Apply to become a UN Young Champion of the Earth 2019 (Win seed funding and trip to a high-level UN meeting)

Deadline: March 31, 2019

The United Nations invites nominations for the 2019 Young Champions of the Earth – the organization’s most prestigious prize for brave environmental entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 30 with a big idea for the world’s future. Young Champions of the Earth is a forward-looking prize designed to breathe life into the ambitions of brilliant young environmentalists.

Are you a change-maker, rain-maker, ground-breaker? Do you see opportunity, where others see crisis? Do you want to change the world? Young Champions of the Earth aims to celebrate and support individuals aged between 18 and 30 who have outstanding potential to create a positive environmental impact.

If you have a bright vision for the future of our planet, apply now to become a Young Champion of the Earth! If you are selected as a Young Champion of the Earth, you will be required to travel internationally to attend the Champions of the Earth Award Ceremony, an entrepreneurship boot camp and educational tours. Winners receive seed funding, intensive training, and tailored mentorship to bring their big environmental ideas to life.

Benefits

In 2019, seven Young Champions of the Earth will be selected from each global region: one from each of Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, West Asia, and two from Asia and the Pacific.

Each winner will receive the following:

• US$15,000 in seed funding;
• US$ 9,000 in funding to communicate and capture your idea and broadcast the stories of hope and change that you’re catalyzing on the ground.
• Attendance at a high-level UN meeting;
• An introduction to dignitaries at the Champions of the Earth Award Ceremony;
• Publicity and recognition through interviews and online and global media;
• Access to a community of Covestro experts offering insights and mentoring; and
• Participation in an entrepreneurial training program.

The 2019 Young Champions will be required to share their journeys through blogs and vlogs posted on this website for a period of up to one year.

• Mentorship: More than just an honorary title, Young Champions of the Earth Prize aims to nurture the next generation of environmental leaders. Up to 50 applicants who clearly articulate their skills requirements and demonstrate a strong willingness to learn will be granted privileged access to mentoring opportunities. They will be able to seek technical guidance and professional advice from a broad community of experts drawn from Covestro’s 16,000 global staff members. These mentors will share their experience through webinars, thematic online roundtables and individual support. Topics of strategic relevance such as communications, project planning and financial management, will be explored in depth with the aim of strengthening the viability and impact of mentees’ ventures.

Eligibility

• They’re looking for the artists, scientists, economists, communicators and entrepreneurs from all walks of life with big, bold ideas— for the environment, for humanity, for a greener future.
• If you have at least 6 months’ experience working on a big idea to protect or restore the environment and will be aged between 18 and 30 on 31 December 2019, then you are eligible to apply.

Selection Criteria

In the first stage of the selection process, all applications will be judged by United Nations experts according to the following criteria:

• The 3 Ps – The positive impact your big idea could have on the environment (planet) and society (people), and its financial viability (prosperity).
• The 3 Cs – Evidence that you are a curious, courageous, and colorful individual.
• Demonstrated commitment – It is important that you have already attempted to implement your big idea for at least 6 months and can cite results to date.
• Endorsement – The strength of your referee’s recommendation.

Application

• Just enter the application portal on the Young Champions website, answer a few questions and upload a referee’s letter of endorsement. The deadline for submission is midnight GMT on 31 March 2019.
• A referee is an individual who can vouch for the viability of your big idea and your ability to successfully implement it. He or she must be:
  1. a senior staff person at a registered and reputable environmental or youth-focused organization;
  2. a university professor; or
  3. a senior staff person at a business that has received third-party recognition of its sustainability efforts.

Click here to apply.

For more information, visit UN Environment.