Faith For Our Planet and Duke Divinity School’s

Youth Interfaith Leaders
Fellowship on Climate Change

We are looking for the next generation of interfaith leaders in climate action. If you’re one, apply now!

Faith For Our Planet, in partnership with Duke University’s prestigious Divinity School, has launched an exciting new program for climate conscious youth leaders from around the world. Whether you are a religious leader, a climate activist, an early career professional in a faith-based organization or a recent graduate who’s just starting out – as long as you’re eager to learn how to mobilize faith communities to combat climate change, we’ve got you covered.

Week-long Fully Funded Program

  • Duke University, North Carolina, USA
  • January 8th to 14th, 2024
Apply Now

25 young leaders will have the opportunity to participate in a unique program that will help them develop the skills and networks they need to create impactful faith-based climate action projects.

On this journey, they will be trained by distinguished specialists in the field of religious studies, climate change, policy, media, and sustainable development who will help them acquire knowledge and skills in eco-theology, systems thinking, community mobilization, advocacy and more.

Applications for the FFOP Youth Fellowship (2024) will open between July 18th to August 20th, 2023. We encourage all interested parties to apply as soon as possible as seats are limited. 

 

Good Luck!

Download Applicant's Guide

About the Fellowship

The fellowship is a fully funded, week-long residential program at Duke University for the next generation of faith leaders. This is an invaluable opportunity for young climate conscious individuals from all faiths and walks of life to become a part of a global network of religious actors engaged in climate action.

Through expert lectures, interactive sessions, policy dialogues, and vocational training, fellows will explore various themes and tap into transferable skills to curate impactful faith-based climate action projects for their respective communities. The curriculum will be delivered by distinguished specialists in the field of theology, climate change, policy, media, and sustainable development.

As part of the program, our fellows will benefit from knowledge on:

  • The interplay between religious beliefs, environmental consciousness and climate action
  • Systems thinking: Identifying the political and economic paradigms of climate change
  • Project planning and community mobilization
  • Strategic communications
  • Climate advocacy and community outreach

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: All travel, visa, accommodation, and subsistence costs will be provided by Faith For Our Planet.

Vision and Approach

The program is designed to convene the next generation of interfaith leaders and changemakers who will apply the learnings from the fellowship to benefit their communities, organizations, and institutions. We cultivate trust and understanding by connecting individuals across faiths, cultures and sectors, while building their knowledge and skills on climate action and how to channel their ideologies into shared responsibilities.

Through this process, FFOP generates trust and an increased value of making a difference, and more importantly, an improved understanding of the role of religion and faith leaders in generating impactful climate action.

Through this initiative, we will focus on specific skills of the next generation of global faith leaders to:

  • Better understand the importance and urgency of climate action by equipping them with an improved understanding of climate change through a systems-based approach.
  • Better utilize skills and methods on community mobilization and social action, such as communication, building public narratives, resource mobilization, project planning for their climate action projects/initiatives.
  • “Think Globally, Act Locally” as agents of change capable of conceptualizing climate crisis as a shared cause yet articulated to suit local needs.
  • Engage with and build powerful networks with other young leaders, experts in the field, premised on mitigating climate change.

Host Institution

The first FFOP Youth Fellowship will be hosted at Duke University, widely considered as one of the most prestigious universities in the United States and around the world. Duke has produced many globally reputed international scholars, 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 that have designed, and will be delivering, this fellowship for the next generation of global interfaith leaders.

Duke University’s rich history of 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 a specifically designed training for selected fellows; the fellowship does not count towards a recognized qualification.

Participant Selection Criteria

The fellowship seeks to attract 25 individuals, between the ages of 20 to 35. We hope to maintain an inclusive and diverse cohort with representation from major faiths, learners of eco-theology, environmental and community activists, early career professionals eager to deepen their knowledge of faith and environmental protection, members of FBOs and NGOs working in the field of climate change & ecology are all welcomed.

Participants entering the program should fulfill the following eligibility criteria:

  • Be between the ages of 20 to 35 (required)
  • Have acquired or be currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program (be at least in the 3rd year of their degree program)
  • A degree in environment, religious studies, philosophy, or any number of relevant fields is preferred. Equally, relevant work experience (paid, volunteer, internships, etc.) are also considered
  • An established local network (social, professional, religious, etc.) or willingness to mobilize accessible local network,
  • A keen interest in learning about the interplay of religious beliefs and environmental stewardship
  • Commitment to lead a faith-based climate action project,
  • Good communication skills and a fluency in English,
  • A strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and interfaith cooperation

 

Participant Expectations:

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

  • Commit their time for the entire duration of the fellowship including any pre or post fellowship sessions,
  • Commit to FFOP Youth Alumni Association’s engagements and events,
  • Commit to working on a 3-month project focused on making a positive impact at a local, national, and/or international level. The project should leverage insights gained during the fellowship on (inter)faith-based climate action,
  • Demonstrate eagerness to learn and expand their professional networks and to benefit from exposure during the fellowship,
  • Demonstrate commitment to become leaders in their communities.

Participant Selection Criteria

All nominating agencies and prospective candidates must fill out the application form available on our website. Your application and profile will be assessed by a panel of Faith For Our Planet Program Coordinators. 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 the candidates who succeed in 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 a minimum of one letter of recommendation from either work and/or their 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:

  • Their contact details: email, phone number, work address, etc.
  • In what capacity have they known you (e.g., educational, voluntary, professional, religious, etc.)
  • A brief overall endorsement of your skills in leadership, networking, and other interpersonal skills

Please note that FFOP may contact your referees. When submitting the letter, please ensure it is signed by your referee, is on an official letterhead, and in a pdf format.

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 a part of their application. Given that English will be the working language during the fellowship, candidates will be required to prove a sufficient understanding of English to actively participate in the program. Please note that the absence of such test will not negatively affect your selection to the program.

Interviews

Candidates with successful applications will be invited for an online interview. Each interview lasts up to 60 minutes and will contain questions on the applicant’s motivation, suitability to the program, relevant experience and a possible project plan they will undertake if selected.

Application Timeline

  • July 18th, 2023: Applications Open
  • August 20th, 2023: Applications Close
  • September 15th, 2023: Interviews Close
  • September 30th, 2023: Final Announcement of FFOP’s 2024 Youth Fellowship Cohort
  • November, 2023: Pre-Fellowship Orientation (Online)
  • January 8th to 14th, 2024: Fellowship held at Duke University, USA

Contact Us

If you have any further questions about the fellowship, please do not hesitate to reach out via info@faithforourplanet.org

Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina, and is considered one of the most prestigious universities in the Unites States and around the world. Duke is known for producing globally reputed scholars, including 15 Nobel Laureates and 3 Turing Award recipients.

FFOP is partnering with Duke’s Divinity School, founded in 1926 as the first graduate school at Duke. The school attracts students from around the world to cultivate leaders through theological education, engagement with tradition, and addressing contemporary challenges.