OYW Bursary Scholarship 2026 in South Africa

The OYW Bursary Scholarship 2026 in South Africa is a fully funded opportunity for young South African entrepreneurs who are creating employment opportunities through their businesses and enterprises. The bursary is offered by One Young World and aims to support young entrepreneurs who have the potential to contribute to job creation and economic development in South Africa.

Selected participants will receive a fully funded place at the One Young World Summit 2026, which will take place in Cape Town, South Africa, from 3 to 6 November 2026. The opportunity also provides travel, accommodation, meals, mentorship, networking, and access to the global One Young World Ambassador Community.

The programme is particularly focused on South Africa's youth unemployment challenge and recognizes young entrepreneurs as important drivers of employment, livelihoods, and economic growth. Applicants should therefore demonstrate not only entrepreneurial leadership but also the potential of their businesses to create significant jobs.

OYW Bursary Scholarship 2026 Overview

What Is the OYW Bursary?

The OYW Bursary is designed to identify and support young South African entrepreneurs who are leading businesses with strong job-creation potential. Successful applicants will attend the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town, where they will connect with young leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and other changemakers from around the world.

One Young World describes the bursary as part of its effort to create business-led pathways into employment, livelihoods, and job creation for young people across South Africa. The programme therefore places strong emphasis on applicants' existing entrepreneurial impact and their future plans for business growth.

Benefits of the OYW Bursary Scholarship

The OYW Bursary provides comprehensive financial support for selected entrepreneurs. Recipients receive a fully funded place at the One Young World Summit in Cape Town, along with return travel to the city.

The bursary also provides private hotel accommodation from 2 to 7 November 2026 and meals, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner on conference days.

In addition to the financial benefits, recipients become lifelong members of the One Young World Ambassador Community, a global network of more than 20,000 young leaders across more than 190 countries. They can also participate in the One Young World Action Accelerator after the Summit.

Participants will further benefit from networking and mentorship opportunities with established figures in the South African startup ecosystem. A dedicated networking event can help recipients connect with potential investors, develop partnerships, and improve market access.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants for the OYW Bursary Scholarship 2026 must meet the programme's specific requirements. Candidates should be between 18 and 30 years old at the time of the Summit and must be South African nationals and residents.

Applicants must also be leading a business or enterprise that has the potential to create significant employment opportunities. They should have direct decision-making authority within their organization or company and must be available to attend the One Young World Summit from 3 to 6 November 2026.

Candidates older than 30 may potentially be considered if they can demonstrate an appropriate level of personal impact, initiative, and willingness to engage. Applicants who will be under 18 at the time of the Summit cannot apply.

Who Should Apply?

The OYW Bursary is aimed specifically at young entrepreneurs who are already running businesses or enterprises. It is not a conventional university scholarship, so applicants do not need to be applying for a degree programme.

Strong candidates should be able to demonstrate business achievements, leadership experience, measurable impact, and a clear connection between their enterprise and job creation. Applicants should also have a realistic vision for expanding their business and increasing its positive impact.

Entrepreneurs who have already created employment opportunities or have developed an innovative business model with strong potential for future job creation may be particularly well suited to this opportunity.

How to Apply

Applicants should first review the eligibility requirements and make sure they meet the nationality, residency, age, entrepreneurship, and availability criteria.

The application should clearly explain the applicant's business, leadership role, achievements, employment impact, and future growth plans. Candidates should provide measurable evidence wherever possible, such as the number of jobs created, business growth, beneficiaries reached, revenue growth, partnerships, or other relevant achievements.

The application is submitted online through the official One Young World application portal. Applicants should complete the application carefully and submit it before the deadline.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for the OYW Bursary Scholarship 2026 is 1 September 2026. The application opened on 11 August 2026.

The One Young World Summit will take place in Cape Town from 3 to 6 November 2026, and successful applicants must be available to participate on those dates.

Applicants should not wait until the final day because the application requires detailed information about their business, leadership role, achievements, and job-creation potential.

One Young World Summit 2026

The One Young World Summit brings together young leaders from around the world to exchange ideas, develop partnerships, and discuss solutions to major social and economic challenges. The 2026 Summit will take place in Cape Town from 3–6 November 2026.

For OYW Bursary recipients, the Summit offers an opportunity to meet international changemakers and connect with investors, entrepreneurs, mentors, and other members of the South African startup ecosystem.

The experience can help entrepreneurs expand their professional network, gain new perspectives, explore partnerships, and develop strategies for scaling their enterprises.

Action Accelerator

One of the additional benefits of the OYW Bursary is participation in the One Young World Action Accelerator after the Summit. The programme is designed to help participants turn ideas and connections from the Summit into practical action.

For entrepreneurs, this can provide an opportunity to continue developing their businesses, strengthen their impact, and explore ways of increasing their contribution to employment creation.

Why Apply for the OYW Bursary?

The OYW Bursary is a valuable opportunity for young South African entrepreneurs who want to take their businesses and social impact to an international level. In addition to covering the major costs of attending the Summit, it provides access to a global leadership network and opportunities for mentorship and collaboration.

The combination of international networking, startup mentorship, investor connections, and post-Summit support can help entrepreneurs identify new opportunities and strengthen their strategies for business growth.

For candidates working to address youth unemployment through entrepreneurship, the programme also offers a platform to showcase their work and connect with people who can help expand its impact.

Final Thoughts

The OYW Bursary Scholarship 2026 in South Africa is a fully funded opportunity for young South African entrepreneurs to attend the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town. The programme covers travel, accommodation, meals, and Summit participation while providing access to international networks, mentorship, investors, and the One Young World Ambassador Community.

The opportunity is specifically designed for entrepreneurs with strong job-creation potential, so applicants should focus on demonstrating measurable business achievements and explaining how their enterprise can contribute to employment and economic development.

With the application deadline set for 1 September 2026, eligible South African entrepreneurs should prepare their applications early and clearly present their business impact, leadership experience, and future vision. Apply Now