Are you passionate about innovation, technology, and creating solutions for a better digital world? Applications are now open for the UNESCO Youth Hackathon 2025 in Colombia, a fully funded international event that empowers young changemakers to develop creative solutions addressing global challenges in information integrity, artificial intelligence (AI), and media literacy.
Hosted in Cartagena, Colombia, this transformative hackathon will take place from 23–24 October 2025, as part of UNESCO’s Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week Conference.
About UNESCO Youth Hackathon 2025
The UNESCO Global Youth Hackathon serves as a premier platform for youth innovators worldwide to collaborate on tackling urgent digital challenges, including:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) risks and opportunities
- Combating misinformation and disinformation
- Addressing online hate speech
- Ensuring information integrity and platform accountability
In 2024, UNESCO successfully brought together 202 teams in Indonesia, and this year, winning teams will once again receive fully funded sponsorship to participate.
Key Details
- Host Country: Colombia
- Location: Cartagena
- Dates: 23–24 October 2025
- Duration: 2 Days
- Benefits: Fully Funded
- Deadline: 1 September 2025
Financial Coverage
Selected participants will enjoy a fully funded experience, including:
- Round-trip airfare tickets
- Accommodation in Cartagena
- Participation in the Global MIL Week Conference
- Access to mentoring and networking opportunities
Program Theme: Youth Leading the Way – Building MIL Solutions for Impact
The hackathon focuses on empowering youth to create Media and Information Literacy (MIL) solutions that promote digital responsibility, innovation, and community impact.
Program Structure
- Pre-event online mentoring sessions
- Submission of projects and proposals via the UNESCO website
- Presentation of winning projects during the conference
MUST VISIT: Global Future Forum 2025 in Malaysia (Fully Funded Event)
Areas of Focus
Participants may develop ideas in the following fields:
- AI and MIL: Addressing AI-related challenges
- MIL Education: Creative approaches to media literacy learning
- Community Impact: Empowering communities with MIL
- Youth Engagement: Strategies to involve youth organizations as change agents
- Open Track: Other innovative ideas aligned with the theme
Types of Proposals Accepted
- Games and applications/websites
- Radio programs or podcasts
- Comics, videos, and documentaries
- Educational toolkits
- Youth campaigns and community interventions
MUST VISIT: World Youth Forum 2026 in Portugal (Fully Funded Event)
Eligibility Criteria
- Open to candidates from all countries
- Teams of 3 to 6 members (national, regional, or international)
- Age: 18–30 years
- No prior experience required – passion and creativity matter most
- Gender balance and inclusivity encouraged
How to Apply?
To apply, submit your team’s application and project proposal via the official UNESCO website.
Deadline: 1 September
For more scholarship opportunities, please visit International Scholarships.
