The Young Tinker Fellowship has an application success rate of less than 1%, making it a highly selective programme.

This is not simply a fellowship where you attend sessions and receive a certificate. It is designed to build discipline, consistency, leadership, and the ability to create measurable impact.

Throughout the Fellowship, Fellows receive:

• Structured impact tracking throughout their journey
• Real-world experience working directly with communities and stakeholders
• Continuous learning through action and responsibility
• Development of professional and leadership skills
• A certification based on actual work and outcomes
• A strong culture of discipline and consistency
• Lifelong connection with the Young Tinker Fellowship community and peers

The Fellowship is built around one principle: learn by doing, create measurable impact, and become capable of leading yourself and others.

The Young Tinker Fellowship may NOT be for you if:

• You are looking for a regular job — this is not a job.
• You are looking for an easy-going experience with minimal responsibility.
• You are not genuinely interested in learning and growing.
• You have a persistent complaining mindset rather than a problem-solving mindset.
• You struggle to maintain discipline and consistency.
• You are unwilling to follow a daily work routine and show up consistently and on time.
• You do not want to take ownership of your work and outcomes.
• You are not willing to lead yourself before leading others.
• You are primarily looking for a certificate rather than an experience that challenges you.

If you want comfort, flexibility without accountability, or a passive experience, this Fellowship is probably not for you.

Yes — if you are easy-going about your commitments and unwilling to work consistently.

It is easier if you are here to learn, take responsibility, and give back.

We expect Fellows to do dedicated, focused work and deliver on the goals they commit to. Unlike a traditional programme where participation itself may be considered success, we work with each Fellow to set specific goals, track progress, and achieve measurable outcomes within a defined timeline.

The Fellowship is challenging because real impact is challenging.

But if you are willing to learn, work consistently, take ownership, and grow through the process, the Fellowship becomes a powerful learning experience.

Yes — but the funding opportunity is not limited to Fellows.

Young Tinker Foundation’s grants are open to eligible applicants. However, our Fellows have an additional advantage because we already have evidence of their work, consistency, leadership, and impact during the Fellowship.

They do not have to spend time convincing us that they can create impact as an individual — we already have their track record and impact data.

After the Fellowship, Fellows can apply for funding to build or test their:

• Impact projects
• Startups
• Schools
• Social enterprises
• Non-profit organisations
• Other initiatives that create meaningful impact

However, Fellows become eligible to apply only after completing a mandatory 3-month cooling-off period.

This three-month period is intentional. It gives Fellows time to take their idea outside the Fellowship environment, put it on the ground, test it, learn from real users or communities, and refine the idea.

After those three months, they can return with stronger evidence and apply with greater clarity and conviction.

The Fellowship does not promise funding. It gives you an opportunity to earn the right to be considered for it through your work and track record.