Grow the Future - a network of green voices promotes the next generation of progressive voices in Germany by offering exceptional opportunities for international learning and dialogue on urgent policy challenges. It aims to create a network of promising young activists and professionals who are leading movements and initiatives to tackle the biggest challenges of our time—from fighting climate change, to protecting human rights and open societies, to ensuring a sustainable future for the next generation. We achieve this by bringing together groups working to create change in two of our topic areas on a study tour to the US in the spring or early summer and hosting an alumni meeting at the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Headquarters in Berlin in the fall.

In 2025, Grow the Future will bring an interdisciplinary group of political campaigners, activists, influencers, educators, journalists, researchers, and policymakers to Canada to explore initiatives and ideas to improve the digital ecosystem to empower humans and protect their rights. Participants will travel to Canada with experts from the Heinrich Böll Foundation from October 5 - 11, 2025 to meet partners working on the threats that democratic societies face from the Big Tech oligarchy and foreign actors who exploit digital technologies to undermine civic discourse.

Participants will examine the ways that Canada and Europe can align to address the challenges that technology poses to democracy. They will meet with Canadian counterparts to discuss whether solutions like decentralized social media, tech sovereignty, and media literacy can lead to more resilient digital ecosystems. They will learn from Canadian lawmakers working on digital policy to explore alignment with the European Union and Germany. Grassroots organizations will share how they are fighting for a more just online ecosystem in the face of shared global pressures.

The study tour is an opportunity to make new connections, share insights, and bring lessons back home. Participants will also become part of the Heinrich Böll Foundation’s Grow the Future network, through which alumni support each other to strengthen progressive and green policies.

Applications are due by 11:59 pm ET on June 20, 2025.

For questions and inquiries, please contact Teresa Eder at teresa.eder[at]us.boell.org and Drew Mitnick at drew.mitnick[at]us.boell.org.

Read the full Call for Applications and apply here.

During the 2024 Grow the Future study tour, participants traveled to Washington, DC and Michigan to share lessons between the US and Germany about how democracy practitioners can effectively communicate what is at stake and build broad, stable, and successful alliances for liberal democracy. The group met with progressive policymakers and campaigners as well as civil society organizations, trade unions, local journalists, climate movements, and experts from academia and think tanks. The tour provided opportunities to share experiences and discuss challenges and strategies with partners.

Previous Grow the Future Tours