Leadership & entrepreneurship
The lab · The New Forge Lab
The New Forge Lab trains and equips young leaders to build lasting solutions in their own communities. Leadership is practised on real projects, with mentoring that lasts beyond the first burst of enthusiasm.
Discover the labAssignments
- Study the conditions for youth entrepreneurship: access to finance, the informal economy, incubation, support
- Gather research on what builds young people’s leadership: mentoring, responsibilities entrusted, learning through projects
- Follow youth-led social innovation and the public policies that support it
- Write analyses for the editorial board, with every source checked
- Document the projects The New Forge Lab supports as case studies, with the project leaders’ consent
- Work with the Impact Projects Officer, who supports the projects, and with The Southern Compass Lab’s Youth, Education and Employment Data Analyst
- Prepare every interview and questionnaire with the Research Ethics Adviser and the Survey Research Officer, with a parent’s agreement for every minor interviewed
Tools to master
- OpenAlex and Google Scholar: academic literature
- Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, ILOSTAT and the World Bank: data on entrepreneurship and youth employment
- Google Workspace: the lab’s shared drive, Docs and Meet, with NotebookLM for sources
- Claude: preparing interviews and drafting first summaries, with every result checked by you
What you will deliver
- Analyses of youth entrepreneurship and leadership
- Case studies of the projects supported
Profile we are looking for
- Studies in economics, management, sociology or political science, in progress or completed, or equivalent experience
- Methodological rigour and a taste for evidence
- Clear, lively writing
- Attentive listening and respect for the people you interview
- Open to adults aged eighteen and over
A volunteer role, open to young people
Every role we offer is fully voluntary. The experience we ask for can come from a course, a student project, an internship, volunteering or a personal project: every skill counts, wherever you gained it. Our roles are designed first and foremost for young people, and we weigh your motivation and potential as carefully as your track record. Want to be part of something big? Apply.
Nice to have
- Experience of a youth-led project, business or non-profit
- Knowledge of entrepreneurship in a country in Africa, Asia or the Americas
- Good English and French
What this role gives you
- Analyses and case studies under your name, published once accepted by the editorial board
- A research method applied to real projects
- Connections with mentors and young leaders across several continents
Applications open until ; a new cycle follows
Applications open in forty-five-day cycles, each followed by the next. YouthShare reserves the right to close this listing as soon as the right person is found. We therefore encourage you to apply now.
The one-year commitment
A non-profit project is built over time. Every volunteer therefore commits for at least one year: time to settle in, carry the assignment through and pass on what they have learned. The weekly time depends on the role and is given in each role description.
How selection works
Online application
You choose a role, present your background and attach your CV. A confirmation email gives you your reference.
Profile review
The Talent team reads every application, matches it with the needs of the role and sends you a first reply by email within three days on average.
Video interview
A conversation to get to know each other and shape the assignment together.
Decision and arrival
You receive our answer by email, followed by a welcome to the team and access to its tools.
Know the right person?
Recommend this role to them: they receive an email from YouthShare that presents it, with your name and the link to apply. You can also share the listing on your networks.