Deadline: December 8, 2025
The Opportunity Desk Impact Challenge (ODIC) 2025 is officially open, inviting young changemakers from around the world to showcase how they are driving positive social impact in their communities. After a successful edition in 2023, the competition returns to spotlight inspiring stories of youth-led transformation and to celebrate the power of local solutions creating global change.
Every day, across different communities, young people are daring to solve problems others have given up on. They are building schools in underserved neighborhoods, mentoring girls in tech, scaling climate solutions, and creating jobs where none existed. If this sounds like you, then this moment is for you.
About the Challenge
The OD Impact Challenge is a global competition that seeks to recognize and support efforts of young changemakers working to bring positive change to their communities, while projecting and highlighting the impact Opportunity Desk is making in the lives of people worldwide.
The challenge is simple, relatable, and intentionally accessible: participants submit a 60-second video answering three key questions—What problem are you solving? How is Opportunity Desk making a difference in your journey? And how would winning support your impact? By centering lived experiences, ODIC amplifies young leaders who are teaching, building, advocating, inventing, organizing, designing, and redefining what change looks like in real time.
Since 2012, Opportunity Desk has served as a leading platform connecting young people to scholarships, fellowships, conferences, grants, and career resources, reaching more than 11 million views from over 180 countries. ODIC strengthens that mission by recognizing those who are not only seeking opportunities, but who are using them to uplift others. This year’s OD Impact Challenge edition is delivered in partnership with Savvy, Global Changemakers and Ideation Hub Africa, strengthening our shared commitment to elevating youth-led social impact and amplifying community-rooted solutions across the world.
How It Works
The competition is simple; it challenges participants to answer three main questions in 60 seconds:
- What are you doing to bring positive change to your community? Tell us the problem you are solving and how it is making a difference.
- How is OD making an impact in your life?
- How will the prizes help you if you win?
About Opportunity Desk
OD is an online platform that bridges the opportunity gap for people across the world, by creating open access to information and educative resources. These opportunities help to facilitate young people’s efforts in exchanging ideas and preparing themselves for the future. They include: scholarships, conferences, fellowships, awards, jobs, internships, and grants targeted towards individuals and organizations worldwide.
Since inception in 2012, Opportunity Desk has reached 11 million views from over 180 countries around the world. Our website currently attracts more than 500,000 views monthly with over 300,000 people connected and engaged with us on social media.
Prizes and Benefits
Top 3 winners will receive:
- A share a cash prize of $1000
- Certificate of recognition
- Fully-funded access to Global Changemakers’ Project Management course (valued at $150) with the opportunity to compete for Seed Grants.
- Automatic acceptance into the Savvy Fellowship Program.
- An article spotlight (for each finalist) on the Savvy platform.
- Four (4) 1-hour one-on-one mentorship sessions (for each finalist) with the Founder of Savvy, Chidi Nwaogu.
- Access to High tier courses within the Ideation Hub’s Social Innovation School
- Exclusive ticket access to Ideation Hub’s The Development Dialogue
Top 12 Finalists will receive:
- Certificate of recognition
- Fully-funded access to Global Changemakers’ Project Management course (valued at $150) with the opportunity to compete for Seed Grants.
- Automatic acceptance into the Savvy Fellowship Program.
- An article spotlight (for each finalist) on the Savvy platform.
- Exclusive media feature as OD Young Person of the Month
- Access to High tier courses within the Ideation Hub’s Social Innovation School
- Exclusive ticket access to Ideation Hub’s The Development Dialogue
In addition to the above, the top 3 winners will receive additional prizes.
Top 30 Under 30
- Exclusive Listing as OD Impact Challenge 30 under 30 Changemakers
- Automatic acceptance into the Savvy Fellowship Program.
- Certificate of recognition
**More information about prizes will be shared.
Eligibility
This global competition is open to changemakers around the world who are actively solving a problem and improving the lives of others in their community.
- Participants between 18 and 30 years from any nationality are welcomed to apply.
- Participants should be active Opportunity Desk users: You are a fan or follower on our social media pages: Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and Telegram and you must be subscribed to our Newsletter.
- You are actively engaged in your community and you have at least 1 year track record of impact either as an individual, employee or entrepreneur.
Whether you are running a project, initiative, social venture, or advocacy campaign, ODIC offers visibility, validation, and a platform to amplify your work. Finalists receive community recognition and are highlighted across OD networks, including the OD Impact Challenge 30 Under 30 Changemakers list.
Terms and Conditions
- There is no entry fee
- Video submissions must be original, unpublished work by the contestant and cannot infringe upon any copyright laws. The contestant must be the sole author of all entries and hold full rights to them. Videos that have won awards in other competitions are not eligible to enter;
- By entering the contest, video submitters are deemed to have agreed to the use of their videos in OD promotional material;
- The organizers reserve the right to remove and disqualify submitted videos which may cause offence or may be deemed unsuitable or inappropriate for this contest;
- The contestant must have received permission from the subject(s) used in the video. Videos that violate the rights of those depicted or put people at risk will not be considered by the judges;
- Opportunity Desk can take no responsibility for entries that are incorrectly or incompletely submitted.
- AI-generated or AI-edited videos are not eligible. Participants must have consent from anyone featured in their video.
Judging Criteria
The jury, made up of social change leaders and impact drivers will carefully select finalists and winners based on the following criteria:
- Innovation
- Project Impact
- Sustainability
How to Enter the Competition
Participants complete four steps:
- Create a 60-second video responding to the challenge questions: What problem are you solving? How is Opportunity Desk making a difference in your journey? And how would winning support your impact?
- Post it on social media with the hashtags #ODImpactChallenge #ODIC2025.
- Complete the online application here.
- Prepare for public voting if selected as a top 12 finalist.
Make sure to follow OD on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Telegram.
Opportunity Desk believes that one opportunity can change a life and one idea can change a community. ODIC 2025 is a celebration of that belief. If you are building solutions that make life better for others, this challenge is for you.
For more information, visit OD Impact Challenge.
