The Plastic Free NextGen Fellowship is our flagship youth program supporting the new generation of leaders in the Asia-Pacific region. The Fellowship brings together passionate youth from across the region to inspire plastic waste reduction dialogue and action in local communities. Now in its second year, the Fellowship creates a platform for young people to share their knowledge, develop their movement-building skills, and strengthen their leadership skills. We believe that supporting young people is essential for humanity to build a safe, sustainable planet.
The Plastic Free NextGen Fellowship recognises that storytelling and connection are key tools to inspiring change. Fellows are selected to represent their country in this program from a competitive pool of applicants between the ages of 18 and 30. Successful applicants demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities and dedication to creating positive change. We believe that when young people are given platforms to hear from other young people’s efforts across the region, magic can happen, and inspiration can grow exponentially.
“I really enjoyed the appreciative and supportive atmosphere of the program. It made me feel encouraged to keep going, even when the actions felt small. Being surrounded by fellows across the Asia-Pacific who were all trying in their own ways created a safe space to learn, share, and grow without pressure. That kind of encouragement genuinely motivated me to do more.”
In 2025 Fellows across 20 countries hosted a range of creative community events from a tote bag painting session in Sri Lanka, to a plastic waste-themed board game in Japan, to talks with women on the pollution frontlines in Indonesia.
We are excited to launch this year’s program with a renewed sense of inspiration, motivation, and excitement. Applications open on March 27 2026 and close on 6th April Midnight AWST. Between April and September this year, our new cohort of fellows will attend monthly online workshops together and host one in-person community event. This year’s program features an exciting array of guest speakers who bring unique perspectives from across the region. If you have any questions about this year’s program or would like to collaborate with the incoming fellows, please reach out to community@plasticfreejuly.org.
“The program emphasised that that small actions, reflections, and conversations still matter, and that mindset was very encouraging.”
