Plan International Youth Leadership Academy 2025

Plan International’s Youth Leadership Academy gives you the tools you need to create the change you want.
Plan believes that young people are today’s leaders. So, they work together to build a better world, and they won’t stop until we are all equal. The Youth Leadership Academy is a yearlong program focused on providing global leadership and advocacy tools to young activists through training and mentorship.

The YLA’s trainings, discussions, activities and speakers are designed to equip you with skills to become an effective changemaker in your community. You’ll build and strengthen skills in advocacy, project management, relationship building, public speaking and more.

The YLA will also build your knowledge of youth civic and political participation, protection from violence and health equity, which align with Plan’s global gender equality mission. As you learn about these issues through the YLA, we will guide you through the process of creating your own solution-based leadership project to advance change on one of the three mentioned impact areas.

Program Details

The program will kick off in June in preparation for the residential academy in July, where you will meet your peers as well as Plan staff and Youth Advisory Board members, who will lead program workshops and activities. Following the residential academy, you will begin planning and implementing your leadership project with the guidance of a YAB mentor through monthly virtual check-ins. Throughout the year, you may participate in Plan-sponsored events such as International Day of the Girl Takeovers, webinars, campaigns and activations, just to name a few!

At the end of the program, they will hold a symposium where you’ll have the opportunity to present your project alongside your peers.

Cost of Leadership Academy

• There is a program fee of $1,000 which funds in-person and virtual program costs for the duration of the year. This includes housing, food, supplies and transportation during the residential academy but excludes transportation to and from the residential academy in Washington.
• Need-based financial aid is available on a case-by-case basis. Anyone can apply for partial or full financial aid.

Check : BRAC’s BRIDGE Returnship Programme 2025 for Female Professionals

Eligibility for Leadership Academy

• The YLA consists of 50 high school students between the ages of 13-18 from around the country.
• They value diversity and inclusion and believe it makes their organization stronger, so they encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply and contribute their voice and experience.
• Participants are required to live in the U.S. during the duration of the program. You will meet your peers in person in Washington and continue to work alongside them throughout the academic year.

Also Check : Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator 2025

Application

The 2025-2026 Youth Leadership Academy is now accepting applications! An in-person retreat will be held on July 21-25, 2025 in Washington, D.C.

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