Applications are now open for the fully funded UNESCO Youth Hackathon 2025, taking place this year in Colombia. This event aims to bring together young people from around the world to collaborate and share innovative ideas on tackling the most pressing challenges in today’s digital information world. These challenges include the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the spread of misinformation, online hate speech, platform dominance, and threats to information integrity. In 2024, UNESCO hosted 202 teams in Indonesia. Winners will be invited to attend the UNESCO Youth Hackathon, as a part of the Global MIL Week Conference, scheduled for October 23-24, 2025, in Cartagena, Colombia, with flights and accommodation costs covered by UNESCO. More details are below.
Details About UNESCO Youth Hackathon 2025 in Colombia
- Host Country: Colombia
- Location: Cartagena
- Duration: 2 Days
- Dates: 23-24 October 2025
- Benefits: Fully Funded
- Deadline: 15th August 2025
Financial Benefits
The UNESCO Global Youth Hackathon is a flagship initiative of UNESCO’s Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week. The Program Covers:
- Round Airfare Tickets
- Accommodation
Program Theme
Youth Leading the Way: Building MIL Solutions for Impact.
Structure of the Program
- Selected Participants will receive free online mentoring before submitting their idea.
- Applicants will submit projects and Proposals via the UNESCO Website.
- Winning Teams will be invited to Colombia to present their Projects at the Global MIL Week Conference.
Benefits of the Program
- No prior experience required—only passion and motivation.
Focus Areas
Teams can select from the following focus areas:
- AI and MIL: Innovative solutions addressing challenges posed by AI through MIL
- MIL Education: Creative approaches to MIL learning in the digital age
- Community Impact: MIL-based interventions that empower communities
- Youth Engagement: Strategies to position youth organizations as MIL change agents
- Open Track: Other MIL-related ideas aligned with this year’s theme.
The Kind of Ideas They Are Looking For
Your proposal can be one of the following categories:
- Games
- Applications/Websites
- Radio programmes/Podcasts
- Artistic work such as comics, short videos, documentaries, etc.
- Educational toolkits
- Youth organization campaigns
- Community-based interventions
- Other creative modalities for innovative interventions.
Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates from all countries are eligible.
- Team Size: 3 to 6 members per team (can be national, regional, or international).
- Age Requirement: All team members must be between 18 and 30 years old.
- Diversity Encouraged: Gender balance and inclusivity are highly encouraged within teams.
- Experience Not Required: Your passion and motivation are all you need – no prior experience is necessary.
How to Apply for the UNESCO Youth Hackathon 2025?
Applicants must submit an online application. The Link to the official website is below.