Sierra Leone Youth Institute

The Sierra Leone Youth Institute is a transformative experience where high school students engage with local leaders and agriculture experts on critical global challenges, participate in hands-on activities and explore meaningful ways to make a difference in Sierra Leone and around the world.  

The Sierra Leone Youth Institute is hosted by Njala University.

  • Date: 29 September 2026
  • Venue: Freetown, Sierra Leone
  • Registration Deadline: 20 September 2026
  • Paper Submission Deadline: 20 September 2026
  • Global Challenge Paper: To participate in the Sierra Leone Youth Institute, high school students research an issue related to food security and write a paper under the supervision of a teacher or mentor. 
  • Eligibility: Ninth through twelfth grade students are eligible to participate in the Sierra Leone Youth Institute.
Student Registration
Student Paper Submission
Adult Registration

Benefits of Participating

Students who participate in the Sierra Leone Youth Institute earn recognition as a Borlaug Scholar and become eligible to be invited as a student delegate to attend the Global Youth Institute in Des Moines, Iowa. Participating high school students have the opportunity to:

  • Present research and recommendations on ways to solve key global challenges in a short speech and small group discussions with leading agriculture experts;
  • Connect with other student leaders from across Sierra Leone to share ideas, identify solutions to these problems and build lasting friendships;
  • Explore the issues, current research and opportunities to make a difference with organizations based in Sierra Leone;
  • Interact with global leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs in Sierra Leone working to improve food security around the world; and
  • Have their research paper evaluated by the World Food Prize Foundation.

How to Participate

The World Food Prize Foundation’s Global Challenge curriculum is designed to empower high school students to explore, analyze and solve the world’s most pressing problems related to global food security, agriculture and sustainability issues.

To participate, a student must write a three to five page research paper on a country and a food security related topic. Each student will then share this research at a World Food Prize Foundation Youth Institute. The Foundation believes that elevating young voices is crucial to creating a more food-secure and sustainable world and we want to hear your solutions.

Global Challenge Paper Instructions