Frequently Asked Questions: Rise Finalist Benefit

What is my Rise Finalist Benefit? 

As a Rise Finalist, you are eligible to participate in one of the educational or social impact programs sponsored by Rise. Each program is designed specifically for Rise Finalists and delivered by one of our incredible partner organizations from around the globe. There are six program options that focus on the following topics: 

• Leadership

• Youth Advocacy 

• Artificial Intelligence

• Climate Change

• Critical Thinking 

• Entrepreneurship

You are also invited to a series of optional workshops for all on:

• Empathy Circles

• Professional and Academic Skills

• Sunday Fundays with PGLF and Guest Speakers

As members of the Rise Global Community, Rise Finalists also will receive:

• Community through a network of future leaders with shared interests and talents from over 150 countries

• Access to opportunities from our network of global partners, including universities, businesses, and nonprofit organizations

• Opportunity to build professional and personal skills, learn to showcase ideas, and develop a portfolio with a significant project throughout the application process

• Access to funding on a competitive basis

Note that age-eligible Rise Finalists are invited to apply for the 2022-2023 Rise Challenge.

Why is the Benefit delivered in the form of programming? 

The Rise team has worked to ensure equal and safe access to the Finalist Benefit. In order to do this, we collaborated with partner organizations to design and deliver unique programming tailored to you and the interests you shared during your application journey. We are very excited to see what potential the programming unlocks and to discover how you will apply the knowledge, skills, experiences, and community gained to serve others. 

When is the deadline to select my program? 

The deadline to submit the form with your ranked program choices is May 18, 2022.  Please note that we cannot guarantee you will receive your first choice, but we will do our best to match you to one of your preferred programs.

Are the programs in person or virtual? 

All programs will be offered virtually in an effort to balance the need to keep everyone safe during the COVID-19 pandemic while connecting Finalists across many different countries. 

Will this Rise Finalist Benefit expire?

Yes, you must participate in these programs when offered in 2022. You cannot defer your participation in these programs. 

What if I don’t have sufficient access to data or technology to participate in a program?

If this is the case, please let us know by emailing finalists@risefortheworld.org. We will then contact you to learn more and work on a solution together.

What if I don’t get my first program choice?

Rise will work to try and give each Finalist their first or second choice. We have provided space on the form for you to tell us how strongly you feel about your choice. You may also indicate if you do not have a strong preference to which program. We will do our best!

Can I participate in more than one Rise Finalist program?

No, you can only participate in one of the six programs. 

When will I be notified of my program selection, and how will I enrol?

You will receive an email from the Rise Team with news of your program selection. You will also receive an email from your program facilitators welcoming you to the program. 

Will other Rise Finalists be participating in my program with me?

Yes! We are very excited that these programs will bring the Rise Finalist community together.  You will participate in the program with other Rise Finalists so you can continue learning, sharing, and changing the world together. 

How long do the programs last?

Each program is eight weeks long. You can find information on the program start and end dates in the Rise Finalist Benefit Program Overview.

Are the courses synchronous or asynchronous?

There are elements of each course that are synchronous and asynchronous. Many courses will share the recordings of their live sessions in case you can’t make them, and many will ask you to do some ‘light’ preparation or response work offline. 

How much of my time will the course take?

We are doing the courses when many of you are on holidays but even if you are not, we have worked with the partners to make sure that they take into consideration that you may be at school or university. Therefore we don’t expect these to take more than two hours each week. Once we have people signed up, the partner organizations will work out time zones and groupings and be in touch about when the synchronous aspects of their course will take place. 

Do I have to participate in a specific program?

Each program is designed for an international audience so we encourage you to select your programming options that align best with your interests. Rise has worked with each partner organization to ensure that the courses can accommodate a variety of time zones so you can participate from wherever you are in the world.

Will Rise be evaluating my progress in the program?

Your program will provide the Rise Team with feedback about your attendance and participation, however, there will not be grades/marks on your performance in the program. We will use the feedback that the programs provide to make improvements to our programming offerings in the future. 

Do you have unanswered questions?

We’re here to help. Please email us at finalists@risefortheworld.org and we will respond within 1-2 business days.