Brand South Africa Play Your Part Bursary 2026: Attend the One Young World Summit in Cape Town

Applications are now open for the Brand South Africa Play Your Part Bursary 2026, an exciting opportunity designed to recognise and support young South Africans who are actively contributing to positive change in their communities and across the country.

Offered through a partnership between Brand South Africa and One Young World, the Play Your Part Bursary will enable six outstanding young South Africans to participate in the One Young World Summit 2026, taking place in Cape Town, South Africa, from 3–6 November 2026.

The opportunity is specifically aimed at young active citizens who are already making meaningful contributions to South African society. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to participate in one of the world’s prominent gatherings of emerging young leaders, engage with a diverse leadership community and gain access to development opportunities that extend beyond the Summit itself.

Applications opened on 11 August 2026 and interested candidates must submit their applications by 16 September 2026.

About the Brand South Africa Play Your Part Bursary 2026

The Brand South Africa Play Your Part Bursary 2026 has been created to support young South Africans who demonstrate the values of active citizenship through tangible contributions to their communities and society.

The bursary is connected to Brand South Africa’s wider mission of strengthening the country’s reputation, competitiveness and sense of national participation.

Brand South Africa is the official marketing agency of South Africa. Its mandate includes building South Africa’s brand reputation and improving the country’s global competitiveness.

Through coordinated and proactive marketing and communications strategies, the organisation works to position South Africa as a competitive investment destination while simultaneously encouraging South Africans, both within the country and abroad, to participate actively in building a better society.

A central part of this work is the Play Your Part initiative.

What Is the Play Your Part Initiative?

Play Your Part is a nationwide initiative developed to inspire, empower and celebrate active citizenship in South Africa.

The initiative is based on the principle that building a stronger country is a collective responsibility and that contributions to society can take many different forms.

Rather than limiting active citizenship to formal organisations or large-scale projects, Play Your Part encourages participation from across South African society, including:

• Individuals;
• Businesses and corporations;
• Non-governmental organisations;
• Government institutions;
• Schools;
• Faith communities; and
• Other community groups and organisations.

Participants are encouraged to contribute whatever resources they can towards creating a better future. Contributions may include their:

• Time;
• Money;
• Professional or personal skills;
• Knowledge;
• Resources; or
• Goods.

At its core, Play Your Part seeks to demonstrate the impact that can be achieved when people actively care for their communities, fellow citizens and the environment.

The partnership with One Young World extends this mission by identifying young people who are already putting these principles into practice and providing them with an international leadership development opportunity.

Six Young South Africans Will Receive the Bursary

A total of six bursaries are available through the Brand South Africa Play Your Part Bursary 2026.

The bursaries have been divided geographically to ensure opportunities for both Cape Town-based candidates and young leaders elsewhere in South Africa.

The six places are allocated as follows:

• Three bursaries are reserved for candidates based in Cape Town.
• Three bursaries are available to applicants from across South Africa.

Successful candidates will participate in the One Young World Summit 2026 alongside other emerging leaders and changemakers.

About the One Young World Summit 2026

The One Young World Summit 2026 will take place from 3–6 November 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Summit brings together young leaders and provides a platform for participants to connect, exchange ideas, discuss important global and local challenges, and strengthen their capacity to create positive change.

For recipients of the Play Your Part Bursary, participation is intended to be more than attendance at a single event. Successful applicants will also gain access to leadership development opportunities and the wider One Young World community.

This makes the bursary particularly relevant to young South Africans who are already demonstrating leadership through community service, social initiatives, civic participation or other activities that benefit society.

What Does the Brand South Africa Play Your Part Bursary Cover?

Successful applicants will receive support to participate in the One Young World Summit 2026.

The bursary includes the following:

1. Access to the One Young World Summit 2026

Recipients will receive access to the One Young World Summit 2026, scheduled for 3–6 November 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa.

This gives successful candidates the opportunity to participate in the Summit’s activities and engage with the wider One Young World community.

2. Travel and Accommodation Where Required

The bursary provides travel and accommodation as required for eligible successful candidates.

However, an important exception applies to applicants who are already based in Cape Town.

Travel and accommodation will not be provided for candidates based in Cape Town.

Applicants should therefore take this condition into consideration when applying.

3. Catering During the Summit

Selected participants will receive catering during specified periods of the Summit.

The package includes:

• Dinner on 3 November 2026;
• Lunch and dinner on 4 November 2026;
• Lunch and dinner on 5 November 2026; and
• Lunch and dinner on 6 November 2026.

4. Access to the One Young World Global Leadership Programme

Bursary recipients will also receive access to the One Young World Global Leadership Programme.

This component adds a leadership development dimension to the opportunity and is particularly relevant to candidates seeking to strengthen their ability to contribute effectively to their communities and wider society.

5. Access to Action Accelerator

Successful candidates will receive access to Action Accelerator, a One Young World programme connected to supporting leadership and action.

For young people already developing initiatives or contributing to community projects, this provides an additional opportunity to build on the work they are currently undertaking.

6. Lifetime Membership of the One Young World Ambassador Community

One of the longer-term benefits of the bursary is lifetime membership in the One Young World Ambassador Community.

This means that the value of the opportunity extends beyond the four-day Summit in Cape Town.

Successful participants will become part of the wider One Young World community after the Summit, creating opportunities for continued engagement with other young leaders and changemakers.

Who Is Eligible for the Brand South Africa Play Your Part Bursary 2026?

The bursary has specific eligibility requirements, and candidates should review them carefully before submitting an application.

Age Requirement

Candidates must be between 18 and 30 years old at the time of the One Young World Summit 2026.

Applicants who will still be under the age of 18 at the time of the Summit cannot be accepted.

Candidates should therefore calculate their age based on the Summit dates rather than only their age at the time they submit their application.

Nationality or Residency Requirement

Applicants must be a:

• South African national; or
• Resident of South Africa.

The opportunity is therefore specifically focused on young people connected to South Africa through nationality or residency.

Commitment to Active Citizenship

Candidates must demonstrate a genuine commitment to active citizenship and contributing to positive change in South Africa.

The bursary is not simply based on academic qualifications or professional achievements. Applicants are expected to demonstrate that they are already actively contributing to their communities or society.

Evidence of Community or Social Contribution

Applicants should be able to demonstrate a track record of using one or more of the following to benefit their community or society:

• Time;
• Money;
• Skills; or
• Goods.

This requirement reflects the philosophy behind the Play Your Part initiative: positive change can come from different forms of contribution.

Applicants should therefore consider the practical impact they have already made and how their actions have benefited other people, their community or South African society more broadly.

Understanding of Issues Affecting South Africa

Candidates must demonstrate an understanding of key local and/or global issues facing South Africa.

This means applicants should be able to connect their active citizenship or community involvement to broader challenges and opportunities affecting the country.

What Type of Candidate Is the Bursary Looking For?

The Brand South Africa Play Your Part Bursary is particularly suited to young people who are not simply interested in leadership as a concept but are already demonstrating it through action.

Strong applicants are likely to be able to show clear evidence of how they have contributed to positive change.

This contribution could potentially take different forms, provided it demonstrates the required commitment to active citizenship.

Applicants should therefore think carefully about questions such as:

1. What have I personally done to contribute to positive change?
2. Who has benefited from my actions?
3. What problem or social challenge have I attempted to address?
4. What resources, skills, time or goods have I contributed?
5. What measurable or meaningful difference has my contribution made?
6. What important issues affecting South Africa do I understand particularly well?
7. How could participation in the One Young World Summit strengthen my ability to continue creating positive change?

Candidates who can communicate their answers clearly may be better positioned to demonstrate alignment with the purpose of the bursary.

Why Young South African Changemakers Should Consider Applying

The Brand South Africa Play Your Part Bursary offers more than access to an international leadership gathering.

It creates an opportunity for young South Africans already contributing to their communities to expand their leadership exposure and become part of a wider community.

For successful applicants, the opportunity includes:

• Participation in the One Young World Summit 2026;
• Exposure to a wider community of young leaders;
• Access to leadership development programming;
• Participation in Action Accelerator;
• Lifetime membership of the One Young World Ambassador Community;
• Travel and accommodation support where applicable; and
• An opportunity to represent the spirit of active citizenship in South Africa.

The bursary may therefore be especially valuable for community leaders, social changemakers and other young people who are already turning ideas into meaningful action.

Important Dates for Applicants

Prospective applicants should take note of the following dates:

• Applications opened: 11 August 2026
• Application deadline: 16 September 2026
• One Young World Summit: 3–6 November 2026
• Summit location: Cape Town, South Africa

Applicants are encouraged not to wait until the final day to prepare and submit their applications.

Application Deadline

The official application deadline for the Brand South Africa Play Your Part Bursary 2026 is 16 September 2026.

Applications submitted after the stated deadline may not be considered, so prospective candidates should ensure that they complete the application process on time.

How to Apply for the Brand South Africa Play Your Part Bursary 2026

Interested candidates should apply through the official One Young World application portal for the Brand South Africa Play Your Part Bursary.

Before starting the application, candidates should carefully review the eligibility criteria and think about how they will demonstrate their record of active citizenship.

Applicants should be prepared to communicate clearly:

• Their commitment to positive change in South Africa;
• Their record of contributing time, money, skills or goods;
• The impact of their activities on their community or wider society;
• Their understanding of issues affecting South Africa; and
• How their experiences align with the values of the Play Your Part initiative.

Official opportunity page:
https://www.oneyoungworld.com/scholarship/brand-south-africa-play-your-part-bursary

Application portal:
https://apply.oneyoungworld.com/scholarship/form/brand-south-africa-play-your-par

Candidates interested in learning more about Brand South Africa can also visit:

https://www.brandsouthafrica.com/

Important Note for Cape Town Applicants

Applicants based in Cape Town should pay particular attention to the funding arrangements.

Three of the six bursaries are specifically reserved for candidates based in Cape Town. However, travel and accommodation are not provided for Cape Town-based candidates.

The remaining three bursaries are open to applicants from across South Africa, with travel and accommodation provided as required.

Candidates should understand these arrangements before submitting their application.

Conclusion

The Brand South Africa Play Your Part Bursary 2026 provides an important opportunity for young South Africans who are already demonstrating that active citizenship can create meaningful change.

Through the partnership between Brand South Africa and One Young World, six young people will be selected to participate in the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town from 3–6 November 2026.

Beyond access to the Summit, successful candidates will benefit from leadership development opportunities, Action Accelerator and lifetime membership in the One Young World Ambassador Community. Travel and accommodation will also be supported where required, although this support does not apply to successful candidates based in Cape Town.

Most importantly, this opportunity is designed for young people who can demonstrate action. Applicants should have a track record of contributing their time, money, skills or goods towards improving their communities or society and should understand important issues affecting South Africa.

Young South African citizens and residents aged 18–30 who meet the criteria and are actively contributing to positive change are encouraged to consider applying.

Applications close on 16 September 2026.

Interested candidates should review the official requirements carefully and submit their applications through the One Young World application platform before the deadline.

Visit the OFY website for more Scholarship Opportunities.