Top 10 global opportunities for high school students in Asia
- Shenaya B
- Nov 4
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 4
The World Literacy Foundation Youth Ambassador Program (YAP)
What: A 3–3.5-month online ambassador training program to build literacy advocacy, fundraising, and leadership skills; participants run local advocacy/fundraising projects.
Who/eligibility: Young people (about 15–26 yrs listed on program page). Remote and global.
Format/duration: Self-paced e-learning modules + webinars; ~3 months (online). Certificate/letter on completion (if fundraising requirements met).
Cost: Volunteer role — not paid. Program materials/training delivered online (no program fee).
Why apply: Leadership experience, advocacy/fundraising portfolio, global network.
The Pad Project Ambassador Program
What: Global ambassador cohort that plans advocacy, resource drives, film screenings, and community projects to fight period poverty and stigma.
Who/eligibility: Ages 12+ (international), cohort-based, team/advisor structure organised by timezone/interests. Fully remote participation possible (Zoom).
Format/duration: Cohort model (year-long academic cycle listed); virtual orientation, recurring virtual meetings, and project work.
Cost: Volunteer role (not a paid job). Ambassadors run volunteer projects locally/online.
Why apply: Hands-on activism, advocacy experience, network of menstrual equity advocates worldwide.
Youth In Policy Fellowship
What: Intensive fellowship for young leaders focused on public policy, policy analysis, project development, and capstones.
Who/eligibility: Young people passionate about policy (age ranges vary by posting); historically, a two-month program that happens in Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn.
Format/duration: Cohort-based online sessions, workshops, mentorship, culminating in capstones.
Cost: Free
Why apply: Leadership experience, advocacy portfolio, global network.
She’s the First Activist Fellowship
What: An 18-month project-based leadership & mentorship fellowship for girls (typically ages 14–22) to plan and run advocacy campaigns.
Format: Training + project implementation, global cohort (~30 girls per year).
Cost: Volunteer Role, no cost
Why apply: Hands-on activism, advocacy experience, network of feminist advocates worldwide.
Ashoka University High School Program Ambassadors
What: Student ambassadors for Ashoka’s High School Programmes — they promote Ashoka events/programmes in their schools and communities.
Format: Ambassador roles are cohort-based and visible on Ashoka’s HSP pages (remote/online activity and local outreach). (You do need to do an Ashoka Course to be eligible, I am pretty sure, but their courses are very accessible, like their Horizon summer and winter cohorts.)
Cost: Volunteer/ambassador role (not a paid job). Check specific HSP calls for dates and responsibilities.
Girls Who Code Summer Programs
What: Two summer options: Summer Immersion Program (SIP) — a 2-week live virtual experience (game design / live classes), and Pathways — a 6-week, self-paced online set of courses (web dev, AI/data science, cybersecurity). Both are virtual and open internationally (age/grade eligibility rules apply).
Summer Programs alums are explicitly included as eligible for Fall Pathways, and Girls Who Code often gives waitlist priority for Pathways to Summer applicants. In short, participating in a Summer program does feed into further learning through Pathways/alumni networks and gives you priority/eligibility for follow-up offerings. (I was selected for the Fall Pathways program after completing their 2-week RTX Summer Immersion Program in August).
Cost: Free (no program fee for Summer Programs/Pathways; Girls Who Code states programs are free and virtual). Some US-based grants for needs-based support may exist
Schoolhouse.world Volunteer Opportunities
Schoolhouse.world is a fully free tutoring/volunteer platform (founded by Sal Khan). It offers a range of volunteer roles and ways to contribute:
Core volunteer activities
Live peer tutoring — host regular sessions you schedule (math, SAT, AP, homework help, subject-focused series). Tutors host sessions on Zoom (provided), use Khan/Desmos tools.
SAT Bootcamps — volunteer as an SAT Bootcamp tutor (4-week bootcamps; structured program with service-hour tracking).
AP & subject courses — run or help run AP prep and other subject series (schoolhouse runs cohorts and series). (I became a certified tutor in AP comparative government and politics because I submitted a 5 on that exam)
Become a certified tutor — Schoolhouse has a tutor certification process (video evidence on Khan Academy problems, or honorary certs for SAT/AP). Certification unlocks higher-responsibility tutoring roles. (I am a fully certified tutor in pre-algebra and am working on certifications in other topics. Also, many top universities like UChicago, Yale, etc., accept Schoolhouse certifications in Statistics and Calculus, so if you are unable to access the AP exam, this is a very good opportunity to showcase your proficiency in the topics.
Volunteer teams/community support — many platform functions (user support, outreach, auditing, moderation, blog writing, and social/community events) run partly by volunteers. Volunteers can join teams to help with non-tutoring tasks (social, technical support).
Content/series creators — tutors publish series/courses (example: SAT Math series) and run public sessions.
Tracking & recognition — volunteers earn trackable volunteer hours (useful for college apps) and receive a digital portfolio/summary of tutoring experience.
Format/requirements: Sessions run on Zoom (Schoolhouse provides Zoom account access in most cases); tutors must be 13+ and follow the platform’s safety/terms (recording, conduct rules).
Ashoka University Horizons Achievers Program
Horizons Achievers Programme: certified immersive micro-courses for high-school students (multiple cycles).
Important: Horizons courses do have a fee (listed on Ashoka’s FAQ/fees page — e.g., ~INR 25,000 + GST per course; scholarships/merit-based full-scholarships exist).
Brain Bomb Challenge: An online creative video/essay response challenge run by Ashoka Horizons; free to participate, and winners get scholarships or seats in Horizons courses. Good as a résumé item and for winning a scholarship seat. (I was a recipient for one 2 years ago, and so were 2 of my friends, where we attended the summer program for that given topic for free. For me, it was a 4-week environmental science program, and for both of my friends, it was a Creative Writing course.) - I have participated in 2 of their programs, and if you are very participative, then you get a Letter of Achievement from the professor, which only 3 students receive per program. I received this for the Environmental Sustainability program I did.
Ashoka University Brainbomb Challenge
What: The Brain Bomb Challenge is an online challenge by Ashoka University’s Horizons Achievers Programme (for high school students) where participants receive a thought-provoking question (e.g., about ethics, technology, behaviour) inspired by the Horizons course catalogue, submit a response, and winners receive scholarships for the upcoming Horizons programme.
Format/Duration: For 2025, the posting says it opened 24 January 2025 and submissions ended 2 March 2025 (IST). Then polling/votes and winners' announcement in April.
Rewards: Winners get a “Brain Bomb Challenge Scholarship for an upcoming Ashoka Horizons Achievers Programme.
Cost: The challenge is free to enter.
Why apply: Great for high-school students wanting to demonstrate creative/critical thinking, writing, or research ability. Winning gives you scholarship access to a rigorous programme, looks great on a resume/applications. (I have participated in 2 of their programs for the Horizons Achiever Summer programs, and got a full scholarship on one because I won the brain bomb challenge.)
Harvard Crimson Ambassador Program
What: The Harvard Crimson’s “Programs” arm runs educational programmes and has an “Ambassador” component where students or younger participants help promote the programmes or competitions.
There is also a “Crimson Global Ambassadors” booklet that mentions ambassadors can earn certificates, mentoring hours, and cash rewards based on sign-ups, while also having the opportunity to intern with Crimson Education.”
Eligibility/Format: The precise “Ambassador” for The Harvard Crimson outreach to target high-school students who will promote the competitions (e.g., the Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition) to peers. For example, their page says: “Ambassadors will be rewarded … for promoting competitions… join a community of driven, like-minded youths.”
Cost: A volunteer/ambassador style: you’re doing outreach/ promotion. Some reward structure (certificates, mentoring hours, and possible cash rewards).
Why apply: It gives you outreach/leadership experience, networking with global high-school peers, a chance to build your profile via a Harvard-affiliated programme, and a potential certificate, + mentoring, + rewards.
Bonus:
I founded Project Iktara alongside my younger sister, and if you want an opportunity to volunteer for any of these roles, you can directly DM us on the linked Instagram page.
What is it?
Project Ikatara is a student-led social enterprise that merges creativity with empowerment through crochet-based skill development and financial literacy education. The initiative equips individuals—especially young women and underrepresented communities—with practical, income-generating craft skills while teaching the fundamentals of budgeting, saving, and entrepreneurship. By combining hands-on workshops with accessible financial guidance, Project Ikatara aims to foster self-reliance, confidence, and long-term economic stability. Rooted in the belief that sustainable change begins with both creativity and knowledge, the project creates a space where art becomes a pathway to empowerment and financial independence.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Social Media Management (Instagram, LinkedIn + if you know how to do more, you can)
Outreach with schools globally to establish a chapter of this in a school or area you think will benefit from it
Volunteering with us to teach crochet or financial literacy at the Bangalore, India, school we work with, or expanding to other schools in the region.
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