Brand South Africa Play Your Part Bursary Programme

Deadline: 02-Sep-2026

The Brand South Africa Play Your Part Bursary Programme 2026 supports young South Africans who are actively contributing to their communities and demonstrating positive citizenship. Six selected applicants will receive support to attend the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town, along with leadership development, networking, and long-term participation opportunities.

About the Play Your Part Bursary Programme

The Play Your Part Bursary is offered by Brand South Africa in partnership with One Young World. The initiative is designed to recognise young people who are taking practical action to address social, economic, community, or development challenges in South Africa. The programme forms part of Brand South Africa’s broader Play Your Part initiative, which promotes active citizenship and encourages South Africans to contribute to positive change. For 2026, the bursary will provide six young people with the opportunity to participate in the One Young World Summit in Cape Town. What Is the One Young World Summit? The One Young World Summit brings together young leaders from different countries to exchange ideas, develop leadership skills, and collaborate on solutions to global and local challenges. Through the Play Your Part Bursary, selected South African participants will be able to connect with other emerging leaders and expand their networks while representing South Africa at the international summit. What Does the Bursary Provide? Six successful applicants will receive support to participate in the One Young World Summit 2026.

The bursary includes:

Access to the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town. Travel support where required. Accommodation where required. Catering during the summit. Access to the One Young World Global Leadership Programme. Lifetime membership of the One Young World Ambassador Community. Opportunities to connect with young leaders, organisations, and potential collaborators. Three bursaries are specifically reserved for candidates based in Cape Town, while three are available to eligible applicants from across South Africa. Cape Town-based recipients do not receive travel and accommodation support where these costs are not required. Who Is Eligible? The programme is intended for young South Africans who have demonstrated active citizenship and meaningful community involvement.

Applicants must:

Be South African nationals or residents. Be 18 to 30 years old at the time of the One Young World Summit 2026. Demonstrate active citizenship through practical community involvement. Have evidence of making a positive contribution to their community. Understand important social, economic, or development issues affecting South Africa. Be able to demonstrate the impact of their work, initiatives, or activities. Applicants should be able to clearly explain how their actions have contributed to positive change. What Does Active Citizenship Mean? Active citizenship refers to taking practical steps to improve communities and address challenges affecting society. Initiatives promoting inclusion and equal opportunities. Local development and community leadership. Applicants do not necessarily need to lead a large organisation. Evidence of meaningful and sustained community contribution can also demonstrate active citizenship. Selection Priorities The programme is particularly interested in young people who can demonstrate: The potential to use the One Young World experience to expand their impact. Applicants should focus on what they have done, who benefited, and what changed as a result of their work. Geographic Allocation of Bursaries The six bursaries are divided into two groups:

Three bursaries: Reserved for candidates based in Cape Town.

Three bursaries: Open to eligible candidates from anywhere in South Africa.

This structure provides opportunities for both Cape Town-based young leaders and candidates making an impact in other parts of the country. Why It Matters Young people play an important role in addressing South Africa’s social and economic challenges. Supporting young community leaders can help strengthen local initiatives while creating opportunities for collaboration and innovation. The Play Your Part Bursary goes beyond attendance at a single event. Recipients gain access to international networks, leadership development programmes, the Action Accelerator, and the wider One Young World Ambassador Community. This can help successful applicants build partnerships and continue developing their community-focused work after the summit. How the Programme Works The opportunity can be understood through the following stages:

Application: Eligible young South Africans submit their applications and demonstrate their active citizenship.

Assessment: Applications are reviewed based on community contribution, impact, leadership potential, and understanding of South African challenges.

Selection: Six successful candidates are selected, including three Cape Town-based recipients and three recipients from across South Africa.

Summit participation: Selected recipients attend the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town.

Leadership development: Recipients participate in associated leadership and networking opportunities.

Continued engagement: Successful participants become part of the One Young World Ambassador Community and can access longer-term programmes and opportunities.

How to Prepare a Strong Application Applicants should prepare evidence that demonstrates their community contribution rather than relying only on general statements about wanting to make a difference. A strong application should clearly explain:

The problem: What issue or challenge did you identify?

Your action: What did you personally do to address it?

The beneficiaries: Who benefited from your work?

The impact: What measurable or meaningful change resulted?

Your role: What leadership or decision-making responsibility did you have?

Future plans: How will the opportunity help you inc