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Melton Foundation - "Global Solvers Accelerator" - https://meltonfoundation.org/global-solvers-accelerator/

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Home Our Accelerator program for budding changemakers!

Connecting grassroots experiences, empowering community leaders, and unleashing transformative change!
Each year, a cohort of 20 project leaders connect hearts, hands and minds to unpack and refine their projects, tap into their collective leadership, and ignite transformative change in their communities and towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Throughout the eight month program, participants generate ripples of impact: on themselves, by building their leadership capacity and transformative potential; on their local community, by accelerating their social impact project for sustainable development beyond business as usual; and on their global peers, by intersecting their know-how, experience, and humanity.

Program Details

The Global Solvers Accelerator engages emerging change agents from diverse world regions around developing competencies for global citizenship, sustainable development, and collective leadership.

Over the course of eight months, participants engage in purposefully designed module topics, blended learning, project assignments, peer exchange, and subject matter advisory in order to build their capacity and amplify the transformative potential of their social impact projects. Thus, the Global Solvers Accelerator results in cumulative impact at three levels:

the individual level, by building participants' capacity for leadership and social impact.

the community level, by unleashing the transformative potential of participants' social impact projects.

the systemic level, by intersecting different local approaches and contextual know-how, thus creating ripple effects of societal transformation and SDG attainment.

Eight monthly modules - Interconnected module themes - Substantial Peer Exchange - Applicable Methods & Tools - Tailored support and collaboration

Program Brochure

A must-have resource for applicants - Access in-depth information about the program!

Application Guide

Make use of our guidelines, designed to help you build a comprehensive and compelling application!

Applications Open!
The global application deadline is December 15th, 2024.

Today's interconnected world allows us to see the magnitude of solutions to pressing issues that exist around the world. Imagine if we can intersect these solutions, turning local impact into global potential and changing the world from the grassroots level to the global level and back again.

Inviting SDG practitioners across the world to

The Global Solvers Accelerator creates that space for emerging change agents to converge in genuine collaboration that impacts their own projects while contributing to those of others. By embracing transformation as an impetus for sustainable development beyond business-as-usual, our 8-month program accelerates social impact projects through cross-boundary exchange and collaborative action.

Chosen among hundreds of applicants worldwide, selected participants will work together to refine and scale the social impact projects they are spearheading in their respective communities. Through an intentionally designed learning journey, subject matter advisory, leading-edge thematic contributions, and ample peer exchange and collaboration, the program provides a springboard for participants to tap into the fullest transformative potential of their sustainable development endeavors!

A signature program of the Melton Foundation, the Global Solvers Accelerator is deeply intertwined with our unique community of global citizenship practice, and, for successful participants, the program becomes a gateway to joining the lifelong Melton Fellowship. Plus, actively engaged participants will also be invited to attend a fully-sponsored week-long in-person retreat, the Global Solvers Co-Lab happening in July 2025, in Germany.

Participants will work together with emerging leaders from across the globe and re-engineer community projects to amplify their impact!

Who are ideal candidates for the program?

The Global Solvers Accelerator is a collective learning journey with and for SDG practitioners worldwide, who are looking to transform the world!
Are you a young community development practitioner aged between 20 - 35 years, who is curious, responsible, forward-thinking, with a proven track record of social impact, and actively engaged in or leading a local impact project currently? Are you looking to connect with like-minded peers to make a better sense of the world together? Then you are the ideal participant for our program!

Benefits of joining the program

By joining the Global Solvers Accelerator, participants stand to gain valuable competencies, insights, connections, and more! Here are some key benefits of becoming a part of the program:

CAPACITY BUILDING

The program is a springboard for participants to pivot their capacity in areas like collective leadership, transformative impact, and systemic design. Through stimulating thematic contributions, peer exchange, subject matter advisory, and project assignments, participants boost their leadership competencies as well as their global citizenship skills.

FURTHERING IMPACT

The 8-month learning journey connects emerging change agents worldwide to refine their social impact initiatives, activate their collective leadership potential, and together ignite transformative change that cuts across barriers of place and identity, furthering the SDGs.

MELTON FELLOWSHIP

Upon successful completion of the program, participants are eligible to join the Melton Foundation's lifelong supported community as Senior Melton Fellows, gaining access to a global community of over 600 change catalysts across the globe, project funding through our Action Grants, travel opportunities to global impact events, and more.

CO-LAB

During the program, actively engaged participants will be invited to attend a fully-funded in-person workshop. The Global Solvers Co-Lab is an integral part of the program and the space for participants to connect in person and co-create transformative pathways together. The Co-Lab 2025 will take place in Gotha and Erfurt (Germany) from 6-12 July 2025.

As Co-Sponsors of the event, the Melton Foundation and Ernst-Abbe-Stiftung will cover event-related travel, accommodation, visa-related expenses, learning resources, and materials, among others, to enable all participants to join the Co-Lab regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds! Participants, however, are required to be prepared for international travel, hold a valid passport, and handle any necessary visa processes early and responsibly. Learn more here.

ACCELERATOR FUND

Participants have the opportunity to tap into immediate financial resources in support of their social impact project. The Global Solver Accelerator Fund pools a significant percentage of the Program Fees collected from participants and will be made available to deserving projects towards the end of the program.

Timeline & Process

The Accelerator is a learning journey that nurtures your leadership capacity starting today. Here's the roadmap for a unique journey toward deep collaborations, powerful actions, and transformative change.

Global Solvers Accelerator 2024

Diverse social innovation leaders chosen from hundreds of applicants around the world, our current cohort of Global Solvers Accelerator participants are refining and scaling their impact projects through the program, and upon successful completion, will join our life-long Senior Fellowship, and gain access to a network of 600+ Melton Fellows worldwide.

Hear from our Alumni!

"Participating in the Melton Foundation's Global Solvers Accelerator was a poignant reminder that while the leadership journey can often feel solitary, we are never truly alone. Immersing myself with fellow changemakers from diverse corners of the world, I was deeply moved by our shared passion for the SDGs and the power of grassroots experiences."

- Agita Pasaribu - Founder and Executive Director at Bullyid App, Global Solvers Accelerator participant

"One of the many things I have learned from the Global Solvers Accelerator is the level of authenticity that people bring on, and the deeper level of involvement in the problem they are trying to solve. It is truly a place to embody Global Citizenship in practice. I will advise future applicants to drop the mask, and bring their truest self to the whole application process and the program."

- Hammed Kayode Alabi, Founder and CEO, Kayode Alabi Leadership and Career Initiative-KLCI, Global Solvers Accelerator participant

"My participation in the Global Solvers Accelerator has been a transformative experience; a journey of growth, learning, and self-discovery. For all future participants, I would wholeheartedly encourage you to seize the opportunity. It is an investment in one's development that is worth every moment and effort."

- Ohenewaa Constance Ankoma, Founder & Executive Director, Erudite Women's Empowerment Foundation, Ghana, Global Solvers Accelerator participant

"The Global Solvers Accelerator organizers and hosts are very supportive, and they help you in everything you need. The most eminent thing is to grow in a collaborative sphere, where you engage with like-minded fellow young people. The dividends of the program are tremendous!"

- Khan N. Badeng, Founder, Eco-Nile, South Sudan, Global Solvers Accelerator participant

Frequently Asked Questions

For more information, useful links, and insightful application tips, click through to the Frequently Asked Questions!

Join the Global Citizenship movement!

Whether as a participant in our program, a network partner, or supporter - we offer ample avenues for you to continue to be an integral member of our close-knit community! Take a look at the various options open for engaging with us!

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Our Accelerator program for budding changemakers! - Melton Foundation

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Connecting hearts, hands, and minds to accelerate sustainable development: the Global Solvers Accelerator connects grassroots experiences, empowers community leaders, and unleashes transformative change at a Glo-Cal scale.

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Knowledge of legal aspects of establishing businesses

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Access to local network

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Possible sources of funding on local, national and European level

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Inspiration and motivation from the group

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Help in overcoming the language barrier

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Possibility of consultation with experts in this field

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Bureaucratic obstacles

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Funding - finding the money for possible business ideas

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Politics - unsupportive political environment

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Lack of community/team building opportunities

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Racism from the locals

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Mental health issues (working too much as entrepreneurs/activists)

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EJBW - "Migrants as youth work professionals" -https://ejbweimar.de/en/mfj/ueber-das-projekt/ueber-das-projekt/

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EJBW · »Migrant*innen als Fachkräfte der Jugendarbeit« · About the project

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The »Europäische Jugendbildungs- und Jugendbegegnungsstätte Weimar (EJBW)« is an institution of school-independent political youth education in Weimar, Germany.

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Bundesagentur für Arbeit - https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/en/starting-a-business

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Start your business in Germany | Bundesagentur für Arbeit

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Would you like to become self-employed? Here you find all information.

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"Youth Entrepreneurs in Science" - https://youngentrepreneursinscience.com/

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Ignite your entrepreneurial spirit! Young Entrepreneurs in Science is a four-day workshop series to discover your entrepreneurial potential. Our free workshop programme for PhDs and postdocs gives you the opportunity to build your network and translate your strengths and creativity into concrete ideas using practical methods and tools, such as design thinking and other creativity techniques, together with an interdisciplinary team of young, highly qualified researchers.

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Culture Goes Europe - https://www.cge-erfurt.org/

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Culture Goes Europe - Soziokulturelle Initiative Erfurt e.V.

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Project implementation is through diverse methods such as training courses, seminars, workshops, study visits, exchanges, volunteer services, focus groups, symposia, conferences, forums and other formats with local, regional, national, European and other international partners on local, regional, national, European and international level through non-formal education.

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Help with design (Kseniia)

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Good energy and humor (Kevin)

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Sport activities (Boris)

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Food - backing (Anastasiia)

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Photo workshop (Ivom)

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Academic research

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Marketing (Nersad)