects into action.

Moreover, any college-aged person with a social change project or idea may apply to the Global Engagement Summit. Depending on your individual situation, you may be older or younger than the average American undergraduate student. Feel free to apply regardless.

How to apply for the Global Engagement Summit 2020?

Candidates can apply for the Global Engagement Summit by completing and submitting the online application form. The candidates should also upload their CV as well as a recommendation letter. Also, candidates must answer all the questions in the application form as well as submit the project proposal.

While submitting the project proposal, candidates should include:

1. 3-5 sentence summary of your project, including the need it hopes to address and its location
2. The method for addressing the need
3. The method and resources needed for implementation
4. Problems you have faced or anticipate facing
5. Describe the short and long-term impact you hope to have

Further, GES has a registration fee of $75 that covers food daily breakfast, lunch, and some dinners. Delegates are housed for free in homestays with GES student staff members.

Deadline

The priority deadline of the Global Engagement Summit is October 15th, 2019. Candidates who apply by this date will have priority for financial aid. Further, the regular deadline is December 15, 2019.