Youth Policy Project Incubation Programme 2026 | Institute for Youth in Policy
The Institute for Youth in Policy (YIP) offers a Project Incubation Programme designed to help young leaders turn community-based policy and advocacy ideas into practical projects.
Through mentorship, networking opportunities and organisational resources, selected project teams receive support to develop their ideas, strengthen implementation and increase their community impact.
The programme highlights youth-led initiatives addressing healthcare access, educational inequality and digital inclusion.
About the Project Incubation Programme
The Civic Growth Project Incubation Programme supports fellows and young leaders who want to translate policy or advocacy ideas into tangible initiatives.
Selected projects receive one-on-one mentorship, guidance on outreach and networking, and support with developing their initiatives. The programme aims to strengthen youth leadership and help promising ideas progress from concept to implementation.
Featured Cohort 2 Projects
1. The BRIDGE Initiative
Project Director: Pranav Kolli
BRIDGE supports patients and families returning home after discharge from Harbor-UCLA Medical Center following violent injury. The initiative provides care kits containing medical and hygiene essentials, food, clothing and community resource guides.
According to YIP, BRIDGE has served more than 250 patients, secured over $8,000 in grants and collected more than 2,000 donated items through student-led chapters across Southern California.
Through Project Incubation, BRIDGE aims to expand its student chapter network and improve access to post-discharge resources.
2. COMPASS
Project Directors: Hajer Belmebarki, Hanshika Kamjula and Shani Momodu
COMPASS stands for Career Opportunities, Mentorship, Pathways, Access, and Student Success.
The student-led initiative addresses inequalities in career exposure and post-secondary preparation for high-school students from low-income, rural and underserved communities.
Through mentorship and career exploration cohorts, COMPASS connects students with professionals in fields such as medicine, law and business.
The initiative was pitched through YIP’s Global Rising Innovators in Policy programme, where it won first place. Project Incubation is supporting its further development and implementation.
3. Visions to Visibility
Project Directors: Doreen Lin, Audrina Cabezas and Advaith Muthuswamy
Visions to Visibility (V2V) helps immigrant-owned small businesses improve their digital presence and reach more customers.
The initiative offers support with website development, Google Business optimisation, social media, branding and digital marketing.
Through Project Incubation, V2V aims to reduce digital visibility barriers for immigrant entrepreneurs and help them build stronger connections with their communities.
Mentorship and Professional Development
The programme also highlights the role of experienced mentors in supporting young leaders and early-stage initiatives.
One featured mentor is Harry Chow, who previously served as Chief Executive Officer of School Simplified, a student-led nonprofit that grew to more than 100,000 community members and operated across 175 countries. He later joined YIP as Chief Marketing Officer and has worked in marketing, growth strategy and startup advising.
Mentorship helps project teams develop their ideas, strengthen their outreach and build the capabilities needed to move towards implementation.
Who Should Apply?
The programme is relevant to young leaders and fellows with community-based policy or advocacy ideas that they want to develop into practical initiatives.
Potential applicants should review the official application form to confirm the current eligibility criteria, application requirements and selection process.
How to Apply
Interested applicants can use the official application link below to access the programme application form.
APPLY ON THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Conclusion
The Civic Growth Project Incubation Programme provides a platform for young leaders to develop community-focused projects through mentorship, networking and practical support.
Initiatives such as BRIDGE, COMPASS and Visions to Visibility demonstrate how youth-led ideas can address challenges in healthcare, education and economic participation.
Young people interested in developing policy and advocacy solutions should review the official programme information and application requirements before applying.
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 Applicants should prepare an updated CV highlighting their experience in microfinance, business development, credit portfolio management, financial oversight and team leadership. ## Final Thoughts Flex](https://flexjobspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1810a831-a492-4ce3-9cd7-dd0f696a9e23-768x576.png)
