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International Youth Environmental Challenge - IYEC
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Publish Date 9/10/2026 Application Deadline 10/15/2026 Opportunity Type Competitions Publisher Foras Khadra Available Countries All World, The Arab World, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Djibouti, Somalia, Comoros Description

The International Youth Environmental Challenge is an annual global competition designed to empower young people to develop innovative solutions to environmental and climate challenges, particularly local environmental problems within their communities. It provides students and young people with a platform to present their environmental ideas and projects to an expert judging panel. Participants may enter individually or as part of a team and can present their work through essays, videos, recorded speeches, or other creative media. The competition focuses on innovation, environmental impact, feasibility, communication, and evidence of real-world action.

Details
  • Age: Open to young people aged 18 and under.
  • Junior Category: Ages 13 and below.
  • Senior Category: Ages 14–18.
  • Participation: Individual or team participation.
  • Location: Global/online competition; no physical travel location is specified.
  • Fees: Free registration and participation.
  • Experience: No previous experience is required.
  • Project focus: Participants must identify a local environmental issue related to at least one competition theme.
  • Environmental themes: Biodiversity and ecosystem restoration; water and aquatic ecosystems; air quality and pollution reduction; waste, plastics and circular economy; climate resilience and adaptation; environmental data and technology.
  • Written essays: 500–1,000 words, submitted as PDF or DOC.
  • Video projects: 1–5 minutes, submitted as MP4 or through a link.
  • Recorded speeches: Audio or video format.
  • Creative media: Art, infographics, apps, and other innovative formats are accepted.
  • Language: Submissions must be in English or include English subtitles/translations.
  • Originality: Work must be original and sources must be properly attributed.
  • Accessibility: Projects must be accessible through a digital link such as Google Drive or YouTube.
  • Application: Projects are submitted through the competition's online registration portal.
  • Judging: Five criteria are assessed equally at 20% each: innovation and originality, environmental impact and scale, feasibility and practicality, communication and presentation, and evidence of real-world action.


Eligibility Criteria
  • Applicants must be 18 years old or younger.
  • Participants aged 13 and below compete in the Junior Category.
  • Participants aged 14–18 compete in the Senior Category.
  • Individual and team applications are accepted.
  • No prior experience is required.
  • No specific nationality restriction is stated; the competition is global.
  • The website does not specify a university degree or particular educational qualification as a requirement.
  • The project must address a local environmental issue.
  • The issue must relate to one of the competition's environmental themes.
  • Junior participants must obtain parental or guardian consent.
  • The work must be original.
  • Submissions must be in English or include English subtitles/translations.
  • A digital link providing access to the project is required.
Opportunity Benefits
  • First Place: $200 scholarship award.
  • Certificate of Excellence.
  • Feature on the official website.
  • Social media recognition.
  • Second Place: $150 scholarship award.
  • Certificate of Achievement.
  • Website and social media recognition.
  • Junior Award: $100 scholarship award.
  • Certificate of Achievement.
  • Website feature.
  • Encouragement for future participation.
  • Ingenuity Award: Special recognition for outstanding innovation, including a Certificate of Ingenuity, prominent website feature, and innovation spotlight.
  • Opportunities to develop research, project-development, presentation, and communication skills.
  • Connection with a global community of environmentally minded young people.
  • Recognition and international exposure for participants' projects.
  • Opportunity to contribute to practical environmental solutions.