Eureka Fellowship for Youth Changemakers in Canada

We are inviting youth in Canada between the ages of 18 and 30 to apply to be a part of the newly launched Eureka Fellowship for Youth Changemakers in Canada (Eureka Fellowship) and be given the opportunity to attend the One Young World Summit Montréal, 2024 (18 – 21 September) – the world’s largest and most impactful youth leadership event focused on tackling some of the biggest challenges facing humanity.

The Eureka Fellowship will bring together thirteen incredible youth changemakers from across Canada who are actively working to make a positive impact in one of three areas: (1) access to healthcare and health equity, (2) environmental protection and climate action, or (3) championing diversity, equity, and inclusion (including gender equality).

With a shared commitment to creating a more sustainable, equitable, and healthy planet, AstraZeneca Canada and Plan International Canada have partnered to launch the Eureka Fellowship. This national fellowship aims to identify, spotlight, and amplify the incredible impact of inspiring young changemakers from across the country who are focused on tackling some of Canada’s and/or the planet’s biggest sustainability challenges – from improving access to healthcare in remote, Indigenous, and global communities, to supporting reforestation in response to the recent wildfires across the country, to actively working to ensure LGBTQ+ voices are well-respected, represented, and more.

In its inaugural year, the Eureka Fellowship will provide thirteen (13) inspiring youth Canadian changemakers the opportunity to attend the One Young World Summit Montréal, 2024, taking place from 18 – 21 September. At the Summit, young leaders will participate in learning and development workshops and network with global youth changemakers. The annual One Young World Summit brings together young leaders representing 190+ countries and 250+ organizations to confront the biggest challenges facing humanity. Delegates will attend four life-changing days of networking and knowledge-sharing. Together, participating youth leaders raise the bar for what social impact we can make both individually and as a global community.

The fellowship will identify and connect a diverse team of youth sustainability leaders from across Canada who have demonstrated their commitment to making a positive impact on people, society, or the planet. Potential fellows should have a passion for local and global issues, such as increasing access to healthcare and health equity, supporting environmental protection and climate action, or championing diversity, equity, and inclusion. They should also demonstrate a willingness to engage, collaborate, and share knowledge with other Eureka Fellowship recipients. Selected fellows will receive full funding to participate in the Summit as members of the Eureka Fellowship delegation, have opportunities to participate in exclusive programming in the lead up to, during, and following the Summit, and receive expert mentorship to help amplify and accelerate their sustainability initiatives.

• The chance to be selected as a youth leader on behalf of AstraZeneca Canada and Plan International Canada to join the Eureka Fellowship, with attendance at the One Young World Summit 2024 in Montréal, Quebec, from 18 – 21 September.
• Hotel accommodation in Montréal 17 – 22 September.
• Return travel to the Summit.
• Meals, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, throughout their stay at the Summit.
• Ground transportation between Summit venues in Montréal.
• Four transformative days of speeches, workshops, and networking, where they’ll be counselled by influential global and Canadian political, business, and humanitarian leaders.
• Access to additional scholarship programming, workshops, and special events, including networking opportunities with other AstraZeneca Canada and Plan International Canada delegates.
• Lifelong membership to the One Young World Ambassador Community and connections to fellow youth delegates.

Selection Process

Eureka Fellowship for Youth Changemakers in Canada recipients will be selected by a committee of representatives from AstraZeneca Canada and Plan International Canada.

Selections will be made, and applicants notified by May 2024. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. EST on 23 April.

Selection Criteria

AstraZeneca Canada and Plan International Canada are looking for inspiring youth changemakers across the country to join us in our quest to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing humanity and make the world a healthier and more sustainable place.

We are seeking determined optimists: Remarkable youth who embody the spirit of positive change, fueled by an unyielding belief in the power of the human spirit, defined by resilience, strength, kindness, fairness, and belief in possibility.

Determined optimists don’t merely dream – they act. They believe that positive change is not in the distance but something they can act upon today to shape a better, healthier world for all.

Is this you or someone you know?

• Youth in Canada aged 18 – 30 at the time of application to the One Young World Summit 2024.
• Living and making an impact in Canada. Please note applicants do not have to be Canadian citizens.
• A leader in their community with a passion for both local and/or global sustainability issues.
• Willingness and ability to engage, collaborate, and share insights and knowledge with fellow scholarship recipients and other delegates attending the Summit.
• Proven impact in one of the following sustainability areas of focus:
  • Access to healthcare and health equity
  • Environmental protection and climate action
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Relevant impact could include, but isn’t limited to: 
  • Healthcare: Leading an initiative that improves access to quality health and wellness for vulnerable communities or marginalised populations locally or globally.
  • Environment: Pioneering green technology or advocating for more significant action on climate change or environmental protection.
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion: Tackling systemic barrier facing under-represented communities.