The International Baccalaureate (IB) has announced the 2026 cohort of the Global Youth Action Fund (GYAF). 324 young people aged 12 to 19 will receive grants of up to $3,000 USD, and participate in a half-year program that includes workshops, mentorship, and peer community building. Their projects respond to key challenges and opportunities across education, health, the environment, sustainability, and more, each contributing to one or more of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Since its launch in 2023, the Global Youth Action Fund has supported over 400 projects led by more than 760 young people globally. The fund is part of the IB's youth initiative portfolio, which supports youth to take meaningful action in their communities.
The 2026 cycle attracted 1,110 applications from 103 countries, making it the most subscribed round since the fund first launched. Each application was assessed by an international review panel of educators, practitioners, and youth leaders, with applications judged on purpose, creativity, impact, and collaboration.
Projects among the 2026 cohort stood out for their ambition and community impact across regions. In India, Geet Potdar created a course in international relations and public speaking for visually impaired students at a local blind centre. In the United States, Jason Adeyemi's Shoeless Ones collects and redistributes athletic shoes to underserved communities in both the US and Nigeria. In Brazil, Luiza Vieira Caleia launched the Girls Biology Olympiad, dedicated to inspiring high school girls to pursue careers in biology. And in Peru, Gabriela Pizarro Arteaga is building LXT: YACHAY CHA'MA (Bridge of Knowledge), a movement seeking to identify and develop the next generation of indigenous leaders.
The 2026 cohort will begin programming in June and continue through December 2026.
For more information about the Global Youth Action Fund, visit https://ibo.org/festival-of-hope/youth-in-action
 has announced the 2026 cohort of the Global Youth Action Fund (GYAF). 324 young people aged 12 to 19 will receive grants of up to $3,000 USD, and participate in a half-year program that includes workshops, mentorship, and peer community building. Their projects respond to key challenges and opportunities across education, health, the environment, sustainability, and more, each contributing to one or more of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.){kind=icon}