Learning Journey into Leadership for Young Changemakers

2022 Edition

If you answered "yes" to the above questions, the Learning Journey into Leadership may be for you!

An initiative of cinfo, the Swiss centre of competence for international cooperation, supported by Fondation Botnar, the aim of this programme is to help you sharpen your vision, grow your leadership style, and develop the skills you will need to make a positive difference.

The 2022 course will be delivered  entirely online, in two segments: April 25 to May 6 and October 17 to 21, with some individual and group work in between the sessions. Selected participants receive a fully sponsored learning experience at no cost.

The Learning Journey into Leadership is aimed at young people, especially future changemakers, who intend to launch a concrete project with the aim of bringing positive change in their living or working environment. Those who have already started such a project may be accepted in some cases.

This online learning programme is offered once a year, from 2021 to 2024, with up to 70 participants in each cohort.

The Learning Journey is aimed at future changemakers

Conditions of participation
  • Participants must be under 30 years of age (born afer 1991).
  • They must be nationals of, or residents in Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Romania, Senegal, Switzerland, Tanzania, or Vietnam. To ensure a global exchange between participants, we aim at having 3 to 4 participants from each country.
  • Participants may be studying or working in one of the abovementioned countries.
  • Technical requirements: a stable Internet connection, a computer with camera and microphone, access to Zoom (software).
  • Priority will be given to candidates who have never attended a similar programme.
  • At the end of the learning journey, a certificate of participation and a micro grant of CHF 500.- will be made available to the participants who have fulfilled the following 5 conditions:
    • Participated in 80% of the online sessions (April 25 to May 6 and October 17-21)
    • Submitted a concrete project, aimed at improving something on the personal or the collective level
    • Attended a one-hour individual coaching session with one of our facilitators
    • Participated in an Action Learning Group during the summer months
    • Submitted a learning report at the end of the journey

Please note: the Learning Journey focuses on personal growth, mindset and attitudes. It will not provide you with any ready-to-use solutions, business plans or recipes for starting up your own enterprise.

If you commit and participate with all your heart, the programme will help you to:

  • clarify your intentions, both on a personal and collective level
  • identify your core values and your strengths
  • sharpen your self-awareness
  • develop your communication skills in a multicultural setting
  • stimulate your creativity and your courage to step out of the comfort zone
  • develop attitudes and acquire tools you can apply and experiment within your own context
  • network with a diversity of young changemakers around the globe

Your contribution – What the programme requires from you

To ensure you and the other participants enjoy the benefits of the programme, you will need to commit and abide by a few rules and principles. Watch the video to learn more:

Programme schedule

Completion of the two segments of the course in April/May and October will require between 50-60 hours of work from participants:

Download learning hours and programme setup (PDF)

Interested in joining? This is what you need to produce:

  • your updated CV
  • a motivation letter (maximum 1 page)

Registration opens soon

Selection criteria 

  • Candidates will be selected upon the basis of their CV and motivation letter. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an individual online interview, during which they will need to demonstrate their motivation and their command of English.
  • cinfo will also ensure an equal geographical representation among the participants, as well as a gender and age balance.
  • Candidates who are not shortlisted or who are unsuccessful at the interview will be informed in writing before 21 March 2022.

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