The ChallengeUS Future Leaders Competition is inviting young people worldwide to engage critically with civic issues through writing, speech and art.
The initiative aims to elevate youth perspectives, spark bold ideas, and strengthen a global network of emerging changemakers committed to addressing real-world challenges.
Aim
The competition is designed to amplify youth voices in meaningful civic conversations. Participants are encouraged to explore current issues using creativity, analysis and expressive communication.
With multiple submission categories, the programme ensures that students can showcase their strengths—whether through storytelling, research, public speaking or visual art.
Funding details
Winners receive financial support and professional recognition.
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The Grand Prize Winner earns $500 USD.
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Four additional category winners receive honourable recognition.
All five winners will:
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Be featured in a biographical publication.
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Receive Certificates of Achievement.
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Have their work published by ChallengeUS.
Every participant gains access to the Future Leaders Network, offering mentorship, collaboration and continued growth opportunities.
Who can apply
The competition is open to students worldwide who meet the following criteria:
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Enrolled in an accredited high school or undergraduate institution.
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Students on academic gap years or semesters.
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Homeschooled students.
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Open to applicants from any country.
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Past entrants may apply again (except previous first-place winners).
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All submissions must be in English.
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Strict no-plagiarism and no-AI-generated content rules apply.
Requirements
Submission guidelines vary by category:
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Writing: PDF format using a clean, readable font
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Analytical work: Any citation style allowed; citations do not count towards word limit
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Speech: MP4 video format
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Visual art: High-quality JPEG, PNG or PDF files
The competition encourages thoughtful, original and well-crafted work across all formats.
Deadline
Submissions are due on January 16, 2026. Visit the ChallengeUS website to apply.
Explore more global competitions on our Opportunities page.
Summary not available at this time.
