WHO Global Youth Competition on Influenza and COVID-19 Prevention and Control: Apply Now

Application Deadline: September 13, 2026

Applications are now open for the WHO Global Youth Competition on Influenza and COVID-19 Prevention and Control, an international opportunity inviting students and young professionals to use creativity and digital storytelling to promote respiratory infection prevention.

Organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), the competition challenges young people aged 18–35 to create short videos answering the theme: “How do you shield your circle from respiratory infections, like influenza and COVID-19?”

For young people across Africa and other regions, this is more than a video competition. It provides an opportunity to contribute to public health communication, challenge misinformation and demonstrate how youth-led digital content can influence healthier behaviours within communities.

Participants do not need to produce a complicated film. WHO welcomes formats such as storytelling, interviews, reels, animation, drawings, poems and dialogue. The key is to communicate an accurate, clear and engaging message within a maximum of 90 seconds.

About the WHO Global Youth Competition

The competition is designed to encourage young people to become active communicators of reliable health information. Participants are asked to explore how individuals and communities can better protect themselves from seasonal influenza and COVID-19 while addressing common doubts and misinformation.

The initiative is particularly relevant in an era when health information spreads rapidly through social media. A short, well-designed video can reach audiences who may never read a lengthy health article or official report.

WHO’s competition therefore combines public health awareness, youth engagement and digital storytelling. Participants can work individually or in teams, giving students an opportunity to collaborate on research, scripting, filming, editing and communication.

Competition Theme and Video Prompts

Every submission must address at least one of the official prompts.

Prompt 1: Protecting Vulnerable Groups

Participants can explain who may need additional protection from seasonal influenza or COVID-19, how vulnerable groups can protect themselves and why community protection matters.

Prompt 2: Responding to Doubts

This prompt focuses on communication. Participants can demonstrate how they would respectfully respond when someone in their community has doubts about influenza or COVID-19 prevention and control.

Prompt 3: Addressing Health Myths

Participants can identify misinformation circulating in their communities and explain how they would respond with accurate and understandable information.

These prompts create room for participants to connect a global health issue with realities in their own communities.

Benefits of Participating

Although the competition does not advertise a cash prize, selected participants can gain valuable recognition and professional exposure.

Key benefits include:

• Global visibility: The winning videos will be featured by WHO on the competition webpage.
• International exposure: The winning participant or team will be invited to present the video during a global webinar focused on influenza and COVID-19 prevention and control in October 2026.
• WHO certificate: The student(s) behind the winning video will receive a certificate featuring their name(s) and video title.
• Public health experience: Participants gain practical experience communicating health information to a public audience.
• Digital storytelling skills: Creating a 90-second campaign video can strengthen skills in scripting, visual communication, editing and social media storytelling.
• Teamwork opportunities: Students can collaborate with peers and divide responsibilities across research, production and editing.
• Portfolio development: A strong submission can become a useful addition to a student’s, communicator’s or young professional’s portfolio.

WHO plans to select one global winning video and up to six videos as runners-up. Winners will be notified in October 2026.

Who Can Apply?

The opportunity is open to:

• Students aged 18–35.
• Young professionals aged 18–35.
• Students may participate individually or as part of a team.
• Each submitted video must address at least one official competition prompt.
• Applicants can submit up to three videos.
• Videos can be created in any language but must contain English subtitles.
• If AI is used to generate any part of the submission, this must be disclosed in the submission form.

There is also an important consent requirement: participants must confirm that people appearing in the video have consented to being filmed and are over 18.

How to Apply and Important Deadline

The competition and submission form opened on August 3, 2026.

Applications must be submitted through the designated Microsoft Forms submission system no later than:

September 13, 2026 at 23:45 CEST

WHO expects to notify the winner(s) in October 2026.

Application Steps

1. Review the official competition requirements.
2. Select one or more of the three available prompts.
3. Research the health information carefully using credible sources.
4. Develop a simple concept and script.
5. Record and edit a video of no more than 90 seconds.
6. Add accurate English subtitles.
7. Complete the submission form, including the motivation, potential impact and dissemination questions.
8. Confirm consent and eligibility requirements.
9. Submit before the deadline.

Official application: Search for the WHO Global Youth Competition on Influenza and COVID-19 Prevention and Control on the WHO website and access the official Microsoft Forms submission link provided in the announcement.

How to Create a Strong Submission

A polished video does not necessarily require expensive equipment. What matters is whether the message is accurate, memorable and relevant.

Start with one clear message. Ninety seconds is short. Avoid trying to answer all three prompts in detail. Choose one issue and develop it well.

Make the community connection obvious. A video showing how misinformation affects people in a school, workplace, family or neighbourhood may be more relatable than a generic health lecture.

Prioritize accuracy. Health misinformation can cause real harm. Verify claims against authoritative health information before including them in your script.

Use storytelling. Instead of simply listing facts, consider opening with a question, short scenario, conversation or myth that immediately captures attention.

Keep the visuals simple. A smartphone, natural lighting, clear audio and thoughtful editing can be enough. The audience should understand the message without being distracted by unnecessary effects.

Do not overlook subtitles. English subtitles are mandatory, even when the spoken language is different. Check spelling and timing carefully before submitting.

Explain your intended impact. The submission form asks about potential impact and feasibility for community dissemination. Think beyond “people will learn something.” Explain where the video could realistically be shared, such as schools, youth groups, community organisations or social media platforms.

Be transparent about AI. If AI contributes to any portion of the video, disclose its use as required by WHO.

Why Young Africans Should Consider This Opportunity

Young Africans are increasingly using social media, video and digital storytelling to communicate issues affecting their communities. This competition provides a practical way to turn those skills into a public-health communication project.

For students studying medicine, public health, communications, media, development studies or related disciplines, the experience can also demonstrate initiative and the ability to translate complex information into accessible messages.

More broadly, the competition illustrates an important shift in global development: young people are not only audiences for public-health campaigns—they can also become creators and community advocates.

Conclusion

The WHO Global Youth Competition on Influenza and COVID-19 Prevention and Control offers students and young professionals an opportunity to combine creativity, digital skills and public-health advocacy on an international platform.

With only 90 seconds available, the strongest submissions will likely be those that communicate one clear idea, use accurate information and connect the issue to real community experiences.

For more information and to apply, CLICK HERE

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