Learning Planet Youth Design Challenge

Helping youth turn their ideas into projects with a real-world impact

Over half the world’s population is under 30, yet many youth with solutions for the planet lack support, networks, and funding.

The Learning Planet Youth Design Challenge backs these young leaders, helping them to grow their education projects for a more sustainable future.

Join us and give young people the means to shape tomorrow's world!

A project supported by

What is it about?

The Learning Planet Youth Design Challenge (LPYDC) invites youth aged 15–26 to submit innovative education projects that create real-world impact.

Projects should align with one of the following themes:

Environment & Climate
Flourishing – Well-Being & Socio-Emotional Development
Mental Health & Wellbeing

Share the challenge with your network Frequently Asked Questions

Benefits of Participation

Training

60 shortlisted projects will benefit from online training, including targeted mentorship, masterclasses and practical tools to develop their project.

Prizes

12 will be selected by the jury as ambassadors and will receive a $1,000 grant to advance their projects.

Recognition

Certification by the United Nations University Hub for Future of Learning with Youth (UNU FLY) .

All 60 shortlisted projects are featured on the Learning Planet Institute projects platform and shared across a global network of education leaders, partners, and changemakers.

The 12 ambassadors will be invited to international events and receive tailored networking to advance their projects.

Timeline

September 2025: Call to submit projects online opens (alongside the UN General Assembly)

January 2026: Call closes (January 15, 2026)

February 2026: 60 projects selected by an international jury

March-June 2026: Online Training & Mentorship for the 60 projects; integration into a global Community of Practice

July 2026: Selection & Celebration of 12 ambassadors

Current Edition: 2025-2026

3 200
sign ups
702
final projects
60
finalists
109
countries represented

Discover the finalists!

Submissions from all over the world

International Jury

Sanaya Bharucha
Global Head, Student Leadership & Voice - Teach For All
Jade Bowler
Author, Education Advocate and Content Creator - UnJaded Jade
Allan Chochinov
Chair, MFA in Products of Design - School of Visual Arts
Serena Coetzee
Professor - UNU-FLORES
Hatim Eltayeb
CEO - African Leadership Academy
Tel Guajajara
Steering Committee Member representing the Continental Latin American and Caribbean Organization of Students (OCLAE) - Global Student Forum
Shihui Liu
Associate Programme Management Officer - United Nations Youth Office
Radha Pillay
Director of Education - United World Colleges International
Guilhem Pradalié
Vice President France - INCO
Dominic Regester
Director of Education and Director of the Center for Education Transformation - Salzburg Global
Ayaan Seshadri
Finalist and Prizewinner, Learning Planet Youth Design Challenge 2024-25 - My Eyes, My Life

Thank you to all those who have helped to spread the word, including

African Leadership University (ALU)
AIESEC
LOVE
Arizona State University
Ashesi University
Ecoinno
Eidos Global
Inner Development Goals (IDG)
International Association of Universities
KIDsforSDGs
Oikos Academy
Salzburg Global
UNESCO
United Nations Youth Office
YouthxYouth

Special thanks to

Last year's ambassadors

Environment & Climate

Sahar Amini
Afghanistan
Girls Code: Building Futures through Ethical Tech Education
Shambhavi Arora
Canada
Wisdom of the Past, Tools for the Future: Neohumanist Learning for a Sustainable World
Monserrat Galeana Cruz
Mexico
Lagom: Community Gardens and Environmental Education Azucena Sandoval Azucena Sandoval United States
Azucena Sandoval
United States
Grounded Futures

Community Impact - Peace, democracy & Inclusion

Sheraya Amarasekara
WATER
EmpowerABLE
Arpita Bhansali
India
Colour Me In: Conversations on Skin Colour Awareness
Md. Sadik Jamal Kowshik
Bangladesh
Shobdo Shiksha - Sound-Based Learning for the Blind in Bangladesh
Lenny Ruo
Kenya
The bridge project
Dridhata Silwal
Nepal
Bunk with Kindness

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Vy Phan
Vietnam
INKSPIRE: Inspire Young Minds, Ink a Brighter Future
Ayaan Seshadri
United StatesFinalist and Prizewinner, Learning Planet Youth Design Challenge 2024-25 - My Eyes, My Life
My Eyes My Life
Marta Stankeviciute
Lithuania
Navigating the Digital Unconscious: affect, AI, and resilience

Testimonials

I discovered much more than a program: a caring space filled with people who truly believe in the power of youth. I learned that leadership isn't about doing everything yourself, but about creating something that others want to nurture with you.

Monserrat, 18, Mexico

Too often, adults ignore young people or pretend to listen to them. Here, we're seeing a real change: we're moving towards dialogue and co-construction. We don't just talk to young people, we work with them, giving them a real decision-making role.

Daniel, 17, United States

Incubation enabled me to transform a simple idea into a structured, well-thought-out project. I learned to think in terms of scale (scalability) and to refine my communication. I came away with the conviction that small ideas, properly supported, can become sustainable, impactful initiatives.

Arpita, 24, India

See the projects selected last year

Go further

Discover, imagine, build

The Learning Planet Youth Design Challenge is part of a series of complementary (inter)national youth engagement and/or education programmes run by the Learning Planet Institute.

Our youth programmes