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Student Minority Projects Challenge - 2026 Edition

Take part in the Student Minority Projects Challenge- 2026 Edition, an international initiative launched by the UN Special Rapporteur Nicolas Levrat, highlighting youth-led approaches to minority issues!
Sophie Cooper May 26, 2026

Last year, I had the privilege of winning the 2025 Edition of the Student Minority Projects Challenge with my Leadership in Action project on digital storytelling with national minorities in the Denmark-Germany border region. I was then invited to the UN Forum on Minority Issues in Geneva to presenting my research, which was both inspiring and deeply rewarding. It was a rare and transformative opportunity to engage with experts, practitioners, and members of minority communities across the world! 

The deadline for 2026 Edition of the Student Minority Projects Challenge is apporaching soon and if you’re a student working on these topics, this is your chance to contribute meaningfully and gain global exposure, I would highly encourage you to submit your projects!

The Challenge is open to university students at ALL levels (BA, MA, PhD), and welcomes relevant work completed individually or collaboratively during the past academic year (2025-2026). Projects may be submitted in diverse formats, including course papers, theses, reports, workshops, podcasts, videos, and more. 
The deadline for submissions is 15th June 2026.
The student (or team) proposing the most innovative project will receive a fully funded opportunity to present their work at the United Nations Forum on Minority Issues in Geneva on 26–27th November 2026.  
Who can participate? 
  • Must be a university student - any level  
  • Solo students 
  • Small groups (2-4 students)  
  • Each student or group will need an academic mentor (faculty member, advisor, etc) who will provide guidance for the project submission 
What types of projects can you submit?  
  • We are looking for minority issues that bring new ideas, analytical insights, or creative approaches to 
    • Mitigate or prevent discrimination in all its forms; 
    • Address the root causes of minority issues, including the structural, social, political, economic, or cultural factors underpinning exclusion; 
    • Foster peaceful coexistence and inclusion in diverse societies. 
  • Projects can be submitted in diverse formats, including course papers, theses, reports, workshops, podcasts, videos, and more 
 Why participate? 
  • Share your ideas and experiences with an international audience 
  • Submissions will be reviewed by an international jury 
  • The opportunity to present your work at the United Nations in Geneva 26–27 November 2026 during the 19th edition of the UN Forum on Minority Issues. 

You can find more information, including how to submit on the website, and if you have other questions, please feel free to contact me!

If you want to find out more about my experiences at the UN Forum on Minority Issues, you can read my MIDAS blog here: https://www.eurac.edu/en/blogs/midas/what-minority-inclusion-means-reflections-from-the-un-forum-on-minority-issues