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Interested in volunteering for social justice and social change?  If so, please consider applying for a 2024 summer peace fellowship. Read this page, contact us for an interview and apply by February 15. Early applications will be rewarded.

How to Apply

Caitlin Mittrick (George Washington University, 2023 Fellow) prepares to visit the settlement of Kibera in Nairobi with her host Stella Makena. Stella has launched a pioneering program to compost food waste in Kibera homes.

 

This page should be read in conjunction with our 2024 work plan. The openings on this page are likely to be updated, so please check in back regularly

Are you interested in a challenging summer working on the front lines for social justice and social change? If so, we hope you will consider a summer peace fellowship with The Advocacy Project (AP) in 2024.

Since 2003, we have deployed 334 graduate students to more than forty countries and hosted scores of undergraduate interns at our office in Washington DC. This year we are seeking graduate students to volunteer with partners in Nepal, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Uganda, and Kenya. Other fellowships may be added. We are also offering fellowships to undergraduates and high school students who will work from home or our office in Washington. The fellowships are listed on the next tab.

Summer fellowships will last for ten weeks between May 15 and August 31 and can be extended by mutual agreement.

To apply, send a cover letter by February 1st identifying two fellowships in the order of preference and explain your interest and qualifications. Add your resume and the names of two references. Email Iain Guest – iain@advocacynet.org. Call +1 202 422 2479 for further information. Early applications will be rewarded.

Eligibility

AP Fellowships are open to high school students, undergraduates and graduates. There are no restrictions based on nationality, gender, race, religion etc. All applications will be judged solely on their merits.

Stipends

Fellows deployed to the field will receive a lump sum of up to $2,000 in two installments. Remote Fellowships carry a monthly stipend of $200.

Responsibilities

Peace Fellows will play a vital role in helping us to support community-based partners in 2024. The responsibilities of each fellowship will be listed in a letter of engagement.

Qualifications

Personal: In selecting Fellows we look for work experience, knowledge of of the issue, language skills (if relevant), writing skills and a knowledge of social media. We also value personal qualities starting with an ability to adapt to difficult and unexpected circumstances; the power of friendship; enthusiasm; curiosity; and a commitment to communicate regularly. A big part of the Fellow’s job is to listen, advise and sympathize. We make every effort to accommodate special talents and encourage creativity.

Technical: We offer a range of services to partners that are described on this page and Peace Fellows can find themselves offering any of the following: a) Posting content on social media for the partner and AP (Tiktok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn); b) Using Google Drive; c) Taking, editing and posting photos (on Pikmonkey, Flickr and Google Drive); d) Profiling hosts and story-telling; e) Designing brochures, flyers, catalogues, and reports (Canva, Photoshop etc); f) Helping partners to post an appeal like this on GlobalGiving; g) Taking and editing video footage; f) Grant-writing and fundraising; g) Developing or maintaining a WordPress website. Please let us know your interests and level of skills in your application.

Blogs

All Fellows will be given a blog page on our website and required to produce one blog a week (Fellows in the field) and at least one blog a month (remote Fellows). Blogs are a key part of our fellowships. Not only do they describe the host organization’s work and help to guide our work and the work of the partner, they also provide the fellow with an important record of their fellowship. Past Fellows continue to draw on their blogs.

Work plan

We will develop an MOU setting out clear goals and a budget with each partner early in the year. Fellows will then use this to develop their personal work plan within the first week of arrival. 

Evaluation

All Fellows will be asked to complete a brief questionnaire at the end of their fellowships.

Email and Drive: All Fellows will receive a personalized email account and access to our Drive for the duration of your fellowship.

Covering costs

The cost of a ten-week fellowship runs to around $5,500. We hope that university partners will provide financial support to returning Masters students. We will contribute up to $2,000 and work with Fellows to secure additional funding. Fellows are responsible for ensuring they are fully insured, vaccinated and secure the appropriate visas.

Evaluation

You will be asked to submit a comment on our website and fill out a questionnaire on completion of your fellowship. We will help with school evaluations requirements.

The application process

The deadline for applications is February 1. Early applications will be rewarded.

Contact Iain Guest at iain@advocacynet.org or DCOffice@advocacynet.org for more information and to schedule an interview. If you decide to apply, sent a letter, resume and the names of two references by no later than February 1 indicating your top two placements. Offers will be made by February 15 and all slots filled by no later than February 28.

On receipt of an offer, we will ask you to sign a contract and a waiver. We will also ask for a $125 deposit from Fellows being deployed abroad. This will be refunded before your departure.

Learning from past Fellows

Most of our 2024 partners have hosted Fellows in the past and they will be your best source of information about your own fellowship. If selected, we will put you in touch. In the meantime, we suggest that you consult their blogs here.

For more information email iain@advocacynet.org and read our Annual Reports

2024 Fellowships

 

# 1. Prevent malaria in tribal villages of India. This is a field posting and available to graduate students only. The Fellow will join a dynamic team at Jeevan Rekha Parishad, our partner in Odisha, and work with Rohit Samal, an AP Fellow at Rajdhani College, seen in the photo on the right. Our goals for 2024 are: a) The elimination of malaria among selected tribal populations; b) Tell the story of tribal people; c) Launch an appeal on GlobalGiving; d) Launch a Neem oil start-up;  e) Attract new national and international partners. Essential qualifications: Writing/blogs; social media (Tiktok, Instagram); networking; photography; fundraising. Read more.

 
 

 

# 2. Profile Burmese advocacy for ethnic rights and the environment. This is a field posting and available to graduate students only. The Fellow will work with two networks on the Thai-Burmese border that represent the Pa-O and Shan ethnic nationalities (photo) and seek to defend the environment in Burma: the Pa-O Youth Organizations and the Burma Environmental Working Group. The Fellow will a) design a start-up to describe the crisis in Burma and profile advocates through embroidery, blogs, photos and video; b) define a path to social change; and c) expand the partners’ international network of support. Essential qualifications: A commitment to Burma, writing/blogs, photography, social media, and networking.
 

 

# 3. Use WASH to improve hygiene and raise enrollment in primary schools of Northern Uganda. This is a field posting and available to graduate students only. Nine fellows have supported this program since 2012, including Chris Markomanolakis (University of Maryland) seen here at Awach School in 2018. Our Ugandan partner has set the following goals for 2024: a) Install toilets and a changing room for girl students at a seventh primary school; b) Monthly monitoring of WASH at 15 district district schools; c) Supply Clean Wash liquid soap to schools; d) Partnership with the Gulu District government; e) Partnership with Rotary International. Essential qualifications: a) A passion for field work; b) Work experience in Africa and/or project management; b) Photography and video; c) Social media; d) Networking skills. Read how past Fellows have built this program and watch this video about about its impact on the Panyakworo school.
   

 

# 4. End discrimination against Badi women in Central Nepal. This is a field fellowship and only available to graduate students. The Fellow will help our partner Backward Society Education (BASE) to challenge caste and develop a start-up for Badi women from the Tharu minority. AP has sent over 40 Fellows to work in Nepal, including Chantal Uwizera (American University) seen here with a freed Tharu domestic slave in 2011. BASE has set the following goals for this summer: a) 20-30 Badi women will tell their stories through stitching and form an association; b) Profiles and photos of the stakeholders will be posted online; c) Social media posts and a news bulletin; d) Launch a fundraiser on GlobalGiving; e) Develop a path to long-term social change. Essential qualifications: a) Story-telling; b) Commitment to social justice and women’s rights; c) Photography and video; c) Social media; d) Project development.
 

 

# 5. Help single mothers to compost food waste in the Kibera settlement of Nairobi. This is a field fellowship and available to graduate students only. The Fellow will follow our 2023 Fellow, Caitlin Mittrick (George Washington University) in helping the Shield of Faith (SOF) association a) Expand membership to more families with albinism; b) Compost at least 6 tons of food waste; c) Develop neighborhood composting “hubs;” d) Introduce composting into 2-3 Kibera schools; e) Open a center outside Nairobi; f) Produce and bottle Lishe-Grow fertilizer; g) Post weekly on social media; g) Connect with composting high school students in the US. Essential qualifications: a) Ability to make friends; b) Story-telling and photography; c) Social media skills; d) Commitment to protecting the environment and fighting climate change.
 

 

# 6. Combat conflict and climate change in Northwest Kenya: This is a field fellowship and available to graduate students only. Following in the footsteps of past Fellows like Talley Diggs (George Washington University) in 2017 (photo), our 2024 Fellow will help Children Peace Initiative Kenya to develop a long-term plan to help herders from the Samburu and Pokot tribes collaborate against climate change and conflict. The plan will be submitted to donors in the Fall of 2024. It will develop practical community-based solutions, set clear goals, identify a timeline and budget and build on two successful 2022 start-ups developed in 2022 by Peace Fellow Julia Holladay. Essential qualifications: a) Knowledge of climate change and conflict resolution; b) Experience of working in the field, preferably in Africa; c) Proposal writing; d) Social media.
 

 

# 7. Support families damaged by Agent Orange in Vietnam: This is a field fellowship and available to graduate students only. Jacob Cohn (The Fletcher School at Tufts University) worked with families affected by Agent Orange through the Association for the Empowerment of Persons with Disability (AEPD) in Quang Binh province in 2017. Jacob raised enough to purchase cows for two affected families, including Mrs. Duong Thi An, seen with Jacob in the photo. He described his fellowship as one of the most moving experiences of his life. This year’s Fellow will support another family and visit the twelve families to benefit from this program since 2015. Essential qualifications: a) Empathy; b) Interest in conflict resolution; c) Experience of field work, preferably in Asia/Vietnam; d) Photography, social media and writing.
 

 
 

 

# 8. Support the Kenyan composting program and Fellow from the US. This is a remote fellowship and available to undergraduates only. The Fellow will follow Delaney Rogers (University of Southern California) who helped to design the composting start-up in Kenya while working remotely as a Peace Fellow from California. Delaney then visited the project in person in 2022 (photo) and has since joined our Board. The 2024 Fellow will work from home or from our office in Washington, DC. Essential qualifications: a) Friendly personality; b) A passion for the environment; c) Interest in Africa and women’s empowerment; d) Commitment to composting; e) Social media.
 

 

# 9. Help us market embroidered products from partners in the Global South. This is a remote fellowship available to graduates and undergraduates. We are seeking a Business student to help manage our online store Southern Stitchers and market butterfly tea towels designed by war survivors in Uganda (photo). Essential qualifications: a) Skilled at Shopify or online shopping; b) Interest in women’s business; c) Marketing, promotion and design skills; d) Social Media; e) Knowledge of Canva.
 

 

# 10. Social media. This is a remote fellowship, available year-round to graduates, undergraduates and high school students. We are seeking a student to produce weekly posts to promote the work of our partners and Peace Fellows, as well as increase our followers and impact. Essential qualifications: Passion for and knowledge of social media, design, writing and editing skills; interest in our issues and programs.  Check out our Facebook page and let us know how it could be improved!

 
 

 

# 11. Make Clean Girl soap in the US. This is a remote fellowship and available to high school students only. We are offering fellowships to high school students in the US who make and sell soap to help girls at our partner organization in Zimbabwe complete their education and avoid early marriage. Students from three American schools currently participate, including the University School of Nashville seen in the photo. We will cover the costs of producing soap and connect the US teams with the girls in Zimbabwe. For more, watch these videos of students making soap in Arlington and Atlanta. Soap fellowships are offered through the year. Essential qualifications: a) Interest in Africa; b) Close friends who will participate; c) Writing and social media skills.
 

 

# 12. Compost food waste in US high schools. This is a remote fellowship and available to high school students only. AP encourages the composting of food waste in schools as a way to educate students about climate change and promote good practice. Four high school composters served as Fellows in 2023, including Emma Pautz from the Barrington High School, RI, seen here cleaning up a beach. In 2023 we also helped to raise $20,000 for school composting in Pennsylvania. Eventually, we hope to connect composting students in Kenya and the US. Composting fellowships are available year round. Essential qualifications: a) Passion for the environment; b) Interest in composting and organic farming; c) Writing and social media skills.