Harvard Youth Leadership Conference, conducted by Harvard mentors, aims to empower high school students like you, transforming them into confident problem-solvers, collaborators, and communicators who will be poised to address global challenges and lead the change of tomorrow.
Throughout the four-day program, students collaborate within mentor-led groups to gain a deep understanding of a pressing global issue, whether it’s related to climate change, mental health, poverty, or other critical concerns. They then work on developing a social change project aimed at tackling the identified issue. Upon completion of the program, participants have the opportunity to receive mentorship for an entire year to help them implement their project.
Ashley is a sophomore in Eliot House from Washington, D.C. His academic focus lies in Electrical Engineering, fueled by an avid interest in the intersection of A.I. and consumer electronics. Alongside his studies, Ashley actively contributes to campus life. He is a keyplayer on the Men’s Club Volleyball Team and an associate at Harvard College Consulting Group. Additionally, he’s an engaged member of the Generational African American Students Association and the Black Student Association. Ashley aspires to impact younger students by emphasizing the power of planning and having a clear vision for success. He believes that roadmap combined with determination paves the way for boundless achievement. During his free time he enjoys thrifting, watching movies with friends, and playing volleyball.
Edona is a junior in Eliot House from New York City. She’s concentrating in Government with a secondary in Economics. On campus, she’s Co-President of the Harvard Undergraduate Albanian Students Association, Senior Director of the Harvard Undergraduate Foreign Policy Initiative, Social Director of the PBHA Small Claims Advisory Service, SEAS Administration Senior Staff Writer, and a member of the Harvard College Debating Union. She hopes to positively impact younger students through such a formative period of their educational career. As part of the teaching team she aspires to express how valuable leadership and education is. During her free time, she enjoys reading a good book, meeting new people, and trying out new restaurants!
Donia graduated from Harvard in May 2023 with a concentration in Government + Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations and a secondary in Economics. She is now working full-time at Microsoft in a business role. At Harvard she was involved in Model United Nations and served in various roles,including secretary-general of one of the conferences. She was also involved with a teaching program at a local high-school, teaching once a week, and loved interacting with the students. In her free time she enjoys playing tennis and trying new recipes.
Jamal is a senior in Quincy House from Chicago and Palestine. He is concentrating in social studies, especially the economic development in the Middle East. Jamal is also the co-chair of the Arab Conference at Harvard and is a member of the Harvard Islamic Society. During his free time he enjoys playing guitar and oud, biking, and cooking!
Mateo is a junior at Leverett House from Virginia, United States. At Harvard he is pursuing a joint-concentration in Computer Science and Government with a secondary in Theatre. On campus he has been involved with Harvard Primus, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Leadership Institute at Harvard College, Harvard Undergraduate Admissions Council, Act on a Dream, Harvard College Interfaith Forum, Harvard MIT Math Tournament, Harvard Gaming Group, and the Harvard Institute of Politics. He wishes to spread awareness of pertinent and enriching principles for college by guiding and mentoring prospective students. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with friends, mountain biking, watching anime, tinkering with tech, and playing board games with family.
Jonada is a sophomore in Eliot House from Albania. She is concentrating in Government studies, which includes conflict in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region, as well as a citation in Russian. On campus, she has been part of the organizing committee for Model United Nations and the Harvard Albanian Students Association. She spent a gap year exploring her interests in public health, gender equality, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Jonada loves and has years of experience mentoring young students on leadership and related topics, mentoring three YLC conferences the past summer. She is passionate about women rights and educational equity, and during her free time she loves to read, journal, and travel.
Ready to take your education to the next level? Look no further than the HYLC program! Happening for the 5th time, our program offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with students from all over the world and gain valuable knowledge and insights. Plus, our expert mentors are here to guide you every step of the way.
This program features a curriculum designed by the professors of
Harvard Business School, Harvard Education School, and Harvard School of Law, and is delivered by
Harvard students. It is designed to empower students, unleashing their leadership potential while
they create actionable solutions for global challenges. Throughout the 4-day course, participants
collaborate in teams to gain insights into global issues and formulate social change projects to
tackle them.
While this program will greatly strengthen your application, it will not secure you a place at
Harvard University.
Our team of instructors/mentors comprises current Harvard University undergraduates who are
carefully trained before taking on their roles.
Participants after completing the program successfully will receive a certificate from The
Leadership Institute of Harvard College and one year of mentorship from the Harvard mentors.
On the program’s final day, students collaborate in teams to present their social change projects to
an audience of approximately 200 individuals. We extend invitations to students’ parents, school
principals, counsellors, members of the press, and distinguished guests to participate in this
event. Additionally, we livestream the proceedings on Facebook and YouTube for those joining us
online.
Students will form groups to undertake a social change project aimed at delivering practical
solutions to global challenges. The scope of these projects is broad, across diverse domains such as
mental health and the welfare of animals.
The program will be delivered face-to-face at an educational venue.
We understand the value of participation, and as such, we won’t be providing lecture recordings, so
we request that all participants be present for each session.
Absolutely, this program is officially affiliated with The Leadership Institute at Harvard College.
For a deeper understanding, we encourage you to visit the Harvard YLC website.
Feel free to engage in individual conversations with the mentors to address your project or any
concerns you may have throughout the program. Furthermore, our mentors will be accessible not only
during breaks but also both before and after the program starts and ends.
Get ready for a program that strongly emphasizes interaction and engagement! The program is divided
into modules where you’ll be involved in numerous group discussions, case studies, and sample
assessments. We ensure a two-way flow of communication, allotting sufficient time for questions,
comments, and open discussions. Breaks are scheduled at regular intervals, allowing you to stretch,
walk, converse, and grab a quick bite.
YNetworking will be a key part of your experience, where there will be multiple opportunities for
you to interact with fellow participants and mentors. We’ve designed the program to place
participants in smaller, randomly selected groups, making it easier for you to break the ice, and
engage with others who share your interests. Furthermore, students will form teams and collaborate
closely on a social change project, which will require meetings outside of the program.
It is required that you make full payment upon receiving the acceptance email. Given the limited availability of seats, you have the option to cancel your seat and receive a full refund up to two weeks before the program’s start date. This allows us the chance to fill the seat with another participant.
Kindly make full payment for the program using the payment link provided in the acceptance email.
Please take into account that local government taxes apply.
If you fail to inform us that you cannot attend the program, the entire course fee will be charged,
and certification will not be granted.
We provide scholarships based on need or merit to eligible applicants. To request a scholarship, please send an email to [email protected], including your resume, and indicate your scholarship application in the comments section of the
application form.
The program follows a selective admission process. It is primarily based on the depth and quality of
responses provided in the application form. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to share your
personal experiences and stories to strengthen your application. Whether you are already an active
leader in your school or aspiring to become a more confident student, you are an ideal candidate to
apply.
You need to complete the application form on the website :
Once you submit the form, you can expect to receive an acceptance email within 2-3 business days. Please be aware that this program is in high demand, typically receiving 2000 applications for 150 available seats from around the world. Due to the large number of applicants, we regret that we are unable to send rejection emails to unsuccessful applicants.
If you miss the payment deadline, we won’t be able to guarantee your seat in the course. However, we understand that unforeseen circumstances can arise. If you have missed the payment deadline, please contact us at [email protected] . We will do our
best to accommodate your situation, but we cannot guarantee your enrollment until payment is
successfully processed.
The program typically includes a diverse group of participants, ranging from 100 to 150 individuals
from around the globe.
Still have questions? Call us at <a +971 56 1992 709 or email us at [email protected]
