BECOME A FELLOW

As changemakers for current and future generations, young people have the opportunity to establish a new vision of inter-religious interaction that places protecting the welfare of the world’s poorest people at its center. The Faiths Act Fellows will act on this opportunity by becoming ambassadors for inter-religious cooperation in the fight against deaths due to malaria and the accomplishment of the Millennium Development Goals.  We are now seeking applications from young people who are citizens or legal residents of the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.

In their 10 months of work, Faiths Act Fellows will reach tens of thousands of young people of faith with essential education about the devastating impact of malaria and the ways faith communities can work together to make a real difference. Inspired by their different religious traditions, they will motivate and equip young people in congregations, schools and university-based religious student groups to lead their faith communities in spreading awareness of the MDG challenge, raising life-saving funds to protect people from malaria and promoting a new inter-religious dialogue of life and action.

Training

The Faiths Act Fellowship begins in early August 2009, with a two-month intensive training in London, Africa and Chicago. Fellows will be brought together for induction in London, where they will begin their training in the essentials of inter-religious cooperation, the MDGs and the work of eradicating deaths due to malaria. There they will prepare for the next phase, a month-long immersion training in a malarial hotspot in Africa. Fellows will learn and work in teams in selected African countries, hosted and guided by an organization engaged in excellent primary health work on the ground. In Africa, Fellows will gather real life stories and critical knowledge about the realities of malaria and the urgency behind the Millennium Development Goals. Finally, Fellows travel to Chicago, the headquarters of Interfaith Youth Core, to prepare for the outreach work ahead of them in their home countries. Coached by Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) trainers, Fellows will prepare outreach and training presentations and learn about the essentials of reaching out to young people of faith. 

The Work

Following the two-month training, Fellows will return to their home countries (but not necessarily their home cities), to begin the work of mobilizing young people of faith to work together in raising awareness of the MDGs and funds for saving lives from malaria. They will be hosted by a local organization that does related work. Fellows will be placed in religiously diverse pairs so that their presence in the community is a symbol of inter-religious cooperation. Working as a team, they will do most of their outreach presentations together.

Their aim will be to inspire young people of faith to mobilize their own faith communities to promote the MDGs. Along the way, Fellows will inspire new multi-faith youth partnerships committed to halting and reversing the spread of malaria in Africa.

Fellows will accomplish this primarily by doing outreach presentations and workshops for young people and their allies in local faith communities, including congregations, faith-based schools and religious or inter-religious student groups at local universities. Following their initial presentations and workshops, the Fellows will provide counsel and additional training to each active group as they enact their ideas, helping to ensure collective success in inter-religious partnerships and in raising awareness and life-saving funds.

Host Organizations

Fellows will be supported locally by host organizations whose mission and work align with the work of the Fellows. Each of these organizations will welcome a pair of Fellows onto their team, integrating them into their staff and acting as a resource for the Fellows’ work. Host organizations will provide not only workspace and a team of colleagues but also access to local networks and resources essential to the Fellows’ success. 

Compensation, Benefits and Living Arrangements

Fellows will receive a modest living allowance, which will vary according to each placement city’s cost of living. U.S. Fellows will also receive health insurance.

Fellows will be responsible for finding and paying for their own housing within commuting distance of their host organizations. Some Fellows may be placed in their home cities and will not need to relocate, while others will need to relocate to a new city.  As there will only be a few host organizations in each country and we need to ensure a strong fit between the Fellows and their host organizations as well as between the paired Fellows, we cannot guarantee that any Fellow will be able to live in his/her home city. 

The Faiths Act Fellowship is an initiative of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation and is coordinated by Interfaith Youth Core. Please direct all applications and inquiries to FaithsActFellows@ifyc.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should I Apply to Become a Fellow?

As changemakers for current and future generations, young people have the opportunity to establish a new vision of inter-religious interaction that places protecting the welfare of the world’s poorest at its center. As a Faiths Act Fellow, you will act on this opportunity by becoming an ambassador for inter-religious cooperation in the fight against deaths from malaria and the accomplishment of the Millennium Development Goals.

This will be a tremendous opportunity for Fellows to learn about the critical issues of the Millennium Development Goals, malaria and public health in the developing world and inter-religious cooperation through both study and practice. After spending 8 months reaching out to young people in faith communities in your home country, you will also have developed essential professional skill sets in leadership, communications, advocacy, education and interpersonal relations. For Fellows who wish to pursue careers in related areas, including religion, public health, intercultural or international relations, this program will provide you an excellent professional and academic foundation.

Where Will Fellows Live?

During the first two months of the program, lodging will be provided for the Fellows. Following the training program, Fellows will return to their home countries and must arrange housing for themselves within commuting distance of their host organization.

Fellows will be responsible for finding and paying for their own housing within commuting distance of their host organizations. Some Fellows may be placed in their home city and will not need to relocate, while others will need to relocate to a new city.  As there will only be a few host organizations in each country and we need to ensure a strong fit between the Fellows and their host organizations as well as between the paired Fellows, we cannot guarantee that any Fellow will be able to live in his/her home city.   

Will Fellows Get Paid?

Fellows will receive a modest living allowance, which will vary according to each placement city’s cost of living.

Will Fellows Get Health Care or Travel Insurance?

All Fellows will be covered by travel insurance for trips taken while on this program. Fellows who live in the United States will also receive health insurance.

Can I Apply if I Don’t Live in the US, UK or Canada?

You must be a citizen or a legal resident of one of these countries to apply for the Fellowship. If you are a citizen or a legal resident, but are currently living outside the country, you may apply, but you must be willing to relocate back to the country in which the program is operating.

Am I Old/Young Enough to Apply?

You must be at least 18 and not more than 25 years of age on August 1, 2009, to be eligible. This means your date of birth must fall between July 31, 1983, and August 1, 1991.

How Long is the Program?

The Fellowship is 10 months in total. It begins the first week of August 2009, with two months of training, followed by 8 months of outreach work. The program ends in late May 2010.

Will Fellows Work in Africa?

Fellows will spend one month in a malaria-endemic region in Africa during the initial two-month training, but most of their work will be done in their home country.  Their primary goal is not direct malaria intervention work, but rather to mobilize young people of faith to raise awareness and funds for the fight to protect people from malaria.       

Can I Study Part-time When I am a Fellow?

Yes, you may study part-time as long as it won't interfere with your ability to accomplish the objectives of this program. For the first two months of the program (August and September), you will be in intensive training in other parts of the world and will not be able to study during this period.  Also, you must be able to accomplish your studies from your placement city as it is highly likely that you will need to relocate for this Fellowship. For example, if you are currently taking evening classes at a university in Glasgow and are placed with a host organization in London, you must take distance-based courses or change universities.

What if I’m ineligible to apply this year? Are there other ways to get involved?

If your age or citizenship makes you ineligible to apply for the Faiths Act Fellowship this year, there are a number of opportunities to get involved in other inter-religious social action projects. Inspired young leaders are building bridges of understanding around the world. We encourage you to stay up-to-date with the activities of the Faiths Act Campaign and to become part of a global network of young leaders by joining the Bridge-builders Network.