Foster peace by building bridges
between cultures

February 26-March 1, 2026

Your Big Year® is challenging young leaders across the world to build positive bridges between cultures! In fact, young leaders from 106 countries have already participated in seven virtual challenges! 

If you want to create long-lasting friendships, learn new skills and make a real impact - then the Your Big Year® Global Citizens Challenge is for you!  Our youth-led virtual event creates a transformative, and collaborative way to meet and work with peers worldwide. By participating, you will gain skills in digital collaboration, social impact, and cultural understanding, and learn about future career-building opportunities directly from professionals.

Apply for the Upcoming Challenge:

February 26-March 1, 2026 (15-20 year olds eligible):

Individual Application
EDUCATORS
Logo for Peace Through Tourism featuring a stylized globe with colorful continents and the text 'Peace Through Tourism' in dark blue.
Logo of Syta Youth Foundation with a stylized green and blue globe and the tagline "Travel Changes Young Lives for Good".
Logo of the Student & Youth Travel Association, featuring an orange globe with North America and a part of South America, and the acronym SYTA in blue letters with the full name underneath.
Logo for International Connector with the words 'international' in blue and 'CONNECTOR' in gray beneath
Orange butterfly above the word "jassy" written in orange cursive font.
Logo with the text 'Visit Pittsburgh' in white on a black background, with a red square, yellow square, blue, green, and purple squares above the phrase.

What happens in the February event?

Penpal Discussions

Interactive group video calls with peers globally. 

Digital illustration of a world map with four video call screens showing four diverse people with different backgrounds and expressions, overlaid on the map. The map is colorful, representing different countries and continents, with notification icons indicating unread messages or notifications on some screens.

International Action Hub

Collaborative and interactive virtual activities on social impact.

An informational infographic about a global citizens challenge event, displaying various maps, instructions, participant names, and session details.

Virtual Tours

Exclusive interactive tours from attractions in our host city.

Visitors at an aquarium observe a large polar bear swimming underwater.

Virtual Passports

Capture the people you meet globally.

A digital map with a world overview showing various country stamps and a profile photo of a young man with dark hair. The map highlights countries including Russia, Uzbekistan, Cambodia, Egypt, and the USA. The map and stamps suggest a theme of global travel or cultural exchange.

Industry Speakers

Presentations and panel with industry professionals.

Three young men having a conversation at a busy indoor event or conference, with many people seated and standing in the background.

Certificates

Earn certificates and badges from participating in the Challenge.

A woman with curly hair in a pink blazer smiling at the camera, standing in front of a CAACE backdrop at a professional event.

Our participants are in every time zone around the world. Therefore, the event has been designed with flexibility. Participants join at all hours between school, work, and other commitments - and some have so much fun that they stay on 24/7!

Hear What the Participants Have to Say

Teachers Recommend Quote Thumbnail

“Building global competency skills in our students is an important responsibility of all of us educators no matter what subject we teach. The fact that the Global Citizens Challenge is a perfect resource to have so many students participate and communicate with youth throughout the world.”

- Amy Bonnici, Teacher, Wheeler School, Rhode Island, USA

Meet our Senior Youth Leaders

Sarah, Algeria

A person with curly dark hair and glasses wearing a black blazer over a white shirt, smiling, with a yellow wall in the background.

Nathalia, Brazil

A smiling woman with curly dark hair, wearing a red cardigan over a black top, standing in front of a blurred background with white shelves.

Camila, Mozambique

A woman with glasses and earrings, wearing a black blazer over a white shirt, standing against a white background.

Who Should Apply?

The Global Citizens Challenge committee will select up to 200 young people to participate in each challenge:

  • February Challenge: 15-20 year olds including schools and classes.

The Committee is seeking self-driven, diverse individuals who bring passion, energy, and a desire to learn. We don’t judge by traditional credentials but by alignment with our values:

  • Passionate about making a change

  • Eager to learn about different cultures from peers with diverse backgrounds

  • Desire to meet and connect with a variety of people

  • Wish to grow as a young professional through an online experience

  • Aim to grow personally, gaining a deeper understanding of yourself and your community

  • Seek to make a meaningful impact in your life and the world!

For more information, please read our FAQs

Apply today

February Challenge application deadline: February 20, 2026

INDIVIDUAL
EDUCATORS