The Deloitte One Young World Scholarship funds youth leaders to attend the One Young World Summit — but the Summit itself relocates to a different country almost every year, so “Deloitte Canada scholarship” results you find elsewhere are almost certainly describing an event that already happened. The current Summit is in Cape Town, South Africa, November 2026 — the first time back in Africa since Johannesburg 2013 — with Tokyo, Japan already confirmed for 2027. Here’s how Deloitte’s sponsorship actually works and how to apply for the version that’s current.
A Summit That Moves Almost Every Year
Since its founding by David Jones and Kate Robertson in 2009, One Young World has been hosted in a new city almost annually, chosen through a competitive bid process: London (2010), Zurich (2011), Pittsburgh (2012), Johannesburg (2013), Dublin (2014), Bangkok (2015), Ottawa (2016), Bogotá (2017), The Hague (2018), London again (2019), Munich (2021, delayed a year by the pandemic), Manchester (2022), Belfast (2023), and Montréal (2024). Cape Town hosts in 2026, and Tokyo follows in 2027. If a guide names one specific city as “the” location without a year attached, treat it as outdated.
What Deloitte’s Sponsorship Actually Covers
Deloitte has sponsored One Young World since 2011 and runs two genuinely separate programs under that partnership — worth not confusing:
- Deloitte Scholarships fund individual delegates — social entrepreneurs and change makers in the world — to attend the Summit itself, covering flights, accommodation, meals, and delegate access.
- Lead2030 is a completely different track: an annual grant challenge tied to a specific UN Sustainable youth leadership development programs, awarding a $50,000 project grant plus 12 months of Deloitte mentorship to a youth-led organization’s existing solution — not Summit attendance. Deloitte has run Lead2030 challenges for SDG 4 (education) and SDG 13 (climate) in recent cycles, open to young leaders in the world aged 18–30 from social enterprises, non-profits, or community organizations, with deadlines typically falling around March 1 each year.
If you’re looking to attend the Summit as a delegate, the Scholarship is your route. If you already run a youth-led youth and leadership project and want funding to scale it, Lead2030 is the better fit — and you don’t need to attend the Summit to apply.
What Deloitte Looks For
For the Scholarship specifically, Deloitte prioritizes applicants with a track record of generating impactful, innovative solutions in one of two areas: reducing the causes or effects of climate change, or improving education, skills development, and access to opportunity in their community, country, or globally. Evidenced impact matters more than credentials — this is a leadership recognition award, not an academic one.
Don’t Confuse This With the General OYW Leading Scholarship
One Young World also runs its own flagship Leading Scholarship, separate from Deloitte’s, open more broadly and prioritizing applicants from countries historically underrepresented at past Summits and first-time attendees over existing OYW Ambassadors. If you don’t fit Deloitte’s climate/education focus, this is worth checking as an alternative path to the same Summit.
How to Apply
- Confirm the current Summit’s host city and year before you start — several competing guides currently describe the wrong city under the current year’s heading.
- Decide whether you’re applying for the Deloitte Scholarship (Summit attendance) or Lead2030 (project funding) — they have different criteria and different deadlines.
- Apply through Deloitte’s official One Young World page or the OYW scholarship portal, reviewing the current cycle’s specific focus area.
- Prepare a personal statement addressing your leadership experience and demonstrated impact, plus a CV and recommendation letter: Personal Statement for Scholarship / SOP Examples | Recommendation Letter for Scholarship
- Submit before the current cycle’s deadline — recent Scholarship cycles have used rolling review, so earlier applications may have an edge; Lead2030 typically closes around March 1 with interviews in April.
FAQs
Is the Deloitte One Young World Scholarship still based in Canada?
No. The 2024 Summit was in Montréal, but the Summit relocates almost every year. It’s currently in Cape Town (2026), with Tokyo confirmed for 2027.
What’s the difference between the Deloitte Scholarship and Lead2030?
The Scholarship funds Summit attendance for individual delegates. Lead2030 is a separate $50,000 grant program funding an existing youth-led project, with no requirement to attend the Summit.
How is the host city chosen?
Through a competitive bid process. Past hosts include London, Zurich, Pittsburgh, Johannesburg, Dublin, Bangkok, Ottawa, Bogotá, The Hague, Munich, Manchester, Belfast, and Montréal.
Does the Scholarship cover travel costs?
Yes — flights, accommodation, meals, and ground transportation between Summit venues are covered.
Official Resources
- One Young World Scholarship Portal: apply.oneyoungworld.com
More Scholarships:
Canada Hub, Africa Hub, Europe Hub, USA Hub