What's this all about?
The 2026 Video Challenge is now officially closed. We will announce next years contest in the coming months, to launch in Fall 2026!
This year our approach was new! We partnered with George Washington University’s Planet Forward, where Planet Forward mentors college students on storytelling in search of solutions to our planet’s environmental challenges. They hosted a workshop for teen submitters to the Challenge on Saturday Dec. 13th 2025!
Ten teen winners won and the top three recieved $1000, $500 and $250 and were connected with a Planet Forward journalist and our global network of teens working to make the world a better place!
Our annual Teens Dream global video changemaker challenge on the UN SDGs opened at our Fall Celebration November 1, 2025! The challenge is free and open to teens ages 13-19 from anywhere in the world! Videos need to be in English and follow our format. Very important to read here.
Teen participants had until January 25th, 2026 to upload a short video (60-90 seconds filmed vertically) that relates to one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and articulates what they would do to address that challenge! See below for specific requirements this year!
- Language: Must be in English (subtitles encouraged for accessibility)
- On-Screen Presence: Creator must appear on camera
- SDG Connection: Must clearly state which SDG is being addressed within the first 15 seconds
- Action Plan: Must present at least one specific, actionable solution you would implement
- Original Content: All content must be original – no copyrighted music, images, or video clips
Familiarize yourself with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Make sure to read the judging rubric here and scroll down for contest rules.
“The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice.” Check out our website and the SDG rap video to learn more!
Winners can receive up to $1000 in prize money. All teen submitters receive a full page on our website with their submission. Submitters will be invited to join our SDG Hubs where they work with other teens globally and adult mentors to receive support on their project ideas and work collaboratively on other projects as interested. Winners meet with Co Lab staff, receive a certificate when they have their solution showcased in our annual virtual Fall celebration!
We utilize the Teens Dream video challenge to inspire teens to make the world a better place. Winners will be announced at our spring virtual celebration and will have five months to start implementing their vision for action and be recognized at our Fall celebration and given a certificate.
There will be 10 winners of which the top three will receive monetary prizes of $1000, $500 and $250. These top three winners also have the chance to meet virtually with a Planet Forward Journalist! Those winners who get active in our Hubs and stay engaged would be eligible to be invited to apply to join our teen delegation to the United Nations HLPF in July (at their expense and assuming they have a visa).
We invite all submitters to join our SDG Hubs! All submitters also have a full page on our website and their video is listed in our Youtube Channel! Many submitters will become active in our SDG Hubs and some may even lead a Hub and join us at in-person events. This past summer Co Lab Hub teens attended the United Nations High Level Political Forum in New York, see here!
Our goal is to build a global community of teen changemakers working with adult mentors and partner organizations to act on global challenges as outlined in the SDGs. See our hundreds of prior submissions and winners of our annual Teens Dream Video Competition from over 60 countries! Join us in submitting your video. Start now! What are you waiting for?
Please convert your video to youtube or Vimeo and put that link on the submission page. Email us if you have questions at staff@globalcolab.net
VIDEO TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Format and Content Specifications click HERE!
PRIZES & RECOGNITION
10 Winners Total:
1st Place: $1,000
- Virtual Meeting with a professional journalist (via Planet Forward)
- Certificate of achievement
- Featured at our Fall Celebration
- Full feature on our website
2nd Place: $500
- Virtual Meeting with a professional journalist (via Planet Forward)
- Certificate of achievement
- Featured at our Fall Celebration
- Full feature on our website
3rd Place: $250
- Virtual Meeting with a professional journalist (via Planet Forward)
- Certificate of achievement
- Featured at our Fall Celebration
- Full feature on our website
4th-10th Place: No Cash Prize
- Certificate of achievement
- Featured at our Fall Celebration
- Full feature on our website
ALL Participants Receive:
- Invitation to join our SDG Hubs (work with teens globally!)
- Your video posted on our YouTube channel
- Full page on the Teens Dream website
- Opportunity to attend future events and potentially join UN HLPF delegation if they join our SDG Hubs
Video Competition Rules
- You must be 13 to 19 years old!
- You can be from anywhere in the world, but the video must be in English.
- You may work individually or as a group, but one person must apply and represent on behalf of the group.
- Parents and adults can be advisors but shall not have any hands on involvement.
- You can submit videos multiple years in a row, but if you win, you can’t win twice in a row.
- All submitters must have verified contact information.
- Immediate family members of the organizers are ineligible to submit!
Create a 60-90 second vertical video that expresses your dream, how it relates to one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and how you, as an agent of change, plan to see it realized.
Videos will be judged based on the criteria outlined in the Rubric. The video must be appropriate for viewers who are 10 years and older. Individuals or groups may submit one video per SDG Category. Upload your video to the Teens Dream website starting November 1, 2025 – with a closing deadline of January 25th, 2026 at 11:59PM EST.
The video opening title must read “2026 Teens Dream – (a name that highlights your dream, for example “2026 Teens Dream – Global Equality”).
The video closing title should be at least 2 seconds with the following text: “Submitted to the 2026 Teens Dream Video Competition: Changemaker Challenge
Click the “Submit” button here and fill out the simple submission page — which opens on the Teens Dream website November 1, 2025. Be sure you read carefully and approve the terms and conditions.
Judges will review all video submissions and select the top ten winning videos, based on the criteria listed in the Judging Rubric. Each of the top 10 finalists will receive a certificate and the top three will receive a monetary prize up to $1000 and all submitters will be eligible to apply to our SDG hubs. They will be featured on the Teens Dream website and acknowledged accordingly as winners. They will be notified by email before the end of April, 2026 with details on their winnings and any events planned.
All winners may be asked to present progress on their projects at the 2026 Fall celebration.
All winners will be introduced to the Global Co Lab SDG Hubs and strongly encouraged to join with other teens to become agents of change for issues that interest them.
Questions? Contact the team at staff@globalcolab.net.