UPG SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP

UPG
SUSTAINABILITY
LEADERSHIP

UPG Sustainability Leaders Milestone

UPG SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP CLASS

Are you a passionate citizen, who believes your actions can support your local community and that every small positive action can make the world a better place?
Do you want to be part of a global community of UPG Sustainability Leaders?
Do you want to get FREE training and the chance to spend an immersive 1-week experience in the USA (all costs covered)?
If your answer is YES, (or you know someone who would say yes!), then watch this space, subscribe to our social media channels on Instagram and/or LinkedIn – and apply once applications open later this year. Or join the UPG Community and stay ahead of this and our other activities here: https://unitedpeople.global/join

Your Guide Before Applying

Open to young adults aged 18-35 from any world region
No prior experience required. We value passion and commitment to take positive action
Must be action-oriented and driven to create positive change. After certification, as #UPGSustainability Leaders you commit to

Implement a sustainability project/s in your local community
Organize mini-training session/s to share knowledge locally

4. Application fee of CHF 5 is mandatory. The training is Free for all.

5. Please avoid AI tools; grammar perfection isn’t needed.

Applications for #UPGSustainability Leadership Class of 2026 will open on September 1, 2025

#UPGSustainability Events

#UPGSustainability Journey Hurricane Island event

22 outstanding UPG Sustainability Leaders from 16 different countries are in Hurricane Island, USA! ✈️The #UPGSustainability Journey event is an opportunity for you to meet them and learn about the sustainability actions and projects they are working on to #MakeTheWorldBetter. 💚
Don’t miss it!

#UPGSustainability events are all about creating a powerful community of changemakers. Join the movement and RSVP today!

#UPG Sustainability Information Session: Spotlight Philippines

Are you a passionate citizen, aged 18 to 35, who believes your actions can support your local community and that every small positive action can make the world a better place?

Do you want to be part of a global community of UPG Sustainability Leaders?

Do you want to get FREE training and the chance to spend an immersive 1-week experience in the USA (all costs covered)?

If your answer is YES, (or you know someone who would say yes!)

#UPGSustainability Events

#UPGSustainability Leadership Information Session

Join our upcoming Information Session to learn more about the
#UPGSustainability Leadership Program. Discover how you can apply, participate, and make an impact!

#JourneyToHurricane Campaign

The #JourneyToHurricane campaign invites people to select #UPGSustainability Leaders who will WIN a place on the special pilgrimage to Hurricane Island (USA). A unique and unforgettable experience on Hurricane Island (USA) provides further opportunities to UPG Sustainability Leaders. The island is a crowning achievement that both rewards those who are chosen and also strengthens them.

The UPG Sustainability Project Support Grant

At United People Global, we are committed to fostering positive citizen leadership on sustainability. As part of our ongoing mission to empower young individuals and organizations to drive impactful change, we’re thrilled to unveil the UPG Sustainability Project Support Grant. This initiative is designed to provide substantial support—amounting to USD50,000—to visionary UPG Sustainability Leaders, enabling them to spearhead personal projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The UPG Sustainability Project Support Grant aims to fuel your efforts and enthusiasm in championing sustainability. We believe in action-oriented initiatives, and this grant is a testament to that belief. We seek to fund projects that demonstrate a clear commitment to addressing societal challenges while aligning with one or more of the 17 SDGs set forth by the United Nations.
Applications are now closed!

The UPG Schools and Institutions

The UPG Schools and Institutions activity certifies establishments that enable positive citizen leadership on sustainability. Our program distinguishes itself from traditional certifications by offering customized paths that fit your institution’s specific strengths and interests. Whether you are interested in raising awareness, proposing innovative solutions or fostering community collaboration, we have a certification path tailored for you.

About #UPGSustainability Leadership

UPG Sustainability Leadership is a movement that mobilises individuals and organisations to support positive citizen leadership on sustainability.

It is a movement that encourages and enables citizens at all levels to take positive action. A movement inspired by the UPG’s commitment to do what we can with what we have, rather than wait for someone else to act. It is a movement that embodies the notion that everyone can do something to make the world more sustainable.

UPG believes that sustainability includes BOTH the usual “green” issues such as planting trees, recycling waste, managing energy, protecting the oceans AND other issues that have been central to our societies for a long time such as: education, health, jobs, gender equality, sustainable consumption, sustainable production and more. For those who are familiar with it, UPG uses the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a guide.

The flagship activity is the #UPGSustainability Leadership training program for 500+ young adults from across the globe every year. There are also activities for schools and institutions as well as for companies.

About UPG Sustainability Leadership

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#UPGSustainability Leaders say about the movement

Indeed, the UPGSustainability Leadership Program was very intensive. It gave us the opportunity to learn from some brilliant minds in the respective fields and network with people from all around the world. I am thankful to the dynamic UPG team and amazing people from all around the world !!!

I never thought that February 14 would be a life-changing day as I had the privilege of taking this journey with UPG and get connected with amazing leaders worldwide. UPG has empowered us, the UPG leaders to empower our communities with our respective projects. Thank you UPG for strengthen me to believe in the values I stand for that I believe sustainability could only be achieved when everyone is equal. Much love from Indonesia!

It was a great learning experience. I learned by following the chat (and laughing a lot too), I learned by listening to the sessions, I learned by sharing with other candidates and I just have to say thank you! I feel like I’ve grown a lot as a person! And I met amazing people. Now I have small families in several countries. I hope to one day be able to meet these amazing people in person, and I will be looking forward to welcoming them here in Brazil! And we will keep fighting! The world needs us! "Let your light shine! "

<span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">#UPGSustainability Campaign

UPG Sustainability Leadership trains, mobilises, and supports young people to create a more sustainable world – this is BEAUTIFUL and this is something that we celebrate! Join us!

We LOVE these posts from people around the world. Thank you! Please scroll to see more and tap/click on any image to connect to the actual post. And you can join the fun and make a post of your own.

#UPGSustainability Pilgrimage to Hurricane Island

Every year selected #UPGSustainability leaders get a chance to attend one-week immersive physical training experience at Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership Maine, USA. This training experience provides the tools and knowledge to lead and make an impact on the world. Its a combination of hands-on learning and team building activities with lectures from experts in the fields of leadership, and sustainability.

Thank you Rosamund Zander

United People Global remembers, honours and thanks Rosamund Zander for her love and her passion and her immense contributions in the quest to create a more sustainable world.

UPG Sustainability Leaders Taking Action

Launched in 2019, the UPG Sustainability Leadership program has been training young leaders from all paths of life and world regions to become champions for positive citizen leadership.
To date, 2700+ new UPG Sustainability Leaders from over 100 countries have successfully completed the training and a selected number among them have been presented with an additional opportunity a FREE, complementary and immersive 1-week experience at the Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership in the USA.
UPG Sustainability Leadership is FREE for young people thanks to the wonderful support of our Partners who believe in positive citizen leadership on sustainability. UPG Sustainability Leaders have commit to two actions to take within their communities or countries.
* Lead personal projects of their own choice that support at least one of the SDGs”
* Deliver training sessions to their local community

UPG Sustainability Leaders are already making a difference across the world:

Nominate a Candidate

Are you part of an organisation and would you like to support one or several outstanding young leaders to get a seat in the UPG Sustainability Leadership 2026 Class?

The support of an organisation increases an applicant’s chance of being selected for the programme, as it strengthens their capacity to make an impact after the training –

As a nominating organisation, you will benefit from the knowledge your candidate can bring to your organisation (subject to being selected). And you will be kept updated about the programme and other activities this initiative offers.

LOCAL IMPACT AND GLOBAL RESULTS

With the support of courageous people and organisations, a total of 3504 UPG Sustainability Leaders have been trained in three classes and over 120 of them were granted the opportunity to get an additional immersive training on Hurricane Island in the USA. Here, they live first hand what sustainability means and they are presented with different experiences to understand how to address the challenges of specific ecosystems in a sustainable way, exploring the local environment, understanding problems, challenges, and thinking about sustainable solutions based on field investigations.

UPG Sustainability Leaders are part of a worldwide network of young leaders from over 100 countries who create impact locally AND globally through their projects and mini-training sessions. They learn not only about the importance of the SDGs, but also how to use UPG’s Four Pillars to move from “ideals and goals” to “positive action”. And they learn from each other.

The curriculum of the 9-week intensive training encompasses a wide range of subjects including but not limited to – project management, stakeholder engagement, communication, digital communications, story telling, fundraising, and much more. Sustainability Leaders also explored how sustainability is related to economics, politics, law, culture, technology, education, and more.

“The goal of this training is to increase the capacity of UPG Sustainability Leaders to lead at least one project of their own choosing in their community. In addition, upon the conclusion of this training, UPG Sustainability Leaders conduct a secondary wave of mini-training sessions within their communities; contributing to a ground swell of informed citizens taking positive action and demonstrating sustainability leadership.”

UPG Sustainability Leaders have trained over 86,000 citizens worldwide through online and in-person sessions, and this is only the beginning.

“We started small and we focused on doing what we do with love. Today we are humbled by the impact that we are having around the world. We are inspired by the commitment of young people as well as by the quality of partners and collaborators that are working with us. Thank you! Together we are making the world a better place. Please let us keep building,” Yemi Babington-Ashaye. President, United People Global.

A STATE OF THE ART GLOBAL TRAINING

UPG Sustainability Leadership is the world’s largest and most comprehensive sustainability leadership training for young adults.

It is a free programme that mobilises people and organisations to support positive citizen leadership on sustainability. And this is possible thanks to the support of UPG’s partners and collaborators.

Check out the list of world class speakers and trainers for the UPG Sustainability Leadership Class

2026 UPG SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP

CRITERIA TO PARTICIPATE

The following conditions apply to prospective candidates who are interested in becoming UPG Sustainability Leaders.

Personal Motivation

You demonstrate a strong motivation to become a UPG Sustainability Leader combined with strong capabilities and you also have initial ideas that can have an impact.

Age Requirement

Your age is minimum 18 years or maximum 35 years between 1 March and 31 July 2025. This ensures that all participants are within this age group for the duration of the training and experiences that are planned.

Selection Criteria

UPG is looking for young determined people from all different paths of life and regions of the world. From well-experienced professionals to freshly graduated students. The selection process considers four factors:
A. Your Profile – this helps us to strive for diversity
B. Your Motivation – we select the most motivated
C. Your Capabilities and
D. The Potential for Impact of your project or idea

UPG Champions

UPG Champions have an advantage in the process as they demonstrate the required motivation. UPG Champions that are part of a local “Community of Champions” or Champions who are from an organisation that is a UPG Champion also have an advantage in the selection process as this contributes to a supportive environment for their work.

To find out more about UPG Champions, click here:

TIMELINE

If you are interested in being part of the 2025 Class of UPG Sustainability Leadership then get prepared as the call for applications will be open soon!

1 SEPT 2024

Launch of Applications

31 DEC 2024

Applications Close

14 FEB 2025

Selection Announcement

17 MAR 2025

Classes Start

16 May 2025

Classes End

17 MAY 2025

Certification Period

17 June 2025

Certification Period End