YLabs Seeks Passionate Youth for 2026 Leadership Fellowship
YLabs is offering a unique remote fellowship opportunity for young leaders across the United States. The YLabs Youth Leadership Fellow position is part of the AskingforaFriend.org (AFAF) initiative, which focuses on digital youth wellness. This program is designed for individuals passionate about adolescent health, youth empowerment, and mental well-being, especially for marginalized communities. The fellowship provides a chance to directly influence a national platform that addresses critical issues like mental health, sexual health, and gender-based violence. Successful applicants will receive compensation of up to $5,000 per month while working with a globally recognized youth innovation organization. The application deadline is June 5, 2026.
About YLabs and AskingforaFriend.org
YLabs is an international organization established in 2014 at the Harvard Innovation Lab. It specializes in creating technologies and solutions that empower young people, focusing on their opportunities, agency, and well-being. The organization combines expertise in youth-centered design, adolescent health, behavioral science, and digital product development. They have worked in 18 countries, with operations in Rwanda and the United States, focusing on health, economic opportunity, and climate resilience.
AskingforaFriend.org (AFAF) is a digital platform developed with and for adolescents aged 12-19. Co-designed with over 300 young people in California, AFAF helps youth access and use sensitive wellness resources. The platform covers areas such as sexual health, mental health, identity affirmation, gender-based violence support, and emotional well-being. YLabs is currently working to expand AFAF nationally across the United States to reach more young people.
The Youth Leadership Fellow Role
The Youth Leadership Fellow will be instrumental in supporting the national expansion of AskingforaFriend.org. This role involves working closely with YLabs experts, other youth leaders, international fellows, public health professionals, and digital campaign teams. It is an ideal position for a young person interested in youth advocacy, digital health, storytelling, and community engagement. The fellowship runs from June to October 2026, with a time commitment of 50% to 100% of a full-time role.
Fellowship Responsibilities
The selected fellow will engage in various activities to support the platform’s growth and reach. These responsibilities are designed to provide hands-on experience in youth-focused initiatives and digital health.
Developing Youth Wellness Content
A key part of the fellowship involves creating content for the AFAF platform. This includes developing decision support tools, health quizzes, frequently asked questions (FAQ) responses, and informational wellness content. This content will directly address the issues and concerns raised by young people using the platform. Topics covered will span mental health, sexual wellness, healthy relationships, identity support, emotional well-being, and safety resources.
Supporting Partnership Development
The fellow will assist in identifying and connecting with organizations and individuals who share the mission of AskingforaFriend.org. This involves building strategic relationships, expanding outreach efforts, and strengthening youth support networks. The goal is to foster collaborations that can amplify the platform’s impact and reach.
Contributing to National Marketing Campaigns
As AFAF expands beyond California, the fellow will support the creation of a national awareness campaign. Responsibilities may include developing paid and organic social media content, engaging in youth-centered storytelling, crafting campaign messages, and executing digital outreach strategies. This offers valuable experience in digital marketing and campaign management.
Advocacy and Public Engagement
The fellowship may also involve supporting advocacy efforts and public engagement activities. This could include assisting with webinars, conference presentations, youth advocacy initiatives, and public awareness events. These activities provide opportunities for leadership development and public speaking experience.
Who Should Apply?
YLabs encourages applications from young individuals who are deeply committed to youth well-being and social impact. The organization particularly welcomes those who care about helping young people access support and information, have experience advocating for youth issues, or have studied health, education, or public health. Volunteering in youth-centered initiatives and possessing strong communication skills are also valued. YLabs emphasizes that traditional credentials are not required; they highly value lived experience, authenticity, passion, creativity, community connection, and leadership potential.
Desired Qualifications
While formal qualifications are not strictly necessary, YLabs looks for candidates who demonstrate certain strengths. Strong communication skills, including excellent writing abilities and the capacity to communicate effectively with adolescents, are important. Candidates should also show a passion for youth advocacy, digital health, public health education, and social impact. A personal connection to the mission of AskingforaFriend.org is also highly valued, encouraging applicants to reflect on how the platform addresses needs they or their communities have experienced.
Compensation and Benefits
The Youth Leadership Fellow position offers a monthly compensation of up to USD 5,000, commensurate with experience. Beyond financial compensation, participants will gain significant professional development opportunities. These include leadership experience, national advocacy exposure, public health communication skills, digital campaign experience, and professional networking. Fellows will collaborate with international experts and gain experience in youth-centered design and innovation. This fellowship can greatly benefit future careers in public health, youth development, advocacy, communications, nonprofit leadership, and social innovation.
Application Requirements
Interested candidates must submit a current resume detailing their education, experience, and relevant involvement. Additionally, applicants are required to submit a short video, between 2 and 5 minutes long. This video should introduce the applicant, explain their passion for Asking for a Friend, their reasons for wanting to be the Youth Leadership Fellow, and why they are the best fit for the role. Applicants should also share ideas for new quizzes, FAQs, or support tools the platform could include. Videos can be uploaded to Google Drive or YouTube, and applicants should ensure they are accessible before pasting the link into the application form. Professional editing is not required; authenticity and clarity are prioritized.
Information Session and Application Deadline
An online information session will be held on May 29, 2026, at 11:00 AM PST, providing an opportunity for interested applicants to learn more about the role. The deadline to submit applications is June 5, 2026. YLabs encourages early applications. Applications can be submitted through the official YLabs careers platform. YLabs is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the YLabs Youth Leadership Fellowship?
It’s a remote fellowship opportunity for young leaders to help expand the AskingforaFriend.org digital platform, which focuses on youth wellness topics like mental and sexual health.
Who is eligible to apply for the fellowship?
Young individuals passionate about youth well-being, social impact, and adolescent health are encouraged to apply, especially those with lived experience or a strong desire to advocate for youth.
What are the main responsibilities of a Youth Leadership Fellow?
Fellows will create content for the platform, help build partnerships, support national marketing campaigns, and potentially engage in advocacy and public speaking.
What is the application deadline and how do I apply?
The deadline to apply is June 5, 2026. You need to submit a resume and a short video introducing yourself and your ideas for the platform.
