About the 2025 YGC Recoupling Awards

Applications for the 2025 YGC cohort are now closed.

YGC Recoupling Awards

With the “Young Global Changers Recoupling Awards” the Global Solutions Initiative aims to identify, recognize and reward young changemakers from all over the world who contribute actively towards a better alignment – a “recoupling” – of economic prosperity with environmental sustainability and the needs and demands of societies, communities and individuals. 

The award seeks to recognize concrete practices and impactful youth-led projects and initiatives that drive change on the ground, while also serving as examples and inspiration beyond their immediate impact. Projects can be social enterprises as well as youth-led nonprofit initiatives.

The awards offers the chance to join the Young Global Changers Extended Circle, Young Global Changers Community, or the opportunity to receive a full scholarship to join the Global Solutions Summit in Berlin where you can present your project to a jury and global audience! Learn more about the awards and why you should apply below.

Application Timeline

2025 Recoupling Award Categories

1

Reimagine Business

Business and commercial activities can drive economic growth, provide employment opportunities, and spark innovation. At the same time, many current business practices lead to excessive waste production, contribute to the depletion of natural resources, exacerbate climate degradation, and perpetuate poor working conditions. We are looking for businesses and social enterprises that have implemented a business model that fosters social pro sperity and environmental goals.

2

Created by Lia Rahdiahfrom the Noun Project

Reimagine Social and Climate Action

Many individuals, and disadvantaged groups around the world face significant challenges in accessing basic services like healthcare, food, housing, or education. At the same time environmental crises like climate change, environmental pollution and biodiversity loss are accelerating - threatening our natural environment and exacerbating social imbalances. We are looking for projects that directly support societies impacted by systemic inequities or climate degradation.

3

Reimagine Civic Engagement

Around the world, citizens’ trust in government, administration, and public institutions is declining - populism and nationalism are on the rise. At the same time, we are witnessing a lack of transparency and accountability for decision makers and a lack of opportunities for citizens and civil society to engage and participate actively in important decisions that affect their lives.  We are looking for projects directly supporting the powershifting towards citizens to engage in the civic space.

What to prepare for your application

The YGC application team suggests you prepare the following documents relevant to the category in which you are applying before submitting your application below. This will ensure the best application process for you. 

  1. General Information
    General info. on the project and the organisation.
  2.  Executive Summary (850 characters max.)
    Please submit an overview of your prokect/initiative including it’s history, mission, and values along with its commitment to economic, social, and environmental goals.
  3. Alignment Summary (1500 characters max.)
    Reimagine Business: Your application must include a statement on how your business or social enterprise impacts the alignment of business activities with social and environmental prosperity. Please explain how you assess or measure your impact.
    Reimagine Social & Climate Action: Your application must include a statement on how your project’s efforts directly impact social and environmental goals and explain how these impacts are measured.
    Reimagine Civic Enagagement: Your application must include a statement on how your project invigorates civic engagement and citizen agency, increases transparency and accountability or in other ways empowers people to become more active designers of their circumstances. Please also explain how these impacts are measured.
  4. Short Bio (600 characters max.)
    Please provide a short biography about yourself: one or two paragraphs about your experience, interests, and achievements. [examples here]
  5. Video (5 mins max.)
    Provide a brief (5 minutes or less) video about your business or social enterprise. You can send an existing video or record one exclusively for the application.

*Please note that if you begin the application and must pause and resume later, you must copy the link provided to resume where you left the application. YGC staff will not be able to provide you with the resumption link. 

You can download a sample of the application form here to prepare in advance before you make the final submission.

Business and commercial activities can drive economic growth, provide employment opportunities, and spark innovation. At the same time, many current business practices lead to excessive waste production, contribute to the depletion of natural resources, exacerbate climate degradation, and perpetuate poor working conditions.   

  

Let’s do business differently for people and planet!   

   

Are you part of an enterprise that does things differently? Does your business or start-up have a positive impact on the environment and your community? Do you produce and operate sustainably?  Does your business directly combat social or climate issues through its work? Do you have innovative ideas that can change and disrupt destructive business practices?    

   

Apply with your business or social enterprise that benefits both people and the planet.    

  

Eligibility for this category: 

 

  1. Social Enterprise: Your organization needs to be a viable entity actively involved in commercial, industrial, or professional endeavors, with a demonstrable capacity for generating a positive impact on social or ecological dimensions. 

  1. Financial Self-Sufficiency: Your organization may presently receive financial backing from external sources, such as grants, but must aim for financial self-sufficiency over a medium to long-term horizon.  

  1. Purpose Driven/Alignment Focus: Your business or social enterprise is effectively executing a business strategy that purposefully incorporates and tangibly actualizes economic prosperity with the enhancement of social well-being and/or the promotion of environmental sustainability. 

Examples successful alumni projects from this category    

  • Making coffee production social and environmentally sustainable: Kua  

  • Combating food loss and empowering smallholder farmers: Akofresh 

  • Combating pollution while empowering informal waste collectors: Octopus Indonesia 

  • First-ever eCommerce platform in Bangladesh for marginalized LGBTQIA+ artisans: TransEnd Crafts 

  • Manufacturing sustainable textile from Pineapple Waste: Eco Nasi

Many communities, individuals, and disadvantaged groups around the world face significant challenges in accessing basic services such as healthcare, food, housing, or education. At the same time environmental crises like climate change, environmental pollution and biodiversity loss are accelerating – threatening our natural environment and exacerbating social imbalances.  

Let’s empower people to tackle social and environmental crises!  

Do you equip marginalized communities with the tools, resources, or skills to lead more empowered, healthier, safer lives? Are you working with people directly to ensure better access to healthcare, education, food security, or similar issues? Are you addressing environmental crises like biodiversity loss, pollution, or climate emergency or helping communities to build resilience?  

Apply and share how your activities address social inequities or environmental crises!  

Eligibility for this category:  

1. Values –Driven: Your project aligns with a mission or values-centered approach, focusing on not-for-profit objectives. This means that your services are provided with the primary goal of addressing social or environmental concerns rather than seeking monetary compensation. 

2. Alignment: Your project has implemented an operational strategy that deliberately incorporates social well-being and environmental sustainability.  

3. Social or Environmental Focus: Your organization must be involved in one or more of the following activities: 

  • Directly assisting individuals impacted by ongoing social or environmental crises or persistent issues.
  • Empowering individuals or communities to tackle social, economic, educational, or environmental challenges themselves,  
  • Helping to directly address environmental crises like biodiversity loss, pollution, or climate emergencies. 

Examples successful alumni projects from this category 

Around the world, citizens’ trust in government, administration, and public institutions is declining – populism and nationalism are on the rise. At the same time, we are witnessing a lack of transparency and accountability for decision makers and a lack of opportunities for citizens and civil society to engage and participate actively in important decisions that affect their lives.  

 

Let ‘s empower citizens and civil society!   

 

Are you working on ways to make decision making more participatory and inclusive? Do you help strengthen transparency and accountability of decision makers? Are you creating avenues for people to become more active designers of their circumstances, globally, nationally, or locally in their communities or neighborhoods?  

Apply with your civic engagement project to share how you invigorate civic engagement and citizen agency.   

 

Eligibility for this category:  

  1. Values – Driven Centered: Your project aligns with a mission or values-centered approach, focusing on not-for-profit focused objectives. This means that your services are provided with the primary goal of addressing social or environmental concerns rather than seeking monetary compensation.  
  2. Civic Focus: Your project aims to increase and improve civic and/or public-sphere engagement. This may include empowering people to actively engage in their civic space,
    become active citizens and/or help to increase accountability and transparency in decision-making.     
  3. Alignment: Your project has implemented an operational strategy that deliberately incorporates social well-being and environmental sustainability by doing the following:      

– Directly assisting, educating, or empowering individuals or communities to engage in their civic space.

– Shifting power to individuals and communities by engaging in the civic space.

-Creating avenues for people to become more active designers of their circumstances, globally, nationally, or locally through civic participation.

-Encouraging communities to hold decision makers who have an impact on their lives accountable.

 

Examples successful alumni projects from this category 

  1. Increasing citizen engagement: El Avispero
  2. Accessible education for civic participation: Citizen-led tracking  
  3. Cultivating youth civic engagement: Escola Comum
  4. A youth focused rights and development organization: Urban Youth Councils
  5. A youth led non-profit organization for peacebuilding and against armed violence in Cameroon: Xhuma Africa 

Important Information

Eligibility Criteria for all Applicants 

The following criteria need to be fulfilled by all applicants to be eligible, independent from the category in which they apply. 

  • Individuals Only: Only individual people can apply. You cannot apply as an organization, only as its representative. 
  • Leading Role: Participants should have a leading position in the project or initiative they are applying with. (This can be the founder, co-founder, project-lead, initiator or a similar role.) 
  • Strong English: Participants must have a command of the English language  strong enough to present their work in front of a jury and an audience, and to participate in group conversations. 
  • Age: The Young Global Changers program aims to empower youth. Applicants should preferably be between the ages of 18 and 35. 
  • Motivation: The applicants should show motivation to become active members of a global network which aims at bringing about lasting global change. 

Eligibility Criteria for all Projects  

The following criteria need to be fulfilled by all projects to be eligible, independent from the category in which they apply. 

  • Recoupling: The project, business, or initiative with which you apply needs to aim at recoupling, i.e., a better alignment of economic or political activities with social well-being and environmental sustainability. This means putting the needs of people and environmental sustainability at the center of economic and/or political activities. 
  • Organizational Stage: The project or initiative must be beyond the idea stage. It should be currently active and running.  
  •  

Applicants who qualify receive the following recognitions based on their respective eligibility.

ALL ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS  join the Young Global Changers Extended Circle where they receive invitations to Global Solutions events, workshops and more.

THE TOP 50 applicants will become the new members of the Young Global Changers community. Projects will be presented on the Global Solutions Initiative website.

THE TOP 15 applicants will receive a full scholarship to join the Global Solutions Summit in Berlin, where they present their projects to a jury and a global audience. The scholarship includes the following:

  • Two full days of preparation, workshops and coaching sessions (May 3-4, 2025)
  • Free admission to the Global Solutions Summit 2024 (May 5-6, 2025)
  • Your chance to present your project in front of an international jury and a global audience.
  • Networking opportunities with great minds from academia, business, politics & civil society.
  • Fully funded accommodation for the time of the Summit and Prep-Days (May 2-7, 2025).
  • Travel expenses to and from Berlin.
  • Post summit possibilities for further engagement as part of our global network of Young Global Changers.

The 2025 YGC Recoupling Awards will have…

THE CATEGORY WINNERS: The winner of each category will receive a €2,500 prize and additional support for their project.

We offer a full scholarship* to all finalists of the Young Global Changers Awards 2025, providing an incredible opportunity to come to Berlin and attend the 2025 Global Solutions Summit. 

  

What does the Scholarship cover,  

 

  • Travel expenses: Economy Class airfare or train tickets to and from Berlin, including the visa costs* 

  • Accommodation: A six-night stay (May 2-7, 2025) for the duration of the YGC Program and the Summit (breakfast included) arranged and covered by GSI** 

  • Summit Access: Free admission to the Global Solutions Summit 2025. 

  • Enrichment Opportunities: Participating in training sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities with great minds from academia, business, politics & civil societies. 

  • Global Network: Access to join an exclusive global network of like-minded Young Global Changer from around the world. Plus, the possibility of further engagements and activities. 

 

Important Details 

 

*The flight– or train-tickets to Berlin will be booked via GSI’s partner travel agency, costs will be covered by GSIF. Please note, all additional costs, such as local trips to your embassy in your respective country, visa application cost, mandatory insurances – health/travel, required vaccinations or any other necessary expense must be paid by you upfront.  These expenses will be reimbursed within 6 weeks after the Global Solutions Summit has concluded. Please note, participants are responsible for submitting reimbursement claims themselves and currency fluctuations may result in minor changes in the final amount reimbursed. 

**Accommodation will be arranged and fully paid for by the Global Solutions Initiative. It will be in the vicinity of the summit venue.  

 

What the Scholarship does NOT cover:  

The Scholarship does not cover additional costs such as, local transportation in Berlin, meals outside the formal program. Additional services such as flight upgrades, meals during travel and non-mandatory vaccinations or insurance.

Read information on the assessment of your application below or download the full document here.

Applicants for the 2025 YGC Recoupling Awards can apply for one of three categories:  

(1) Reimagine Business  

(2) Reimagine Social & Climate Action 

(3) Reimagine Civic Action.  

A jury will select one winning project for each of the three categories as well as one overall winner of the 2025 YGC Recoupling Awards. 

Each applicant – independently from the category that they choose – is required to write an executive summary of their project or initiative including its history, mission and vision and explain briefly how their activities promote “Recoupling”, i. e., how their initiatives provide benefits for the environment, their communities, or the society at large. Applicants are also required to provide a short bio and a video version of their project presentation (5-minute maximum).  

The top 45 presentations will be presented on the Global Solutions Initiative website. From these projects, 15 finalists will be selected to present at the Global Solutions Summit in Berlin. Projects will be evaluated based on the rubric below.  

1. Assessment of the Material 

From the material that is provided the jury will assess how well the applicant’s project contributes to a better alignment of economic or political activities with social needs and/or environmental sustainability. Projects can address both domains, the social as well as the environmental. However, some projects may emphasize one domain over the other. The jury may choose well-balanced projects – that do well in both domains – alongside projects that have a strong but well-founded focus on only one of the two. The judgment rubric will also differ depending on the category in question.  

a) Assessment of the Category: “Reimagine Business”  

The jury will look for businesses and social enterprises that can demonstrate a capacity for generating a positive impact on social or ecological dimensions. Applicants will be judged on how stringently, how effectively, and how innovatively they are executing a business strategy that purposefully incorporates and tangibly actualizes economic prosperity with the enhancement of social well-being and/or the promotion of environmental sustainability.  Applications will be judged on how well the business in questions reflects and has implemented a people-centric approach, which means, how well they manage to put the needs and voices of their stakeholders, customers, workers, and communities at the center of their activities. Improving their market share, overall growth or business success cannot come at the expense of stakeholders, workers, communities, or the environment. The jury will also be looking for businesses that can clearly demonstrate a positive impact on the natural environment through their products, their services, or their business practices. This may include focusing on the linkages between human health and the health of our planet. Other potential areas of impact are the improvement or the protection of air quality, drinking water, waste management, biodiversity, emissions, climate change, circular economy and more. 

b) Assessment of the Category: “Reimagine Social & Climate Action” 

The jury will look for projects that can demonstrate a mission or values-centered approach, focusing on not-for-profit objectives. This means that the services are provided with the primary goal of addressing social or environmental concerns rather than seeking monetary compensation. The application will need to demonstrate an operational strategy which deliberately incorporates social well-being and/or environmental sustainability. The jury will select those projects that can demonstrate an impact towards assisting or empowering marginalized communities or enable progress towards a healthier, greener natural environment. Project activities may include directly assisting individuals impacted by ongoing social or environmental crises or persistent issues; empowering individuals or communities to tackle social, economic, educational, or environmental challenges themselves; or helping to directly address environmental crises like biodiversity loss, pollution, or climate emergencies. Projects will need to demonstrate a strong impact in one of the fields above.  

c) Assessment of the Category: “Reimagine Civic Engagement” 

In this category, the jury will once again look for projects that can demonstrate a mission or values-centered approach, focusing on not-for-profit objectives. This means that the services are provided with the primary goal of addressing social or environmental concerns rather than seeking monetary compensation. The focus of this category will be on projects that can demonstrate an impact towards an improvement of civic or citizen engagement and/or increased transparency or accountability in decision making processes. The jury will look for projects that influence civic engagement positively within their communities; projects that foster a sense of shared responsibility for community well-being while respecting democratic values and public involvement in decision-making processes; projects or activities that encourage, advocate for, or provide opportunities for enhanced civic participation and a more engaged citizenry. Projects must show a positive impact on community engagement, social cohesion, public participation, inclusivity, or social responsiveness. A strong focus will be placed on projects that aim at tackling these challenges at a systemic level or can serve as role models in other contexts. 

d) All Three Categories 

From the material provided, a jury will assess how well the project addresses issues of broader political, societal, or environmental importance. Other criteria will be the novelty, innovativeness, and the potential for positive disruptiveness of the projects in question. 

  • Innovation and Degree of Novelty:  
    How novel, unique, or original is the project? Does it include new approaches to a known problem, or does it address a specific issue that has previously been neglected? 
  • Design and Effectiveness:
    Is the project well-designed to successfully address the problems it aims to tackle? What can we draw, learn from the project, its approach or design?  
  • Systemic Approach and Broader Implications:
    How well does the project address an issue of broader political, societal, or environmental importance? How well does it address systemic or structural factors? 
  • Potential for Disruptiveness: 
    Does the project, the product, services, or practices have the potential to disrupt and potentially change existing practices? Can it serve as an example beyond its own impact? 

E) Winner 

Within each category, the projects will be judged against how well they deliver against each category’s demands. The jury will select one project per category as the winner of the 2025 YGC Recoupling Awards. The winners will be selected on their overall impact and potential to disrupt and inspire change. 

More Details

Review the FAQ below or download the full document here.

1. What do you mean by “Recoupling”? 

“Recoupling” refers to the linking or re-linking of economic prosperity with social prosperity and environmental sustainability. It describes an initiative to counter the decoupling of economic activities from the needs of people, societies and the environment.  

Recoupling can be viewed as a necessary precondition to overcome the weaknesses of unregulated capitalism, thereby addressing many of the current global challenges. Recoupling–approaches aim at a better alignment of economic and political activities with environmental sustainability and with social prosperity – putting human needs and thriving societies at the center. 

To be recognized as a project that fosters recoupling, projects must be guided by a people-centric approach, one that puts the needs and voices of their stakeholders, customers, workers and/or communities at the center. We also want to learn how the project impacts the natural environment. Does the project, for example, promote avenues to carbon neutrality and towards circular modes of production and consumption? The projects do not need to address both domains (the social and the environmental) to the same degree. Well balanced projects may be chosen alongside other projects with a strong focus on only one of the two domains.   

2. What does it mean to have a “leading” role? 

Participants should have a leading position in the project or initiative with which they are applying. This can be the role of a founder, co-founder, project-lead, initiator or a similar role.  

If you are unsure whether your role in the project or initiative is suitable, ask yourself the following questions: Do I directly determine the path and direction the project is to take? Can I authentically speak about the goals of the initiative? Can I report on how the initiative wants to align itself in the future? If the answer to all three questions is “yes,” you should apply! 

3. Can I apply for the YGC Awards if I am older than 35 years? 

The Young Global Changers program specifically aims at empowering the young generation. With the YGC Recoupling Awards we want to recognize and support projects specifically by young people that embody the recoupling approach. That is why we aim primarily to attract applicants between the ages of 18 and 35. However, this is not a strict age limit. Should you be able to give reasons as to why we should include you, even though you have exceeded the age range, we would be happy to consider your application. 

4. What are the categories and how do I know which one to pick? 

Beginning in 2025, the YGC Awards will recognize three distinct categories to equitably recognize the work of young global changers who pursue different methods in tackling global challenges, but still aim to recouple economic, social and environmental prosperity.  

The three categories are (1) Reimagine Business, (2) Reimagine Social and Climate Action (3) Reimagine Civic Engagement. Applicants will need to choose one category to apply in. Look at the eligibility criteria for each category and the assessment details and select one that is the best fit for your project. 

5. Are there any examples of the kind of projects that you are looking for? 

Reimagine Business 

  • Making coffee production social and environmentally sustainable: Kua  

  • Combating food loss and empowering smallholder farmers: Akofresh 

  • Project fighting the increasing e-waste problem in India and other countries: E(co)Work 

  • First-ever eCommerce platform in Bangladesh for marginalized LGBTQIA+ artisans: TransEnd Crafts 

  • Manufacturing sustainable textile from Pineapple Waste: Eco Nasi 

 

Reimagine Social & Climate Action   

  • Enriching economic space while providing safe, accessible water: Abundant Waters 

  • A project based on the protection of environment defenders in Philippines: Forest Guards 

 

Reimagine Civic Engagement 

  • A youth led non-profit organization for peacebuilding and against armed violence in Cameroon: Xhuma Africa

 

6. I have already applied for the YGC Recoupling Awards once. Can I apply again? 

 

> You have already applied previously but were not selected as Young Global Changer. 

You may reapply for the YGC Recoupling Awards with your social enterprise, organization, initiative, or project. 

 

> You were selected as Young Global Changers 2022 – 2024 

If you as a person have already applied for the YGC Recoupling Awards and were selected as Young Global Changers 2022 – 2024, the situation is different and depends on whether you were selected as a finalist or semi-finalist. 

 

  1. … as finalist (Top 10/15) 

If you and your social enterprise, organization, initiative, or project were among the finalists, you may not reapply for the YGC Recoupling Awards later in time again. You and your project are already part of the YGC community and had the chance to present yourself and your project at the Global Solutions Summit in Berlin. 

 

  1. … as semi-finalist (Top 50) 
    The possibility to reapply for the current awards depends on whether you want to apply with a different, new project compared to your last application. 
    It is not possible to apply a second time with the same social enterprise/organization/initiative/project. However, you may apply again as a person if you apply with a completely new social enterprise/organization/initiative. The emphasis here is on the distinction between a project or program and the social enterprise, organization or initiative carrying out the project or program.  

  2.  

  3. For a new application to be admissible, it is important not to apply with a new project within the organization you applied with last time. It must be an independent, different project or organization compared to the previous application, carried out by a different social enterprise/organization/initiative. An example of a person who applied with two different projects in different years would be Stanley Anigbogu. He applied in 2022 with his initiative “Artechubs Nigeria“ and in 2023 with his start-up “LightEd”.  

 

> Someone from your organization was selected as YGC. 

One of your colleagues has already applied for the awards in another year and was selected as a Young Global Changer. You are in the leadership role (e. g. Program Lead) of a project or program in the same social enterprise/organization/initiative, but the project or program that you are leading (content, focus, approach) is clearly different from the project or program of your colleague. If that’s the case, you may apply for the YGC Recoupling Awards.  

 

As we hope has become clear, the distinction between organization and project or program plays an important role. In principle, two projects from the same organization can apply in consecutive years if the differences between the projects or programs are clearly highlighted and comprehensible. As already explained in section b., the focus is on the independence and clear differentiation of the project or program compared to the previously selected project. It is also important to recognize that contributing to the decision is that you as an individual person are not yet a member of the YGC community. 

 

An example of different people from a related organization would be from the “Social Innovation Academy (SINA Global)” founded by Étienne Salborn and the social initiative “Patapia” from Rebecca Aime. The economic empowerment initiative “Patapia” was created as part of Aime’s participation in Social Innovation Academy or in other words was founded as a result of her participation in SINA. The project is connected to SINA, but as “Patapia” is completely independent, with a clearly different approach, topics and activities, both Étienne and Aime were eligible to apply for the awards. 

 

For further understanding, a decision tree graphic can be accessed here.  

7. What are the semi-finals? 

All semi-finalists will automatically be included into our Young Global Changers class of 2025. Semi-finalists will not receive a scholarship, travel-allowance or any other financial reward for their participation in the semi-finals. They will however be officially recognized as a 2025 Young Global Changer and become part of our global community of changemakers. The phase of the semi–finals will not include any onsite meetings or travel. During the semi-finals the project descriptions of all semi-finalists will be posted on the Global Solutions website for the jury and the public to see. We may also schedule one or two online meetings/onboarding calls for all semi-finalists during which they will have the opportunity to network amongst each other and with experts from the Global Solutions Initiative. The YGC team shall conduct interview calls with selected semi-finalists, if needed, to address any open questions.  

8. What are the finals? 

The finals will take place in Berlin in May. From all semi-finalists up to 15 finalists will be chosen to participate in the award finals. The YGC program will include multiple engagement opportunities and prep activities for the selected finalists. The finals will consist of an event at the Global Solutions Summit 2025 during which all finalists will have the opportunity to present their project in front of a jury of experts. 

9. Which costs will be reimbursed as part of the scholarship?  

All finalists invited to attend the Global Solutions Summit on May 5 and 6, 2025 will have their travel costs reimbursed by the Global Solutions Initiative and be provided complementary accommodation arrangement.  Please note that scholarship awardees, even after their application has been successful, must consult the YGC coordinating staff before making any travel-related purchases! Only purchases that the Global Solutions Initiative agreed to cover before the purchase was made can be reimbursed.  

The following bookings will be made and paid for by GSIF directly. 

  • a. Flight or train tickets to and from Berlin will be booked by GSIF via a partnering travel agency. 

  • b. Accommodation in Berlin (including breakfast) will be arranged by GSIF. 

  •  

The following expenses are eligible for reimbursement. 

  • Visa costs and costs incurred in connection therewith such as local trips to your embassy in your respective country, mandatory insurances – health/travel, required vaccinations or any other necessary expense must be paid by you upfront. These expenses will be reimbursed within 6 weeks after the Global Solutions Summit 2025 has concluded. Additionally, participants are responsible for submitting reimbursement claims themselves and currency fluctuations may result in minor changes in the final amount reimbursed. 

 

Costs which are excluded from reimbursement are:  

  • a. Local travel in Berlin. 

  • b. Meals outside the event.  

  • c. Additional services by a travel agent, upgrades on flights, non-mandatory vaccinations/insurance. 

10. Which costs will be covered directly by Global Solutions as part of the scholarship?  

  • a. Flight or train tickets to and from Berlin will be booked by GSIF via a partnering travel agency. 

  • b. Accommodation in Berlin (including breakfast) will be arranged by GSIF. 

11. What costs will be reimbursed if I cannot come to Berlin unexpectedly? 

We are aware that, due to unexpected travel restrictions or for other reasons, traveling to Berlin may not be possible for you at the time of the Global Solutions Summit. If the local situation in Berlin and/or in your home country does not allow you to travel to the summit in person, travel costs already incurred will be reimbursed for all scholarship awardees. 

The scholarship awardee must provide the reason for the cancellation and proof of costs incurred. Costs that can be reimbursed include costs for transportation tickets, cancelation fees and/or visa costs. We will only refund expenses up to the amount of the total scholarship agreed upon in advance. Additional costs or damages resulting from a cancelation will not be reimbursed. 

12. Do I need to be vaccinated against COVID-19? 

Anyone can submit their application and be admitted to the semi-finals. Entries do not require any proof of vaccination during the submission phase. However, we recommend that all scholarship awardees (“finalists”) who want to attend the summit in person to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  

All finalists must abide by all relevant entry and travel regulations of the EU and Germany. Regulations may change between now and the time of the summit. 

13. What can I do if I have not received a confirmation email? 

If you did not receive a confirmation email, please check your spam folder and look for an email by the sender “ScanToMail”. If you are still unable to find the confirmation email, please send a private message to scholarships@global-solutions-initiative.org with your first and last name in the subject. We will try to help you and check whether we received your application. 

14. What is the status of my submission? 

Due to the number of applications received for the YGC Recoupling awards, we are unable to provide any individual feedback on the status of the applications. 

All applicants will receive feedback regarding the semi-finals mid-to-late December. The 15 finalists will receive an invitation to participate in the YGC Recoupling Awards on February 1, 2025. Rejection emails will also be sent out by this date. 

If you did not receive any feedback by the end of February 2025, please check your spam folder. If you are still unable to find the email from us, please send a message to scholarships@global-solutions-initiative.org. 

 

Good Luck!  

~Download the YGC2025_Terms-Conditions.pdf.

Do you have any questions?

In case this does not answer your questions, please do not hesitate to write to us via scholarships@global-solutions-initiative.org!

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