Young Feminist AI School 2026 | Free Online UN Women Programme for Young Leaders Worldwide
Details
Young Feminist AI School 2026 | Free Online UN Women Programme for Young Leaders Worldwide
Applications are now open for the Young Feminist AI School 2026, a free, fully online global learning programme supported by UN Women. Designed for young people aged 18–30, with a strong focus on young women and girls, the 12-week programme equips participants with practical skills to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) for advocacy, civic engagement, policy influence, elections, and information integrity while promoting the responsible and ethical use of AI.
Running from August to October 2026, the programme combines live online classes, practical workshops, and project-based learning. Participants will develop a real-world AI-powered initiative, such as an advocacy campaign, policy tool, civic technology prototype, or democratic participation action plan. No coding experience is required, making the programme accessible to aspiring leaders from all backgrounds.
Programme Overview
- Programme Name: Young Feminist AI School 2026
- Organized by: UN Women
- Programme Type: Free Online Training Programme
- Format: Fully Online
- Duration: 12 Weeks
- Programme Period: August – October 2026
- Weekly Commitment: Approximately 4 hours
- Eligible Countries: Worldwide
- Application Deadline: 28 July 2026
Programme Benefits
Selected participants will receive:
- Free participation with no registration fee
- Live online training led by experts
- Practical experience using AI tools for advocacy and civic engagement
- Training in responsible and ethical AI practices
- Access to recordings and learning resources
- Low-bandwidth learning materials
- Captioned sessions and accessibility support
- Opportunity to develop a real-world AI project
- Global networking with young leaders, activists, and innovators
What You Will Learn
Participants will explore how AI can be applied to:
- Advocacy and social campaigns
- Public policy influence
- Elections and democratic participation
- Civic technology
- Information integrity
- Responsible AI use
- AI ethics and human rights
- Prompt engineering
- AI-powered communication and content creation
The programme emphasizes practical learning, with participants spending most sessions building and testing AI solutions rather than attending traditional lectures.
Final Project
By the end of the programme, every participant will complete one of the following:
- Advocacy campaign
- Policy influence tool
- Civic technology prototype
- Democratic participation action plan
Each project undergoes a Responsible AI and Human Rights Review, covering:
- Privacy
- Consent
- Bias mitigation
- Information verification
- Human oversight
Projects may be completed individually or as part of a team.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Be 18–30 years old
- Be from any country
- Demonstrate an interest in:
- Gender equality
- Youth leadership
- Civic engagement
- Advocacy
- Social justice
- Digital rights
- Be able to participate in the 12-week programme
- Have a willingness to learn AI applications
No coding or technical background is required.
At least 70% of programme seats are reserved for young women and girls.
Accessibility
The programme is designed to be accessible for all participants and includes:
- Classes conducted in English
- Plain-language summaries
- Recorded sessions
- Closed captions
- Screen-reader-friendly materials
- Low-bandwidth learning options
- Individual accessibility support based on participant needs
Selection Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on:
- Commitment to gender equality
- Interest in civic participation and democracy
- Learning motivation
- Relevance of the proposed project
- Leadership potential
- Community impact
- Intersectional representation
- Availability for the programme
- Commitment to safeguarding and responsible AI use
The organizers also aim to build a geographically diverse and inclusive cohort.
Time Commitment
- Programme Duration: 12 weeks
- Live Session: 2 hours per week
- Practical Activities: Approximately 2 hours per week
- Total Weekly Commitment: Around 4 hours
Participants who cannot attend live sessions can access the recordings.
Why Apply?
The Young Feminist AI School offers participants the opportunity to:
- Learn practical AI skills without coding
- Build a real-world advocacy or civic technology project
- Connect with young leaders from around the world
- Gain knowledge from AI, democracy, and gender equality experts
- Strengthen leadership and digital advocacy skills
- Promote ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence
Important Date
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications Open | Open Now |
| Application Deadline | 28 July 2026 |
| Programme Begins | August 2026 |
| Programme Ends | October 2026 |
How to Apply
- Complete the official online application form.
- Provide your personal and educational information.
- Explain your interest in gender equality, civic engagement, or advocacy.
- Share your motivation for joining the programme.
- Submit your application before 28 July 2026.
The Young Feminist AI School 2026 is an outstanding opportunity for young leaders worldwide to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in advancing gender equality, civic participation, and social justice. Through hands-on learning, mentorship, and project development, participants will gain practical AI skills while joining a diverse global network committed to creating positive social impact. Since the programme is completely free and no coding experience is required, eligible applicants are encouraged to apply before the 28 July 2026 deadline.
Specifications
| Type of Opportunity | Exchange Programs |
|---|---|
| Deadline | Ongoing |
| Open to | All Nationalities |