Applications are now open for the UNESCO Youth Hackathon 2025, a fully funded global event set to take place in Cartagena, Colombia on 23–24 October 2025. This international hackathon will gather young innovators from around the world to design creative solutions for today’s most urgent digital information challenges—including Artificial Intelligence (AI), misinformation, online hate speech, platform dominance, and threats to information integrity.
Last year, UNESCO brought together 202 teams in Indonesia. For 2025, winning teams will be invited to present their projects during the Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week Conference in Colombia, with all costs covered.
Program Details
- Host Country: Colombia
- Location: Cartagena
- Duration: 2 Days
- Dates: 23–24 October 2025
- Funding: Fully Funded
- Application Deadline: 1st September 2025
Financial Benefits
Selected participants will receive full funding, including:
- Round-trip airfare to Colombia
- Accommodation during the event
- Access to mentoring and networking opportunities
Theme of the Program
“Youth Leading the Way: Building MIL Solutions for Impact.”
Program Structure
- Participants will receive online mentoring before submitting their ideas.
- Teams will develop and submit project proposals via UNESCO’s platform.
- Winning teams will be flown to Colombia to present their projects at the Global MIL Week Conference.
Benefits of Joining
- Open to all nationalities.
- No prior experience required—just passion and motivation.
- Opportunity to showcase your project on a global stage.
- Connect with youth leaders, policymakers, and experts from across the world.
Focus Areas for Projects
Teams can choose from the following areas:
- AI and MIL: Tackling AI-related challenges through media and information literacy.
- MIL Education: Innovative methods for digital-age learning.
- Community Impact: Using MIL to empower communities.
- Youth Engagement: Positioning young people as MIL change-makers.
- Open Track: Any creative MIL-aligned idea.
Types of Ideas They’re Looking For
- Games or apps/websites
- Radio programs or podcasts
- Short videos, documentaries, or comics
- Educational toolkits
- Youth organization campaigns
- Community-based projects
- Other creative interventions
Eligibility Criteria
- Open to candidates from all countries.
- Teams must consist of 3–6 members (national, regional, or international).
- All members must be 18–30 years old.
- Gender balance and inclusivity are strongly encouraged.
- No prior experience required—just creativity and motivation.
How to Apply
Interested applicants must submit their applications online through the official UNESCO platform.
Check other opportunities:
Fully Funded: Apply for the Helsinki Security Forum 2025 Youth Delegate Program in Finland
Fully Funded to Greece: Apply for the Online Conference for Early Career Atmospheric Scientists 2025
