Rise is a global talent program that finds extraordinary young people who need opportunity and supports them for life as they use their talents to serve others.
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An initiative of Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust, Rise will build a global community of future leaders, connecting everyone who applies with a network of peers, learning resources, and additional opportunities from Rise partners around the world. Each year, Rise will select 100 Global Winners, ages 15 to 17, and provide them with individualized support throughout their lives as they commit their talents to building a better world. Winners will receive need-based financial support for university and internships, mentorship and career services, and access to funding to scale up their social impact throughout their careers.

Rise is for life. Rise is designed to encourage a lifetime of learning and service by providing Global Winners with individualized support for decades to come. The more you develop your talents and demonstrate service to others, the more opportunities will become available over the course of your life.
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Rise helps you use your talents for good. We want to know how you'll use your talents to build a better world, and how Rise will help you do it. That's why we look for brilliance, and also want to see your integrity, empathy, and perseverance. 
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Rise is a global community. Everyone who applies to Rise, from any country, with any background, will have the opportunity to become part of a global community with access to free online courses and opportunities around the world.

Research shows that the final years of secondary school—before college or entering the workforce—are critical to shaping the direction of a young person’s life. At this time in life, young people often have new ideas and creative solutions. 
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As we look around the world today, it’s clear that the next generation will need to rise up to tackle our greatest challenges. Young people face setbacks in their education due to the coronavirus pandemic. They see a climate crisis causing wildfires, global temperature changes, and a warming ocean. Many lack access to healthy food and safe water. And many still fight racial, gender, and other inequality holding them back from reaching their full potential. 
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At the same time, young people have access to powerful new tools and technologies to connect, share ideas, and develop solutions to these problems. We believe Rise will find exceptional young people, at a critical moment in their lives, and empower them to serve others and build a better world.

Everyone who applies to Rise has the opportunity to become part of the Rise global community. 
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Just by applying, you’ll be able to take free online courses from leading experts around the world. You’ll have access to additional opportunities from our network of global partners, including universities, businesses, and nonprofits. During the application process, you’ll build professional and personal skills, learn how to tell your story, and develop your portfolio with a significant project. You’ll meet talented peers from countries around the globe. Finally, applicants will have the opportunity to become part of a cohort of 100 Rise Global Winners and access a lifetime of benefits as they work to serve others.

Each year, Rise plans to select 100 Global Winners and provide them with access to a lifetime of benefits as they work to serve others. 
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Rise Global Winners will receive access to need-based financial support for university and internships, in addition to a technology package and free online courses. They will attend a fully-funded residential summit to explore leadership, service, and their future career paths. As they enter the workforce, they’ll receive mentorship and career services to further their service to others. If their work benefits their community, they’ll be able to apply for funding to scale up their impact. If they have an idea for a social enterprise, they’ll be able to compete for investment that grows as they show results. Throughout their lives, they’ll be able to engage with a global community of leaders and have early access to educational and funding opportunities through the network of Rise partners, including universities, businesses, and nonprofits. 

We are committed to ensuring our application process is as accessible as possible, and we invite you to review our Accessibility Statement.
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If you are unable to access a mobile device that can download the Hello World - Rise app, you can apply through WhatsApp. 
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If you don’t have access to a smart device, we’re also working with select partners in low-connectivity areas to distribute paper applications. Please contact us at paperapp@risefortheworld.org. 
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This is a work in progress, and we will be constantly learning and improving in our inaugural year of the Rise program. If you encounter any obstacles, we want to work with you to provide assistance. Please contact us so we can address any accessibility-related questions or needs that you might have. 

Rise is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community that reflects a broad range of backgrounds and experiences. We care about the potential applicants demonstrate in their work, not the opportunities they’ve had so far. We work with partners around the world to find talented young people who may not be discovered otherwise. 

We are committed to ensuring the health and safety of all Rise community members. We encourage all applicants to follow local public health and safety guidelines. It is our collective responsibility to tackle the virus and build a more equitable and inclusive world. 
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The selection process and many subsequent phases of the Rise program will be administered virtually during the pandemic. We intend for the 100 Rise Global Winners to convene in person each year after their selection; however, we are committed to ensuring the safety of all participants and are therefore evaluating timing for in-person meetings for the first cohort of winners given the coronavirus pandemic.

Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust believe that the world’s most important problems will be solved by tomorrow’s leaders. Yet too often, the most talented people never realize their full potential for global impact. 
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Rise will find and connect these extraordinary young people—and support Rise Global Winners for life—so they can use their talents to serve others. 
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Rise builds on an existing partnership between Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust, including the creation of the Schmidt Science Fellows program. Each organization has realized the power of building a network of exceptional talent, and this partnership will allow them both for the first time to focus on reaching a younger audience between the ages of 15 and 17.

In 2019, Schmidt Futures founders Eric and Wendy Schmidt made a $1 billion philanthropic commitment to identify and support global talent. Rise—an initiative of Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust—is the anchor program of that commitment.

If you are between the ages of 15 and 17 as of July 1, 2021, and interested in serving others throughout your life, you are eligible to apply to Rise. It does not matter what country you live in, background you come from, or academic experiences you have had.

Whether you’re interested in science, art, community organizing, or any other topic, we want to hear from you.

Traditional selection processes don’t always identify all types of talent. So we give you a variety of opportunities to showcase your potential, ranging from videos to projects to interviews. 
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You can learn more about the application process here.

The application is free, and there is no cost to Rise Global Winners or their families to participate in the Rise program. 

Rise Global Winners will hail from around the world and demonstrate passion and potential in a range of disciplines. Some winners may excel in STEM fields, others may demonstrate outstanding artistic ability, and others still may have a gift for community service and organizing.

Global Winners will explain how Rise would give them the support they need to get their ideas off the ground—whether there are economic, social, or other hardships standing in their way.  
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We’re looking for applicants who demonstrate brilliance, integrity, empathy, and perseverance—who have a calling to make the world better and need opportunity.
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You can learn more about the selection process here.

Each year, Rise plans to select 100 Global Winners and provide them with access to a lifetime of benefits as they work to serve others.
 
Rise Global Winners will receive access to need-based financial support for university and internships, in addition to a technology package and free online courses. They will attend a fully-funded residential summit to explore leadership, service, and their future career paths. As they enter the workforce, they’ll receive mentorship and career services to further their service to others. If their work benefits their community, they’ll be able to apply for funding to scale up their impact. If they have an idea for a social enterprise, they’ll be able to compete for investment that grows as they show results. Throughout their lives, they’ll be able to engage with a global community of leaders and have early access to educational and funding opportunities through the network of Rise partners, including universities, businesses, and nonprofits.

The selection process and many subsequent phases of the Rise program will be administered virtually during the pandemic. We intend, each year, for the 100 Rise Global Winners to convene in person after their selection; however, we are committed to ensuring the safety of all participants and are therefore evaluating timing for in-person meetings for the first cohort of winners given the coronavirus pandemic.

No. We care about the potential you demonstrate in your work, not the opportunities you’ve had so far. Grades and test scores only tell one part of the story—we want to understand your passions, character, motivation, and commitment. 

The first stage of the application opens on November 16, 2020, and closes on January 29, 2021. Next, applicants will have an opportunity to level up with the Rise Challenge by completing an individual project, which we expect will take 20-30 hours over the course of two months. In summer 2021, up to 500 finalists will have an opportunity to participate in interviews, and 100 Rise Global Winners will be announced in July 2021.

You can learn more about the application timeline here.

Each year, Rise plans to select 100 Global Winners and provide them with a lifetime of benefits as they work to build a better world.
 
However, everyone who completes the application will have the opportunity to become part of the Rise community. You will have access to a network of peers, learning resources, and additional opportunities from Rise partners around the world.  Throughout the application process, you will build professional and personal skills, learn how to tell your story, and develop your portfolio with a significant project.

Rise, an initiative of Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust, is committed to making our website and application pathways (the “Services”) as accessible as possible to users with and others with additional needs, including users with visual, hearing, cognitive and motor impairments. While we strive to provide accessibility and usability for users, it may not be possible in all areas of the website with current technology and other restrictions. If you experience any accessibility issues, please contact us to let us know. 
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If you are unable to apply through the Hello World - Rise app, another option is to apply through WhatsApp. If that doesn’t meet your needs, please contact us. Ensuring that our Services follow best accessibility practices is a work in progress, and we will be constantly learning and improving in our inaugural year. 

Our Accessibility Statement can be viewed here.

The Rise application is currently only available to applicants with some command of the English language. In future years, we plan to develop application processes for non-English speakers. 

When you download the Hello World app, you will be asked if you have consent to apply from your parent or guardian. Details about parental or guardian consent requirements are available on the Hello World app. 

If you are not selected as a Rise Global Winner in 2021, you are eligible to apply again in 2022, provided you still meet the age criteria. By completing the application you will become part of the Rise community and have access to learning resources, additional funding opportunities, and the network of Rise partners. 

Yes! Through the Hello World app, you can refer a friend and even receive a gift if they are selected as a Rise Global Winner. 
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Learn more here.

Please contact us at support@risefortheworld.org.

We recognize every child brings their own unique talents and passions to this world, which is why we are on a mission to build a global community of exceptional young people. We’re looking for applicants who demonstrate brilliance, integrity, empathy, and perseverance—who have a calling to make the world better and need opportunity. Rise Global Winners will have a strong commitment to serving others and building a better world throughout their lives.  
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You can learn more about our selection process here.

The application is free, and there is no cost to Rise Global Winners or their families to participate in the Rise program. 

There is no specific grade level requirement as long as applicants are between the ages of 15 and 17 as of July 1, 2021.

There are no restrictions based on the type of school your child attends to apply to Rise. We care about the potential they demonstrate in their work, not the opportunities they’ve had so far. Grades and test scores only tell one part of the story—we want to understand their passions, character, motivation, and commitment. 

Each year, Rise plans to select 100 Global Winners and provide them with access to a lifetime of benefits as they work to serve others. 
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Rise Global Winners will receive access to need-based financial support for university and internships, in addition to a technology package and free online courses. They will attend a fully-funded residential summit to explore leadership, service, and their future career paths. As they enter the workforce, they’ll receive mentorship and career services to further their service to others. If their work benefits their community, they’ll be able to apply for funding to scale up their impact. If they have an idea for a social enterprise, they’ll be able to compete for investment that grows as they show results. Throughout their lives, they’ll be able to engage with a global community of leaders and have early access to educational and funding opportunities through the network of Rise partners, including universities, businesses, and nonprofits.

While we ask that the application itself be completed by the applicant alone, your encouragement and support will play a critical role in your child’s journey through the Rise process. 

The selection process and many subsequent phases of the Rise program will be administered virtually during the pandemic. We intend for the 100 Rise Global Winners to convene in person each year after their selection; however, we are committed to ensuring the safety of all participants and are therefore evaluating timing for in-person meetings for the first cohort of winners given the coronavirus pandemic. 

Your child’s safety and security is our top priority. We have developed stringent systems and processes to protect your child’s information—from creating a safe environment on the platform for your child to engage in, to carefully curating age-appropriate content, and consciously choosing partners with a long history of securely working with this age group. For additional information please review our Privacy Policy.

Please contact us at support@risefortheworld.org. 

Teachers and educators often know best which students have exceptional talent, but need a boost to reach their full potential. We hope you can help us identify those students and encourage them to apply to Rise. If there’s a particular student you would like to nominate, you can do that as well. See below for more details on the nomination process. 

We care about the potential a student demonstrates in their work, not the opportunities they’ve had so far. We look for brilliance, integrity, empathy, perseverance, and calling. We want to know how applicants will use your talents to build a better world, and how Rise will help them do it. We recognize each application will be as unique as the applicants themselves, so we are looking for students from all countries, backgrounds, and interest areas. 

There is no specific grade level requirement as long as students are between the ages of 15 and 17 as of July 1, 2021.

There are no restrictions other than ensuring applicants meet the age requirement of falling between the ages of 15 and 17 as of July 1, 2021.

If you are a teacher, educator, or community leader who knows an exceptional young person between the ages of 15 and 17, you can nominate them to apply to Rise. On our website, you can sign up to become a nominator. When you sign up, you’ll receive a unique link that you can forward to students with information about the program and application. 

Yes, you can nominate as many young people as you believe will be a good fit for the Rise program. 

We recommend you look over the selection process to gain insight into what traits we are looking for in Rise Global Winners. If you are still unsure but believe the student would benefit from the experience, please feel free to nominate them.

Please contact us at support@risefortheworld.org.