Gallipoli Youth Award 2027

We will remember them.

ANZAC Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Türkiye is a place of special significance for New Zealanders and Australians. Every year on 25 April, we pause to remember the brave soldiers of the Australia New Zealand Army Corps, who fought during the Gallipoli campaign in World War I.
We honour the ANZACs as well as all other servicemen and women who have served, fallen, and are still today sacrificing their safety in wars and conflicts throughout the world.

For ANZAC Day 2027, AFS New Zealand together with AFS Türkiye and supported by the AFS Educational Trust and the Michael Jull Memorial Trust, is offering a special scholarship to remember our shared history and celebrate our mission of peace through intercultural exchange.

The AFS Gallipoli Youth Award 2027 is a three-week scholarship programme.
Three students from New Zealand will travel to Türkiye, where their stay will include visiting Gallipoli for the ANZAC service. In return, students from Türkiye may come to New Zealand and take part in an ANZAC Day service here.

All NZ participants must be descendants of a servicemember
involved in the World War I Gallipoli campaign.

Application Dates

Open: Monday 7th September 2026
Close: Sunday 11th October 2026

Decisions by: Monday 2nd November 2026

Programme Dates: 7th April – 27th April 2027

(possible minor variation, tbc)

For 3 New Zealand Students

What's included

This scholarship programme is supported by the AFS Educational Trust, Michael Jull Memorial Trust, AFS New Zealand and AFS Türkiye.
Participants will need to contribute a fee of $4,000

The programme includes:

  • Pre-departure orientation in Auckland
  • Return flights to Türkiye from Auckland & internal travel to host families in Türkiye
  • Medical and Personal Liability Insurance
  • Host family placements during three-week stay in Türkiye
  • 24/7 support from AFS Türkiye and AFS New Zealand

Here is the itinerary of the 2026 programme have a look at everything the participants
got to see and experience! (Note: 2027 programme itinerary may vary)

gallipoli-2

Eligibility

You will need to:

  • Be either year 11, 12 or 13 at school in 2027
  • Have a natural relative who served in the Gallipoli campaign
  • Be enrolled in a New Zealand school as a citizen or permanent resident
  • Be capable of adjusting to new experiences and environments, and open to adjusting to cultural difference
  • Be available to attend pre-departure orientation camp in Auckland 5th – 7th December 2026

  If you meet the criteria, please follow the steps to apply below.

Apply

1. Let’s make sure your eligible

Complete this form

Eligibility Check

2. Complete your application!

Submit your form, presentation and video application to [email protected]

Gallipoli Application Form

Reminder: Application deadline is the 11th October 2026
If you have any questions please email us on [email protected]

TUR

Zoom Session with Q&A

Attend an information zoom session run by AFS NZ covering:

  • How it works to go on a short programme with AFS
  • What is covered by the scholarship
  • Q&A for you and your parent/guardian
Register

Testimonials

Lexie

“The other said, ‘He is crying because we respect your soldiers who fought so bravely so far from home, and we respect you for coming so far to respect them and being so friendly with us. We were enemies, but like Atatürk’s words, they are our sons, and we are like family.'”

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Takikawa

“I won’t forget the wairua of all my tīpuna standing with me as I stood up on Chunuk Bair… and I will never forget the feeling of knowing some of my tīpuna māori still lay on foreign land.” “Ko ētahi rerekētanga i kite ahau… ngā mahi manaakitanga o ngā tāngata ki reira ki a mātou ngā manuhiri.”

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Tim

“During the service, I felt myself getting emotional as there was a display on the screen of the different soldiers who died, their age and what regiment/battalion they were a part of.. I saw someone aged 17, and that one hit too close to home..”

Read More

Learn About Türkiye

Country Information