Fellowship
Applications are open for the Billion Acts of Peace Changemaker Fellowship 2026, a year-long leadership and impact programme powered by the PeaceJam Foundation. The programme is designed to help emerging young changemakers strengthen projects addressing peace, justice, equity, human rights, environmental protection and other urgent social challenges. Selected participants will receive structured mentorship, tailored coaching, access to an international community of peacebuilders and up to US$5,000 in project funding. The funding is intended to help fellows develop, improve or expand work they have already started.
A quick overview based on the listing. Review the full details below before applying.
No separate application link was provided for this opportunity. Full application instructions are included in the announcement details below — read them carefully and contact the organization directly.
Applications are open for the Billion Acts of Peace Changemaker Fellowship 2026, a year-long leadership and impact programme powered by the PeaceJam Foundation. The programme is designed to help emerging young changemakers strengthen projects addressing peace, justice, equity, human rights, environmental protection and other urgent social challenges.
Selected participants will receive structured mentorship, tailored coaching, access to an international community of peacebuilders and up to US$5,000 in project funding. The funding is intended to help fellows develop, improve or expand work they have already started.
This programme is particularly relevant to emerging leaders whose projects have moved beyond the idea stage but have not yet achieved significant scale. Applications officially opened on September 1, 2026, and the official deadline is September 28, 2026.
Delivery format: International programme with virtual sessions and opportunities to participate in PeaceJam events
Billion Acts of Peace is an international movement associated with the PeaceJam Foundation. It encourages individuals, youth groups and organisations to address the root causes of challenges affecting their communities through practical and measurable acts of peace.
PeaceJam’s wider model brings together young people, community leaders and Nobel Peace Laureates to encourage peaceful leadership, social responsibility and community action. Rather than treating peace only as the absence of violence, the initiative approaches peacebuilding through justice, inclusion, education, human rights, environmental sustainability and equitable access to essential resources.
The Changemaker Fellowship builds on this approach by investing in emerging leaders who have already begun implementing solutions. It combines financial assistance with mentorship, leadership development, project support and international community-building.
The fellowship provides several connected forms of support intended to help early-stage projects become stronger, more sustainable and more effective.
Selected fellows can receive up to US$5,000 to develop and grow their peacebuilding projects.
The funding is intended for the work being developed by each fellow. Depending on the nature of the project, funds may potentially support activities such as:
Applicants should understand that this is project funding of up to US$5,000, not a guaranteed US$5,000 personal stipend. The amount awarded may depend on the project, its proposed use of funding and the organisers’ assessment.
The published information does not separately promise a salary, living allowance, international travel funding, accommodation or visa support.
The fellowship includes a year-long mentorship structure intended to help participants become more capable and effective leaders.
According to PeaceJam’s 2026 programme announcement, fellows will participate in ten monthly sessions with world-class mentors. These sessions are expected to combine leadership learning, professional guidance, networking and project development.
The mentorship model draws upon competencies and lessons connected with PeaceJam’s Nobel Peace Laureates and broader network of experienced changemakers. However, applicants should not assume that every session will be delivered personally by a Nobel Peace Laureate.
In addition to group mentorship sessions, the official programme announcement identifies tailored one-to-one coaching as one of the fellowship benefits.
This individual support may help fellows examine challenges specific to their projects, including:
Individual coaching can be especially useful for early-stage founders and community organisers who may not yet have access to experienced advisers.
This network can provide fellows with peer learning, encouragement, collaboration opportunities and exposure to projects working on similar challenges in other countries.
The community element is a core part of the programme. Applicants should therefore be prepared not only to receive support but also to contribute ideas, experience and constructive feedback to other participants.
Fellows may be invited to participate in PeaceJam conferences, virtual events and other opportunities aligned with their goals.
An invitation to an event should not automatically be interpreted as a guarantee that travel or accommodation costs will be covered. Applicants should review the conditions of each event separately.
The official 2026 announcement also identifies an award ceremony celebrating the impact of participating changemakers. This recognition may provide fellows with additional visibility and an opportunity to communicate the progress achieved through their projects.
Projects considered for the fellowship must relate to at least one of the ten issue areas identified by Billion Acts of Peace:
Projects may address gender equality, women’s empowerment, maternal welfare, protection from violence, child rights, girls’ education or economic opportunities for women.
Initiatives may focus on livelihoods, food security, economic inclusion, employment, entrepreneurship, access to essential services or support for underserved communities.
Relevant work may include access to safe drinking water, sanitation, hygiene education, water conservation or community water infrastructure.
This area includes dialogue, reconciliation, mediation, violence prevention, social cohesion and peaceful solutions to community conflict.
Projects may improve access to education, literacy, youth development, vocational training, digital skills or community participation.
Initiatives may challenge discrimination, xenophobia, hate speech, prejudice, racial injustice or exclusion based on identity.
This area can include mental health, public health education, disease prevention, disability inclusion, healthcare access and community well-being.
Projects may advance civil rights, social justice, legal awareness, freedom, dignity, equality or the protection of marginalised groups.
Relevant initiatives may address nuclear disarmament, weapons reduction, gun violence, arms control and education about the human consequences of armed conflict.
Projects may focus on climate action, conservation, biodiversity, waste management, environmental education, pollution prevention or sustainable use of natural resources.
A project may address more than one issue area. However, applicants should identify the areas most directly connected to their activities rather than selecting several categories without demonstrating a clear relationship.
The fellowship’s mentorship and leadership-development activities are structured around six PeaceJam competencies.
This competency helps participants understand their strengths, values and sense of purpose. Fellows are encouraged to use their influence responsibly and direct their abilities toward meaningful change.
Participants explore how to build teams and communities where different people can contribute and feel respected. The competency covers collaboration, participation, supportive relationships and inclusive leadership.
Fellows are encouraged to lead with empathy, fairness and concern for the experiences of others. Compassionate leadership does not mean avoiding difficult decisions; it means making decisions while recognising their human consequences.
This competency develops the ability to understand conflict, address root causes, encourage constructive dialogue and promote justice. It treats lasting peace as something that must be actively created.
Participants consider how local decisions connect with wider regional and global issues. This competency promotes awareness of shared humanity, responsibility toward the planet and cooperation across borders.
The final competency focuses on taking action. Fellows are expected to move beyond identifying problems and demonstrate that they can organise, advocate, implement solutions and encourage others to participate.
The programme is not restricted to formally registered charities. Projects may take several forms, including:
What matters most is that the initiative already exists in some form and is addressing a real problem. A concept that has not yet been tested or implemented is unlikely to demonstrate the level of progress expected by the fellowship.
The ideal project is somewhere between having recently started and gaining early traction. It should be serious and active but not yet significantly scaled.
Applicants should use the official Billion Acts of Peace fellowship page and follow the application instructions provided there.
Applicants should check the live form carefully because individual questions and word limits may be updated.
The programme indicates that applications will be assessed primarily on their substance and alignment with the fellowship rather than polished English or sophisticated writing.
The organisers encourage applicants to communicate in their own authentic voices and advise against relying on generative artificial intelligence to write application answers. Applicants should therefore use personal examples, actual experiences and evidence from their work.
Describe the specific challenge affecting the community. Avoid relying only on broad statements such as “poverty is a major issue.” Explain who is affected, where the problem exists and why current responses are insufficient.
Show what has already been done. Even a small pilot activity is stronger than a large plan with no evidence of implementation.
Identify the Billion Acts issue area most closely connected to the project. Explain the relationship through the project’s actual activities and intended outcomes.
Although a detailed formal budget may not be required at the initial stage, applicants should be prepared to explain how the funding would be used. The proposed activities should be realistic within the maximum US$5,000 allocation.
Applicants should explain what success would look like after one year. Strong outcomes could include people trained, communities reached, partnerships developed, services delivered or measurable improvements experienced by participants.
The fellowship is intended to provide support. Applicants should not pretend that their projects have no weaknesses. A thoughtful explanation of operational, financial or leadership challenges can demonstrate self-awareness and readiness for mentorship.
The fellowship is more than a funding opportunity. Applicants should demonstrate that they value coaching, monthly sessions, peer learning, accountability and participation in the international community.
Applications officially opened on September 1, 2026.
The official Billion Acts of Peace fellowship page and PeaceJam Foundation’s official LinkedIn announcement both state that applications close on:
The official landing page does not currently specify an exact closing time or time zone. At least one secondary report states that the linked application form displays a later date. Applicants should not rely on that later date and should submit no later than September 28, 2026, preferably several days early.
The maximum financial support is US$5,000, not a guaranteed fixed payment.
Funding is intended for project development and expansion.
Applicants must already be building or leading meaningful work.
Idea-stage concepts without implementation are not the programme’s primary focus.
A formally registered organisation is not listed as mandatory.
Participation, collaboration and accountability are central expectations.
The programme offers mentorship and coaching in addition to funding.
The published information does not specify the number of fellows who will be selected.
Applicants should use their own voices when completing the form.
All information should be checked again on the official page before submission.
The Billion Acts of Peace Changemaker Fellowship 2026 offers an important development pathway for emerging young leaders who are already responding to real problems in their communities. Its combination of up to US$5,000 in project funding, ten monthly mentorship sessions, individual coaching, international networking and leadership development can help promising initiatives move from early progress toward stronger and more sustainable impact.
The programme is best suited to applicants who can demonstrate that they have already taken action, understand the community they serve and are prepared to learn openly from mentors and fellow changemakers. Interested applicants should review the official requirements carefully and submit their applications before September 28, 2026.
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