Are you a young person making a difference in your community? Are you leading a project, building a social enterprise, or working on a solution that is improving people’s lives? Opportunity Desk is excited to announce that we will be hosting this year’s Opportunity Desk Impact Challenge-ODIC 2026! Young people across the world are responding to pressing challenges with creativity, courage, and action. From helping children access education to creating livelihoods, advancing equality, and protecting the environment, their work deserves recognition. We are looking forward to celebrating these efforts and hearing the stories behind them.
What Is the OD Impact Challenge?
The Opportunity Desk Impact Challenge (ODIC) is a global competition that recognises, celebrates, and supports young changemakers who are creating positive change in their communities. It provides a platform for young people to showcase their work, demonstrate their impact, and share their vision for taking that work further. The challenge also highlights the role Opportunity Desk plays in people’s lives—showing how access to information, learning, and opportunities can help young people develop their potential and contribute to their communities. At its heart, ODIC asks: What are you doing to make a difference, and how has Opportunity Desk supported your journey?
Who Is Eligible?
Under the challenge’s existing eligibility framework, applicants should:
- Be between 18 and 30 years old, from any country.
- Be actively addressing a problem and improving lives in their community.
- Have at least one year of demonstrated impact, whether as an individual, employee, or entrepreneur.
- Be an active Opportunity Desk user, follow our social media channels, and subscribe to our newsletter.
Opportunity Desk staff, partners, mentors, and previous top-three winners are not eligible under the existing rules. Full eligibility requirements for ODIC 2026 will be shared when applications open.
What Kind of Work Does ODIC Celebrate?
Impact takes many forms. You may be helping girls stay in school, supporting people with disabilities, equipping young people with employment skills, reducing waste, improving access to healthcare, or developing a business that addresses a community need. What matters is being able to explain the problem you are addressing, the action you are taking, and the difference your work is making. Your application should show your contribution clearly and bring the experiences of the people you serve into focus.
How Can You Start Preparing?
Start gathering the information that will help you tell your story:
- The problem: What challenge does your community face, and who is affected?
- Your response: What have you done, and what is your specific role?
- Your results: What has changed? Gather accurate figures, milestones, and examples.
- Your next steps: How do you hope to strengthen or expand your work?
- Your OD journey: How has Opportunity Desk helped you access opportunities, develop your skills, or advance your initiative?
Be honest about your achievements and the lessons you have learned. If you share photographs, testimonials, or personal stories, obtain permission from the people featured.
What Happens Next?
This is your early announcement to start preparing! We will share the application opening date, deadline, submission process, and full competition guidelines through Opportunity Desk’s website, newsletter, and social media channels. Stay connected, get your impact story ready, and encourage other young changemakers in your network to do the same. Know someone doing remarkable work in their community? Share this announcement with them. Their story deserves to be heard, too. ODIC 2026 is coming. Get ready to show us the difference you are making!
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