Sir Cyril Taylor Young African Leaders Program 2027

The Sir Cyril Taylor Young African Leaders Program is run by AFS Youth Assembly with grant support from the Sir Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation. This is its third edition. It supports 10 young African leaders with capacity building, seed funding and resources for initiatives that promote sustainable development in their local communities.

Who can apply

You must be from a Sub-Saharan African country and aged 18 to 35. The programme looks for demonstrable leadership qualities or a proven track record of leadership, potential for personal and professional growth, and an interest in global affairs, sustainable development and youth issues. You need an unexpired passport, intermediate English and the ability to attend the Youth Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland in person in August 2027. Leading a social impact project linked to the sustainable development goals is preferred.

What the programme includes

This is a 12-month fully funded scholarship that covers the costs of the programme elements, including travel and accommodation for the AFS Youth Assembly. Participants take the AFS Global Competence Certificate programme online, join preparation workshops, attend the Youth Assembly and an intensive workshop in Switzerland in August 2027. After returning home they start their own impact projects with the seed funding provided and work on them for six months with mentorship from the AFS Youth Assembly Impact Network.

Deadline

Applications close on 19 November 2026 at 23:59 UTC. They are reviewed on a first come, first served basis, and visa processing can take several months, so apply early.