Young people are at the centre of innovation across Africa, Europe, and the diaspora. From digital platforms and creative industries to grassroots community solutions, young people are developing new ideas, tools, and approaches that respond to both local realities and global challenges. Yet many of these stories remain underreported or are shared only within limited spaces.
The Art4Change Storytelling Fellowship seeks to address this gap by supporting young creatives to document and share these experiences through their own perspectives. By participating in the fellowship, applicants have the opportunity to build their skills and bring visibility to stories that might otherwise go unheard.
About the fellowship
The Art4Change Storytelling Fellowship is a six-month programme running from June to December 2026 organised by the Africa-Europe Innovation Platform (AEIP) and implemented by The African Youth Café (TYC). It will bring together young creatives from Africa, Europe, and the diaspora to explore and document youth innovation.
Through writing, photography, video, audio, and digital storytelling, fellows will capture real stories of how young people are creating, testing, and applying innovative ideas in their communities.
All selected fellows will publish their work on a dedicated blog and digital platform hosted by the project, ensuring that their stories are accessible to wider audiences.
Over the six months, selected fellows will:
Participate in structured online training sessions on digital storytelling, including writing, photography, video production, and content planning
Receive mentorship and editorial support from experienced practitioners throughout the programme
Develop and publish stories on youth innovation based on real-life experiences and field engagement
Work with peers from different regions to exchange ideas and approaches to storytelling
Contribute regularly to a shared digital platform featuring their published work
The fellowship is designed as a practical, learning-by-doing programme, where fellows build valuable skills while actively contributing to a wider conversation on youth innovation.
At its core, the fellowship explores how young people innovate: how new ideas and solutions are developed and tested. It looks at engagement with start-ups, hubs and digital platform, but also at the everyday realities behind innovation – navigating challenges to turn ideas into practical outcomes. Participants are encouraged to document stories from their own environments, including innovators, initiatives, and experiences that reflect how innovation is happening on the ground.
By the end of the fellowship, participants will have produced:
A series of published digital stories (articles, videos, photo essays, or multimedia content)
Documented digital case studies of youth innovation from different contexts
A shared online archive of youth-led innovation stories
Contributions to a growing body of knowledge on how young people engage with innovation across regions
Who can apply
We are looking for young creatives who are:
Aged 18–35
Based in Africa, Europe, or the diaspora
Interested in storytelling, media, or digital content creation
Passionate about documenting youth innovation and community solutions
Able to commit to a six-month programme of training and content production
Selected fellows will receive:
Structured training in digital storytelling and content creation
Continuous mentorship and editorial guidance
A stipend to support content production costs such as transport, data, and basic fieldwork needs
Access to a platform for publishing and showcasing their work
How to apply
Applications are now open. Interested candidates are invited to complete the online application form and submit their details, experience, and a short story proposal.
Application Deadline: 29 May 2026.