It is with great joy that we announce the opening of registration for the 2023 edition of the Max Thabiso Edkins Climate Ambassador Programme!

After the successful results of the 2022 edition, which trained a worldwide group of 162 climate ambassadors to carry out more than 300 climate actions in their communities at local and global levels, it's YOUR turn to make a difference.

The example set by our dear friend and colleague Max Thabiso Edkins, who was a climate campaigner par excellence and a world-renowned driver of youth-led climate action, continues to inspire young people to step up their ambition and pursue their visions of a future sustainable world. 

To honour Max's legacy and continue his work empowering young climate leaders, Connect4Climate is partnering once again with the Global Youth Climate Network (GYCN), an initiative of the World Bank Group's Youth-to-Youth (Y2Y) community of young professionals, to launch the 2023 edition of the Max Thabiso Edkins Climate Ambassador Programme (MTECAP).

MTECAP is a six-month online programme that catalyses youth climate leadership, enabling participants to: connect with each other; learn from World Bank experts and GYCN and C4C knowledge partners; and take meaningful climate action in their communities and globally. The programme offers a mix of technical and practical sessions, providing young ambassadors with in-depth knowledge and understanding of climate change and the related challenges explored in the World Bank Group's Climate Change Action Plan, as well as guidance on how to creatively communicate their new-found knowledge for maximum impact.

At the end of the programme, each participant is expected to have taken part in a predefined number of learning sessions and implemented three concrete climate actions in their community. All those who meet these criteria will graduate and receive a certificate of completion.

If you're passionate about our planet and are ready to make a change, find out below exactly what it takes to become a Max Thabiso Edkins Climate Ambassador!

Registration will remain open until 13 December 2022. Good luck!

ELIGIBILITY:

Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35, have strong conversational skills in English and have reliable access to the Internet. In addition to these fundamental requirements, candidates will be assessed on each of the following criteria:

• Past and current experience as a youth leader in communities at local, regional, national or global level. Demonstrated ability to organise community activities is an advantage.
• Passion for climate solutions and sustainable development and motivation to act and empower others. We're looking for entrepreneurs willing to take charge.
• Scale and strength of the candidate's network and active presence on social media.
• The potential impact of the candidate's proposed contributions on their communities and networks.

The evaluation and selection process will also take into account various other factors - such as diversity of age, gender and geography - to ensure that the pool of Ambassadors chosen closely reflects the global community.

To sign up, visit: Max Thabiso Edkins Climate Ambassador Programme 2023 - Application form (google.com)

EXPECTATIONS:

As a participant in the Max Thabiso Edkins Climate Ambassador Programme, you are expected to learn, act, network and get involved.

LearnLearn from World Bank Group experts and GYCN and C4C knowledge partners about the most pressing climate issues in various sectors and gain solid leadership skills to inspire and empower others in your community.

Act: commit to carrying out at least three climate actions in your community.

Network: connect with like-minded young people from all over the world to learn, exchange ideas, develop joint initiatives and projects and increase your impact.

Get involved-After completing the Programme, join a Global Alumni Community of Climate Ambassadors to help you continue your climate journey.

This ambassadorship is an incredible opportunity that comes with real responsibilities. To receive the certificates of completion and be invited to join the Alumni Community, the Programme participant must:

• Commit approximately 3 hours per week to the Programme's activities between February and August 2023 .
• Take part in the mandatory opening and closing sessions, weekly online learning sessions (at least ⅔ of the total number of sessions - we hope to offer eight or more) and creative communication and storytelling sessions offered by Connect4Climate.*
• Complete at least three climate-related actions in your communities and provide documentation about them (photos, videos, online mentions, etc.) to GYCN.
• Join a dedicated Telegram channel where the GYCN team will share programme updates and opportunities from its partner network.
• Attend networking sessions and take an active part in GYCN's social media campaigns.

* Before registering for the Programme, check that your calendar allows you to attend the one-hour sessions every Thursday from March to May. Please also note that the scheduling of the sessions is subject to change according to the speaker's availability. 

Your most notable climate actions will be featured directly on GYCN's social media platforms, and all alumni of the Max Thabiso Edkins Climate Ambassador Programme will have ongoing access to invaluable networks of experts and peers, as well as all the latest updates on GYCN education and C4C events. In addition, there is always the possibility of future support for their work in the field and invitations to co-organise climate discussions yourself!

Please note that, as a voluntary organisation, GYCN cannot facilitate the allocation of any funding to Max Thabiso Edkins Climate Ambassadors. MTECAP's strict focus is on non-monetary capacity building.