Schmidt Futures and Rhodes Trust, Supported by Deutschlandstiftung Integration, Launch Global „Rise“ Program to Find the Next Generation of Leaders and Support Them for Life

Rise seeks to identify talented young people, ages 15 to 17, from around the world who have the potential to use their talents to tackle the world’s most pressing issues. The program will build a global community of rising leaders, connecting everyone who applies with peers around the world, free learning resources, and access to additional opportunities from the Rise network of partners. Additionally, each year, Rise will select 100 Global Winners and provide them with a lifetime of personalized support—including scholarships, mentorship, career services, and access to funding to develop their ideas—as they work together to serve others.  

Rise is working with dozens of global partners—from schools to businesses to local governments—to identify and support talented young people in communities throughout the world. 

Deutschlandstiftung Integration maintains the Rise Secretariat in Germany and is responsible for coordinating outreach and selection efforts across local Rise partners and supporting organizations. DSI will further leverage its own network to encourage exceptionally bright and socially conscious 15-17 year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds in Germany to apply to the Rise program. Rise community members will be supported by DSI through mentoring and other development opportunities.

“Today’s young people will face a rapidly changing world of challenges on a scale unprecedented in human history,” said Wendy Schmidt, Co-founder of Schmidt Futures. “Through this ambitious program, we hope to engage tomorrow’s leaders across the globe, providing education and unique opportunities for them to identify problems, solutions, and ways they can work together, for a lifetime, in the service of humanity.”

“We are living in a time of both significant global challenges and unique global opportunities,” said Eric Schmidt, Co-founder of Schmidt Futures. “With the launch of Rise, we hope to identify and empower the next generation of brilliant leaders around the world in a way that has never been done before. We’ll harness the power of technology to find talented young people who would otherwise go undiscovered or unsupported, connect them in a global community, and give them the resources to use their talents for good throughout their lives.” 

“By joining RISE, we will support young people in Germany and beyond to implement their ideas for a better future.”said Christian Wulff, Former Federal President of Germany and DSI Chairman of the board. “We look forward to connecting exceptional young people from all over the world with the aim of tackling global challenges together. The German Foundation for Integration is proud to become a member of a global network of like-minded organizations and contribute with its long-term experience in the areas of migration, equal access to education, and anti-discrimination. I am convinced that this diverse community of talents will create a significant positive impact.”

“Rise is an incredible opportunity to identify talent early and to nurture public-spirited young people who have the potential to do extraordinary things,” said Dr. Elizabeth Kiss, Warden and CEO of the Rhodes Trust. “At the Rhodes Trust, we have experienced the power of creating a lifelong network of exceptional talent. Whether it is the importance of being part of an innovative community for moments of intense challenge such as COVID, or sharing insights and expertise in order to tackle longer-standing issues such as climate change, the network of Rhodes Scholars is remarkable and I have every confidence that Rise will be similarly powerful in terms of moral engagement and mutual support.”

Rise Application Process

Beginning today through Jan. 29, 2021, young people ages 15 to 17 as of July 1, 2021 can apply to Rise through Hello World – Rise, a global, mobile-first platform available on Google Play and the iOS App Store. 

The Rise application is designed to identify potential, rather than evaluating applicants solely on grades or test scores. Rise looks for brilliant applicants who also demonstrate  perseverance, empathy, and integrity—and who have a calling to make the world better and need an extra boost to make their ideas a reality. 

Throughout the eight-month application and selection process, young people will have an opportunity to showcase these qualities by recording short videos about their background and interests; creating a two-month individual project on a topic about which they are passionate; and presenting their work on the Hello World app and providing feedback on the work of their peers. In the spring of 2021, up to 500 finalists will be selected to participate in a virtual interview.  

All applicants will have access to free online courses on leadership, personal growth, and professional development from experts around the world—including Oscar-winning producer Brian Grazer, in a learning module on curiosity conversations, and psychologist Dr. Angela Duckworth, who will help guide young people through their project.  

Young people without access to the Hello World app can also apply through other low-tech pathways. For more information about how to apply, visit www.risefortheworld.org/apply. 

Rise Global Winners

Rise will announce its first cohort of 100 Rise Global Winners in July 2021. 

Rise Global Winners will attend a summit to develop their leadership skills and explore service opportunities. They will receive a technology package, along with access to exclusive learning opportunities and need-based financial support for education and internships. As they enter the workforce, they’ll receive mentorship and career services. If their work serves their community, they’ll be eligible to apply for funding to support that work. If they have an idea for a social enterprise, they’ll be able to compete for investment capital that has the potential to increase as they show positive results. Throughout their lives, they’ll be part of a global community of leaders and have early access to additional educational and funding opportunities through the network of Rise partners, including universities, businesses, and nonprofits. 

About Schmidt Futures

Schmidt Futures bets early on exceptional people making the world better. Founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt, Schmidt Futures is a philanthropic initiative that brings talent together into networks, bets on the most promising ideas through competition, and equips people to scale through partners and thoughtful application of modern tools.

About The Rhodes Trust

The Rhodes Trust, based at the University of Oxford, brings together and develops exceptional people from all over the world, and in all fields of study, who are impatient with the way things are and have the courage to act. The Rhodes Scholarships are postgraduate awards providing transformative educational opportunities. Established in 1903, they are the oldest and perhaps the most prestigious international graduate scholarship program in the world. Nearly 8,000 Rhodes Scholars have gone on to serve at the forefront of government, education, the arts, NGOs, commerce, research and other sectors. They are well known advocates for expanded social justice, and have advanced the frontiers of science and medicine.

For more information about Rise, visit: www.risefortheworld.org