Youth Interfaith Leaders Fellowship on Climate Change (2025): Apply Now to Become a Faith-Inspired Climate Leader(Fully-funded)

Application deadline August 31st, 2024 (midnight EST)

Duke University is a private institution located in Durham, North Carolina. Our fellowship will be hosted by Duke Divinity School, headed by Dean Edgardo Colón-Emeric, in collaboration with other departments and faculty members at Duke. The Divinity School was established in 1926 and is dedicated to providing rigorous theological education to foster inclusive, tolerant and enlightened communities around the world.

Faith For Our Planet, in partnership with Duke University’s prestigious Divinity School, is thrilled to announce the third cycle of its fellowship for climate-conscious young leaders from around the world.

25 exceptional young people will get a chance to join a program designed to foster trust and understanding between individuals across faiths, cultures, and sectors while equipping them with knowledge and skills to apply the value-based framework rooted in faith to effectively address climate change.

Our Fellows will be trained by distinguished specialists in religious studies, climate change, cross-cultural and interfaith relations, media, and community work.

Faith leaders, students of eco-theology, environmentalists, community activists, and early career professionals eager to deepen their knowledge of faith and environmental protection are all welcome to apply.

Application will remain open till August 31st, 2024 (midnight EST). Candidates are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible.

Good Luck!

Duke University, North Carolina, USA
May 24th to 30th, 2025

About the Fellowship

The fellowship is a fully funded, week-long residential program at Duke University for the next generation of climate leaders. It offers an invaluable opportunity for young people to be a part of a rapidly growing network of faith-inspired climate actors.

Through expert lectures, interactive sessions, dialogues, and vocational training, fellows will learn to develop impactful faith-based climate action projects for their respective communities. The curriculum will be delivered by distinguished specialists in religious studies, climate change, cross-cultural and interfaith relations, media, and community work

As part of the program, our fellows will:

Develop a comprehensive understanding and application of faith values—specifically on the natural environment and how this connection informs the ideas of leadership, justice, and community—in their climate leadership and community organization efforts
Acquire an improved understanding of community dynamics to tailor interventions that resonate with multi-faith/multi-cultural contexts
Refine communication skills to become articulate, empathetic influencers, adept at both listening and shaping public discourse, guiding community opinion, and engaging decision-makers effectively
Cultivate leadership that embraces cultural and religious diversity, strengthening inclusivity, trust, and equity within their mobilization endeavors
Initiate faith-based climate awareness and community-driven climate action projects

Upon completion of the program, our Fellows will join the ranks of the FFOP Fellowship Alumni Association, providing them with various opportunities to be part of FFOP’s regional events, as well as climate and interfaith campaigns.

Note: FFOP will cover the costs of participants’ air travel, visa fees, accommodation, and food. Any additional expenses will not be covered.

Vision and Approach

We seek to build trust and understanding by connecting individuals across faiths, cultures, and sectors while cultivating their knowledge and skills to highlight the role of faith in generating impactful climate action.

Our aim is to convene the next generation of faith-inspired climate leaders who will apply the fellowship’s learnings to benefit their communities, organizations, and institutions.

Host Institution

FFOP Youth Interfaith Leaders Fellowship will be hosted at Duke University. Duke is reputed for producing world renowned scholars and thinkers including 15 Nobel Laureates, and three Turing Award recipients.

The campus spans over 8,600 acres on three contiguous sub-campuses at the heart of which is the magnificent Duke Chapel indicative of the university’s religious roots and spirit.

Building on that legacy and excellence, we have experts from the Duke Divinity School who have designed and will be delivering, this fellowship for the next generation of global interfaith leaders.

Duke University’s academic excellence, diverse community, and commitment to interfaith dialogue make it an ideal host for our annual FFOP Youth Interfaith Leaders’ Fellowship on Climate Change.

Note: FFOP has partnered with Duke Divinity School to provide support in the design and execution of our program. The Fellowship is not a recognized or accredited program qualification.

Participant Selection Criteria

The fellowship seeks to attract 25 individuals, between the ages of 20 to 35. We aim to maintain an inclusive and diverse cohort with representation from different faiths, communities, abilities, genders, and sectors.

Participants should fulfill the following eligibility criteria:

Participant Expectations

The fellowship seeks to support proactive leaders and agents of change. As such, participants are expected to:

Applying for the Fellowship

All prospective candidates must fill out the application form available on our website. Besides assessing candidates’ eligibility for the program, the online application contains questions on their skills, motivation, and relevant academic/professional/volunteer, and leadership experience.

If successful, applicants will be contacted for an online interview and expected to submit their reference letter(s) within 7 days of getting shortlisted.

Only successful candidates, who clear both our application and interview process, will be notified of their selection via email.

Reference Letters

Candidates who are shortlisted for an interview will need to provide us one letter of recommendation from their workplace or educational institution. The letter must be submitted within 7 days of getting shortlisted and sent to: info@faithforourplanet.org

In their letter, the referee is required to address the following:

Please note, if required, FFOP may contact your referee.

English Proficiency

Although optional, candidates are encouraged to provide a widely recognized English language proficiency test result (such as of IELTS, TOEFL, CAE, etc.) as part of their application. Given that the working language of the fellowship is English, candidates will have to prove that they have sufficient command over the language to both understand and actively participate in the program.

Please note: the absence of such a test will not negatively affect your selection to the program.

Interviews

Candidates who successfully clear the application stage will be called in for an online interview. Each interview will last between 40 to 60 minutes and will include questions on the applicant’s motivation, suitability for the program, relevant experience, and the project they will undertake if selected.

Application Timeline