Ilia Calderón Scholarship 2026 for One Young World Summit
Summit Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Category: Scholarship
Program: Ilia Calderón Scholarship 2026
Organizer: One Young World
Partner: Jang Calderón Family Foundation
Application Deadline: 15 June 2026
The Ilia Calderón Scholarship 2026 supports young leaders who are leading innovative and impactful initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean. One Young World has partnered again with the Jang Calderón Family Foundation to select and fund two young leaders to attend the One Young World 2026 Summit in Cape Town, South Africa.
Ilia Calderón Scholarship 2026 Overview
The scholarship follows previous editions held in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. For 2026, it continues its focus on young leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean.
The selected scholars will travel to Cape Town for the One Young World Summit 2026. The summit takes place from 3 to 6 November 2026. Therefore, applicants must meet the age requirement at the time of the Summit.
Scholarship Benefits
Selected scholars will receive support to attend the Summit in South Africa.
✓ Access to the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town
✓ Hotel accommodation in a private room in Cape Town
✓ Hotel check-in on 2 November 2026 and check-out on 7 November 2026
✓ Economy-class travel to and from Cape Town
✓ Domestic travel costs to the airport for the international flight, in economy class
✓ Visa costs, if applicable
✓ Transport between the Summit accommodation and the Summit venue
✓ Catering, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided by the hotel and during the Summit
✓ Translation services from English to Spanish in plenary sessions, the welcome event, and the closing event
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must meet the stated eligibility requirements.
• Be aged 18 to 30 at the time of the One Young World Summit 2026
• Be from one of the eligible nationalities listed by One Young World
• Be leading or participating in relevant initiatives
• Demonstrate leadership capacity
• Address key local and/or global issues in their community or territories
• Show a track record of generating impactful and innovative ideas
• Show motivation to participate in One Young World
One Young World states that most delegates are between 18 and 30. However, the team may consider applicants older than 30 if they demonstrate appropriate personal impact, initiative, and willingness to engage. Applicants under 18 at the time of the Summit cannot be accepted.
Eligible Nationalities
Applicants must be from one of the eligible countries or territories listed on the official page.
• Colombia
• Venezuela
• Dominican Republic
• Haiti
• Panama
• Honduras
• Costa Rica
• El Salvador
• Guatemala
• Mexico
• Nicaragua
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Cuba
• Dominica
• Guyana
• Grenada
• Jamaica
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Suriname
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Argentina
• Bolivia
• Chile
• Ecuador
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Uruguay
• Brazil
Selection Focus
Candidates will be evaluated on their commitment and the potential benefits for their communities or territories. In addition, One Young World will review the relevance of the initiatives they lead or join.
Applicants should also show leadership ability, community impact, innovative thinking, and clear motivation to participate in One Young World. These points are central to the evaluation criteria listed by the organizer.
Key Dates
• Opening date: 7 May 2026
• Application deadline: 15 June 2026
• One Young World Summit 2026: 3–6 November 2026
• Hotel check-in: 2 November 2026
• Hotel check-out: 7 November 2026
