At a dedicated World Bank Pavilion side event at COP28, the Global Youth Climate Network of the World Bank’s Youth-to-Youth Community announced, in collaboration with Connect4Climate, the continuation of the Max Thabiso Edkins Climate Ambassador Program and the launch of a brand-new call for applications! Max Thabiso Edkins was an amazing climate leader with a passion for empowering youth, and this program was conceived as an impactful way to honor his memory.

The MTECAP is a six-month online program that catalyzes youth climate leadership by enabling participants to: connect with one another; learn from World Bank experts and GYCN and C4C partners; and take meaningful climate action both in their communities and globally. A mix of technical and hands-on sessions equips ambassadors with in-depth knowledge and understanding of climate change as well as guidance on how to creatively communicate this knowledge for both local and worldwide audiences.

If you’re 18-35 years of age, fluent in English, plugged in to the internet, and passionate about taking local action for the planet, this could be the chance of a lifetime! If chosen as an ambassador, you’ll be asked to Learn new skills and strategies, Act in your community using the techniques you study, Network with the other ambassadors in your cohort, and Engage in good faith with all the training sessions and educational resources that will be available to you throughout the program.

By the end of the six months, each participant will be expected to have attended a specified number of learning sessions and implemented three concrete actions in their community. Meeting these criteria will entitle you to graduate, receive a certificate of completion, and join the burgeoning MTECAP alumni network!

Further details on eligibility requirements and what will be expected of you upon admission to the program can be found in the application form. We hope you’ll put your best foot forward and let us know why you’d make a great addition to our ever-growing community of Max Thabiso Edkins Climate Ambassador Program alums! 

Please note that, as the Global Youth Climate Network is a volunteer program, it is not able to provide funding. This is strictly a capacity-building opportunity, designed to impart valuable knowledge to climate-conscious youth and help them build the skill set needed to maximize their positive impact on the planet.