Plan International Youth Leadership Programme 2027 offers a year-long Youth Leadership Academy experience for young people interested in gender equality, global issues and youth-led advocacy. Participants develop leadership skills, create local advocacy projects, receive mentorship and gain practical experience in social impact work.
Young people interested in leadership, advocacy and social change can explore the Plan International Youth Leadership Academy (YLA), a year-long social impact fellowship designed to help young people turn ideas into practical community projects.
The programme is hosted by Plan International USA’s Youth Advisory Board and focuses on youth-led advocacy, particularly projects connected to gender equity. Participants receive opportunities to learn leadership skills, develop an advocacy project, work with mentors and connect with other young changemakers.
The information provided by Plan International USA describes the YLA as a programme for students in grades 8–11 who live in the United States. Therefore, despite its international organization name, the eligibility information supplied does not indicate that this particular Youth Leadership Academy is open globally.
Background & Programme Description
The Youth Leadership Academy is structured as a year-long fellowship where participants are expected to develop and implement their own local advocacy projects.
Rather than focusing only on classroom-based training, the programme gives participants an opportunity to apply leadership skills to an issue they care about.
According to Plan International USA, fellows begin with virtual orientation sessions in June. In July, participants travel to Washington, D.C. for a residential intensive where they meet fellow participants, Plan staff and members of the Youth Advisory Board.
During the intensive, participants receive guidance on developing their Leadership Project.
The programme is intended to help young people understand how to identify a local need, define a mission, analyze stakeholders, present an idea and work toward securing resources for a project.
What Participants Can Expect
The Youth Leadership Academy combines training, mentorship and practical project development.
Participants can expect to:
- Take part in virtual orientation sessions.
- Attend a residential intensive in Washington, D.C.
- Connect with other young leaders.
- Learn about leadership and youth advocacy.
- Identify a local social issue or community need.
- Develop a youth-led Leadership Project.
- Analyze stakeholders and potential partners.
- Pitch their project.
- Work with a Youth Advisory Board mentor.
- Participate in skill-building webinars.
- Access seed funding to help launch their project.
- Connect with Plan’s global youth network and partners.
- Present their completed project at a YLA symposium.
This practical structure allows participants to move from learning about advocacy to actually designing and implementing a project.
Leadership Projects
A central component of the programme is the Leadership Project.
Plan International USA describes this as a youth-led, locally focused project addressing an issue that matters to the participant.
Following the week-long intensive in Washington, D.C., fellows continue developing their projects during the year. Participants receive support from an assigned mentor and can take part in additional skill-building webinars.
The programme also provides access to seed funding for launching the project.
This means the fellowship is not simply an educational programme. It is designed to give young participants an opportunity to apply their newly developed skills to a real community or advocacy initiative.
Projects are connected to issues that participants care about, with gender equity identified as a central area of focus.
Qualifications and Eligibility
Education
The supplied Plan International USA information states that the Youth Leadership Academy is open to students in grades 8–11.
Applicants should therefore be enrolled within the specified grade range at the time of application.
Age and Location
The programme information specifically states that applicants must be living in the United States.
The supplied source does not provide a specific age range beyond the grade-level requirement.
Applicants outside the United States should not assume that they qualify for this particular YLA opportunity based solely on Plan International’s global presence.
Areas of Interest
Plan International USA encourages students interested in:
- Gender equality
- Global issues
- Youth-led advocacy
- Leadership
- Social impact
- Community change
to consider applying.
Previous professional experience is not identified as a requirement in the supplied programme information.
Training and Professional Development
One of the strongest aspects of the Youth Leadership Academy is its combination of leadership development and practical experience.
Participants are introduced to concepts that can be useful when developing community initiatives, including identifying problems, defining objectives, understanding stakeholders and presenting project ideas.
The mentorship component also provides participants with ongoing guidance after the residential intensive.
Through webinars, project development and interaction with other young leaders, fellows can continue strengthening their communication, advocacy and project-management skills throughout the programme year.
Programme Benefits
The source highlights several opportunities available to participants.
Mentorship
Each participant receives support from an assigned Youth Advisory Board mentor while implementing their Leadership Project.
Seed Funding
Fellows can access seed funding to help launch their youth-led projects.
The supplied information does not specify the amount of seed funding, so applicants should consult the official programme information for current details.
Washington, D.C. Residential Experience
The programme includes a residential intensive in Washington, D.C., where participants meet other fellows, Plan staff and Youth Advisory Board members.
Youth Network
Participants have opportunities to connect with Plan’s global youth network and partners, potentially allowing them to learn from other young people engaged in advocacy and social impact.
Project Presentation
At the end of the programme, fellows present their projects at the YLA symposium, giving participants an opportunity to showcase their work.
Application Process
The supplied Plan International USA page provides an Apply Now option for interested students.
Apply for the Plan International Youth Leadership Academy
Because the provided source does not state a specific 2027 application deadline, applicants should check the official application page for the current application dates, requirements and programme conditions before applying.
Questions about the Youth Leadership Academy can also be directed to the programme contact listed by Plan International USA at YLA@planusa.org.
Additional Information
The Youth Leadership Academy is presented as an opportunity for young people to develop leadership abilities while working on issues affecting their communities.
Plan International USA reports that the academy has trained 600 young people, has operated for more than 10 years, and presented more than 13 workshops in 2025.
The programme is particularly relevant for students who want to develop experience in advocacy, gender equality, community engagement and youth leadership.
However, applicants should pay close attention to the eligibility conditions. The information supplied specifically identifies students in grades 8–11 living in the United States as the target audience. It does not establish that the 2027 programme is open to applicants worldwide.
Final Takeaway
The Plan International Youth Leadership Programme 2027 provides a practical leadership-development experience through the Youth Leadership Academy. Participants can receive training, mentorship, project-development support, seed funding and opportunities to connect with other young advocates.
For eligible U.S.-based students in grades 8–11, the programme can provide a structured way to transform an idea about gender equity or another local issue into a youth-led advocacy project.
Applicants should review the official Plan International USA application page for the latest 2027 eligibility requirements, deadline and application instructions before applying.
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