Sir Cyril Taylor Young African Leaders Program 2027 (Fully Funded Scholarship)

Applications are open for the 2027 Sir Cyril Taylor Young African Leaders Program. The AFS Youth Assembly will select 10 young African leaders for a fully funded, 12-month programme combining intercultural learning, leadership development and community impact.

Supported by the Sir Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation, the programme includes participation in the AFS Youth Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, in August 2027, followed by support to develop participants’ social impact projects.

Programme: Sir Cyril Taylor Young African Leaders Program
Organizer: AFS Youth Assembly
Location: Online activities and Geneva, Switzerland
Duration: 12 months
Number of scholarships: 10
Funding: Fully funded
Eligible applicants: Young leaders aged 18–35 from Sub-Saharan African countries
Deadline: 19 November 2026 at 23:59 UTC

What the scholarship covers

• Participation in the programme’s learning and leadership activities.
• Travel and accommodation for the AFS Youth Assembly in Switzerland.
• The virtual AFS Global Competence Certificate, developing intercultural skills before the Assembly.
• Pre-Assembly preparation workshops.
• Attendance at the AFS Youth Assembly in August 2027, with recognition at the closing ceremony.
• An intensive Effect+ in the Community workshop in Switzerland.
• Seed funding for participants’ impact projects, alongside six months of mentorship and support from the AFS Youth Assembly Impact Network after the Assembly. A specific funding amount has not been announced.

Who can apply?

Applicants should:

• Be aged 18–35 and come from a Sub-Saharan African country.
• Demonstrate leadership experience, leadership qualities and potential for personal and professional growth.
• Hold an unexpired passport and be able to attend the Assembly in Geneva in person in August 2027.
• Have intermediate English proficiency.
• Show an interest in global affairs, sustainable development and youth issues.

Applicants already leading a social impact project connected to the Sustainable Development Goals are preferred.

Community impact commitment

After returning home, selected leaders will replicate the Effect+ in the Community workshop for at least 100 young people. They will also develop their own impact projects with programme support.

How to apply

1. Open the official application form using the button below.
2. Provide your personal details, leadership background and motivation, along with information about your social impact work and proposed use of the grant.
3. Prepare the requested headshot and valid passport details, review your answers and submit before the deadline.

The organizer strongly discourages AI-generated application narratives. Applicants should write their own responses and provide specific examples of their leadership and impact.

Apply for the programme ↗

Application deadline

19 November 2026 at 23:59 UTC. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. Apply early, as visa processing can take several months.