What is the name of your organization?
Next-Rise
What is the name of your solution?
Next-Rise Fellowship
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Empowering youth from low-income countries with critical thinking, AI and entrepreneurial skills to reduce unemployment and create sustainable Rising.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Dhaka, Bangladesh
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Bangladesh
What type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
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What specific problem are you solving?
Youth unemployment and underemployment have long been accepted as serious challenges across the globe, especially in the low- and middle-income settings. The World Bank says that 85% of youth reside in these areas. In the next ten years, 800 million youth might find themselves unemployed within developing countries. One principal cause of this problem is the education-output-market-input mismatch: in particular, the lack of critical thinking, digital literacy, and problem-solving skills. Many of the youth do not even know about the available free learning resources and are unable to prepare for very fast-changing labor markets with operational systems, artificial intelligence, and automation. In Bangladesh or similar contexts, students tend to graduate without an idea of career paths, practical skills, internship, mentorship, and relevant career advice. These factors contribute to the massive poverty, social unrest, and waste of human potential.
The Next-Rise Fellowship operates at the intersection of these problems, being an access-free, globally interconnected training for young people in critical thinking, AI awareness, and entrepreneurial mindset—the intention being to empower the youth to either self-create employment opportunities or for others, rather than sit and await for opportunities to arise.
What is your solution?
The Next-Rise Fellowship is a live, well-guided program extending over 5 months that empowers the youth in low- and middle-income countries with critical skills for the modern-day workforce. The fellowship is structured around three core modules designed to focus on Critical Thinking & Problem Solving, Technology & AI Awareness, and Career Readiness & Innovation, with each core module providing more than 100 hours of live sessions, video tutorials, and interactive assessments.
The implementation of the program prides itself on using real-time data, real-world examples, and masterclasses by global experts comprising educators, CEOs, and founders. It is not a self-paced course; it is a structured, school-like experience with mentorship and feedback, a small community, and support. There is no entry barrier, and it is open to all deserving youth, with particular attention to first-generation learners.
The participants completing the program unlock access to global networks, free resources, mentorship opportunities, grant opportunities, internships, and recommendation letters. We use appropriate techno-tools (Zoom, YouTube, LMS platforms, with WhatsApp for support) to allow even the most remote participant to benefit.
The solution nurtures latent talent and converts passive learners into future-ready changemakers who either create their own enterprises or thrive in a dynamic employment market.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
The Next-Rise Fellowship reaches out to underserved youth from low- and middle-income nations, especially first-generation students, unemployed or underemployed youth, and those who lack quality education, mentorship, and digital access. Many come from marginalized or rural backgrounds where education is obsolete and guidance is scarce. In these environments, youth find it difficult to keep their learning relevant to the real world or get hold of free global opportunities that could change their lives.
Our intervention addresses these gaps by providing these youth with critical thinking skills, technology exposure, awareness of AI, and market-relevant problem-solving skills. They will become future-ready through interactive live sessions, global master classes, personalized mentorship, and access to real-time data and tools.
The impact is transformational. The youth will gain the confidence and skills to either choose their career paths, undertake internships, access scholarships, or even start creating jobs. We remove all the barriers to entry and take them step by step so that there is no wasted opportunity for any hidden talent. The Next-Rise Fellowship allows them to rise—not just by themselves but socially and economically.
