Deadline: 30-Sep-2025
The Cultural Survival is pleased to announce the 2026 Call for Proposals for the Indigenous Youth Fellowship program.
This initiative aims to strengthen cultural identity and enhance leadership skills among Indigenous youth. The focus areas include Climate Change Solutions, Culture and Languages, and Lands and Livelihoods.
The fellowship provides financial support for youth-led projects that benefit Indigenous communities, along with opportunities for leadership development. Fellows are encouraged to amplify community voices and bring attention to local issues within global dialogues through their projects.
The fellowship offers awards ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 USD, depending on the scope of the project, with a project duration between three and six months. All projects must be executed between March and September 2026. Eligible applicants must be Indigenous youth or groups of youth between the ages of 18 and 28, committed to working with Cultural Survival, and willing to meet all required deadlines. Preference is given to applicants who are fluent in or interested in learning an Indigenous language. Former Cultural Survival Youth Fellows are not eligible.
Selected fellows will work closely with Cultural Survival staff and a local mentor, who will voluntarily provide guidance, encouragement, and feedback throughout the project. The program prioritizes gender balance and actively encourages applications from women and 2SLGBTQ+ youth. Geographic diversity is also considered in the selection process.
Applications are welcome from across the globe, with special focus given to the Americas, Asia, and Africa. For the Americas, priority regions include Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Paraguay, Brazil, and Guyana. For Asia, focus countries include Bangladesh, Mongolia, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, and India. For Africa, eligible regions include Chad, Cameroon, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, DRC, Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, and Angola.
Applicants must submit a proposal concept through the Google Form by September 30, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET. Selected applicants will be notified by October 30, 2025, with instructions to submit a full proposal and detailed budget in the second round. Final selections will be announced in December 2025, and the award disbursement will begin in January 2026. Projects may start any time after March 1, 2026.
Applications cannot be edited once submitted, so applicants should ensure that the provided email address is valid, regularly checked, and has sufficient inbox space. In addition to the written application, applicants have the option to submit a five-minute video or audio recording responding to the questions on the form. Accepted languages for applications include English, Spanish, Portuguese, Nepali, Sunuwar, Hindi, Afrikaans, and French.
For more information, visit Cultural Survival.
