The Global Youth Leadership Fellowship is our signature 14-month experiential leadership development and college coaching program. It consists of a two-week international travel component to Africa or Asia, a summer leadership retreat, professional mentorship matching, talent development coaching and individualized support.

The Fellowship is Nyah Project’s signature and most competitive program in which we select up to 12 high school students each year to become Nyah Fellows.

With the Fellowship, travel awakens leaders.

Do you have what it takes to be the next Nyah Fellow?

The GYLF is open to current South Florida high school students.

Please see Eligibility section for full details.

Fellowship Eligibility Requirements:

1. Completion of two-part application process:

   • You must complete Part I: the Leadership Programs application by Feb. 1, 2024

   • Upon successful review of your initial application, you will be invited to submit Part II, or the full Fellowship application. The deadline to submit your completed Fellowship application is March 22, 2024.

2. Successful completion of LEAD, our spring leadership intensive (February-March 2024)

3. You are open-minded and have a positive attitude.

4. You are open to collaboration with and feedback from people of different backgrounds.

5. You are excited about developing your leadership, communication, and problem solving skills; meeting new people; and making a difference.

6. You are intrigued by new cultures and travel.

7. You reside in South Florida (Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach County)

8. You are currently enrolled in high school

   • Preference is for high school sophomores or juniors during the time of application.

   • Freshmen and seniors are also eligible, but due to the change in the program timeline, high school seniors will only be eligible for the Fellowship if they are past/returning applicants.

9. You have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (unweighted on a 4.0 scale).

10. You have demonstrated an interest in developing your leadership skills to help your community through extracurricular activities and/or non-school affiliated services projects.

11. Your total annual family/household income is below $85,000, and/or you have a demonstrated financial need or economic disadvantage.

12. You can meet all LEAD + Fellowship Deadlines (see Selections + Fellowship Timeline sections).

13. Your parent/guardian can complete all applicable written consent and release forms as well as eSign your online application.

14. PASSPORT: You currently have or will secure a valid passport to complete the international travel component of the fellowship (scheduled July 2025). Passports must be valid through January 2026 (6 months after you are scheduled to travel for your fellowship).
    
    If you do not have a valid passport and will need assistance obtaining one, please contact program staff.

VACCINES:

• COVID-19: You are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to traveling for the fellowship (either 2 doses of Pfizer or Moderna, or 1 dose of Johnson & Johnson, completed before June 1st, 2025).

• Other vaccines: You will also be required to obtain any additional vaccinations needed for the country selected for the fellowship.

• FREE to participate if selected as a Fellow (program value starts at $18,000)

• Access to transformative opportunities

• FREE summer leadership retreat

• FREE two-week summer program abroad to Africa or Asia

• Personalized college access coaching to increase your success when it comes to applying to colleges + scholarships

• Mentorship matching

• Professional development coaching

• Individualized support

• 100+ hours of community service

• Letters of recommendation for colleges + scholarships

• Peer-learning with life-long friends - each cohort is composed of no more than 12 Fellows!

• Access to growing network of 100+ alumni Fellows

• Part of the Nyah Project family for life! Even after your fellowship year ends, we’re here to support you in your journey.

• 100% of Fellows are accepted into college,

• 98% win scholarships,

• 95% attribute Nyah Project to their successful leadership growth & college matriculation.

• Fellows have received over $26 million in scholarships cumulatively, with the median amount being ~$100,000.

• Weekend summer leadership retreat

• Two week international travel component, including:

  • International airfare

  • All in-country accommodations and meals

  • Cultural excursions and service learning activities

  • In-country support and travel chaperones

  • Group travel and medical insurance

  • Mandatory vaccinations (as applicable)

• Certification in Experiential Leadership

• Personalized college admissions and scholarship strategy coaching

• and more!

What’s NOT Included:

• Passport application fees

• Personal expenditures, such as souvenirs or international data plan for mobile coverage

Please note the important dates below related to the Selections Process for the 2024-25 Global Youth Leadership Fellowship:

• Thursday February 1, 2024: Part I: Leadership Programs Application deadline

• Saturday, February 24, 2024 (8:30a - 4:00pm): LEAD Workshop (in-person)

• Saturday, March 2, 2024 (9:00am-2:00pm): Global Impact Challenge Recording (in-person)

• Saturday, March 16, 2024 (8:30am - 2:30pm): LEAD Summit (virtual)

• Friday, March 22, 2024: Part II: Fellowship Application deadline

• Friday, April 5, 2024: Finalists notified

• Saturday, April 13, 2024: Finalist Interviews (in-person)

• Monday, April 15, 2024 (6-8 PM): Finalist Interviews (make-up date only)

• Mid-May: Notifications of Fellowship Status

• Saturday, May 18, 2024: Celebration of Impact

The 2024-25 Global Youth Leadership Fellowship program timeline is as follows:

Summer I (2024): Leadership Retreat

• Dates: Thursday, June 27 to Sunday, June 30, 2024

• Location: Central Florida (group transportation to be provided)

Fall 2024: College Access Coaching

• Virtual Group Coaching: Mondays from August 12th to October 28th from 6:30 - 8:00 PM (via Zoom)

• Individual Coaching: by appointment (via Zoom)

• In-Person Deep Dives: date(s)/time(s) to be determined by the group (in-person)

Spring 2025: Mentorship & Professional Development Coaching

• Monthly: dates + times to be determined by paired Fellow + Mentor

Summer II (2025): International Travel Component

• Dates: Last two weeks of July 2025

• Location: Africa or Asia (past countries include Ghana, South Africa, Namibia, Costa Rica, and Indonesia)

The Fellowship is designed as a mix of live, interactive, and experiential in-person & virtual activities.

The Summer I: Leadership Retreat Weekend takes place in Central Florida. Group transportation is provided to/from Miami.

During Summer II, the international travel component takes place in July at the end of your fellowship program year. Our travel destinations are typically in Africa or southeast Asia, including Ghana, Namibia, Morocco, South Africa, Indonesia, and Costa Rica.

YOU MUST HAVE A VALID PASSPORT (OR APPLY FOR ONE) UPON SELECTION AS A FELLOW.

Click on any of the dates below to register for a virtual information session on our 2024 leadership programs. You will hear from both program staff and alumni.

• Monday, December 18, 2023 from 4-5 PM ET

• Wednesday, January 10, 2024 from 6-7 PM ET

Part I of the application for the 2024 Global Youth Leadership Fellowship is due on February 1st, 2024.

• CLICK HERE TO APPLY!

Instructions: HOW TO APPLY FOR THE FELLOWSHIP

1. Create an account on Submittable

2. Fill out the online Leadership Programs application form (make sure to save your progress!)

   • Under Section VI: Fellowship Program Intention, check one of the following options:

     “YES, I also want to apply for the 2024-2025 Global Youth Leadership Fellowship”

     OR

     “MAYBE, I’m interested in the Fellowship but would like more information.”

   • Checking either of the above boxes will allow you to complete Section VII: Fellowship Eligibility

   • Have parent/guardian e-sign application

   • Submit Leadership Programs application by February 1, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET.

3. Upon successful review of your initial Leadership Programs application, you will be invited to submit the full Fellowship application, which consists of six (6) short essay questions (no more than 200 words). We must receive your completed Fellowship application no later than March 22, 2024.

4. Finalists for the Fellowship will be invited to complete short in-person interviews in April.

5. Finalists will be notified of their selection status by mid-May 2024.

This year, we are introducing a new two-part online application process. Below are links to preview the application questions prior to submitting your application online via our Submittable portal:

• Part I is due February 1st, 2024. Please CLICK HERE for a copy of the Part I application questions.

• Part II is due March 22nd, 2024. Please CLICK HERE for a copy of the Part II application questions.