One Young World Brand South Africa | Play Your Part Bursary 2026

Brand South Africa is the official marketing agency of South Africa, with a mandate to build the country's brand reputation and improve its global competitiveness. Through proactive, coordinated marketing and communications strategies, Brand South Africa positions the country as a competitive investment destination while inspiring active citizenship among South Africans at home and abroad.

Central to this mission is Play Your Part — a nationwide initiative created to inspire, empower, and celebrate active citizenship in South Africa. Play Your Part encourages all South Africans — from individuals and corporates to NGOs, government, schools, and faith communities — to contribute their time, money, skills, or goods toward a better future for all. It aims to lift the spirit of the nation by showing that when people care deeply for one another and their environment, everyone benefits.

Brand South Africa is proud to partner with One Young World to launch the Brand South Africa: Play Your Part Bursary 2026, which will enable six outstanding young South Africans to participate in the One Young World Summit in Cape Town from 3–6 November 2026.

This programme is for young active citizens who are already contributing to positive change in South Africa, and who embody the spirit of Play Your Part in their communities and beyond. Of the six available bursaries, three are reserved for candidates based in Cape Town and three are open to applicants across South Africa.

• Table of Content
• About One Young World
• Brand South Africa | Play Your Part Bursary Entrepreneurs
• Aim and Benefits of Brand South Africa | Play Your Part Bursary Entrepreneurs
• Requirements for Brand South Africa | Play Your Part Bursary Entrepreneurs Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

Brand South Africa | Play Your Part Bursary Entrepreneurs

Aim and Benefits of Brand South Africa | Play Your Part Bursary Entrepreneurs

• Access to the One Young World Summit 2026, taking place from 3 - 6 November in Cape Town, South Africa.
• Travel and accommodation as per requirement*.
• Catering which includes dinner on 3 November, and lunch and dinner on 4, 5, 6 November.
• Access to the One Young World Global Leadership Programme, Action Accelerator and lifetime membership to the One Young World Ambassador Community.

*Note that travel and accommodation is not provided for candidates based in Cape Town.

Requirements for Brand South Africa | Play Your Part Bursary Entrepreneurs Qualification

Eligible candidates must:

• Be aged 18 to 30* at the time of the One Young World Summit 2026.
• Be a South African national or resident.
• Demonstrate a commitment to active citizenship and contributing to positive change in South Africa.
• Illustrate a track record of using their time, money, skills, or goods to benefit their community or society more broadly.
• Show an understanding of key local and/or global issues facing South Africa.

*We are not able to accept applications from those who will be aged under 18 at the time of the Summit.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more information, kindly visit One Young World webpage.