The Hurford Youth Fellows Program 2027 for emerging youth Leaders (Fully Funded to Washington D.C., United States)

Application Deadline: November 30, 2026

Applications are actually open for the 2027 Hurford Youth Fellows Program. The Hurford Youth Fellows Program equips emerging democracy leaders from around the globe with the abilities, networks, and sensible instruments to flip youth power into democratic change. Over the course of 4 months in Washington, D.C., fellows discover new concepts, initiatives, and improvements, share experiences and classes realized with activists from different international locations, and contribute to the worldwide youth motion for democracy.

The International Forum for Democratic Studies at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) invites emerging youth leaders from around the globe to apply for the 2027 Hurford Youth Fellows Program in Washington, DC.

Fellowship Dates and Selection: Up to three (3) fellows will likely be chosen for a four-month fellowship, from May 1 by means of August 31, 2027.

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants have to be 30 years of age or youthful and reveal a dedication to—and expertise in—advancing youth participation in democracy.
• Applications are particularly inspired from leaders affiliated with civic organizations, human rights teams, and initiatives working to strengthen democracy.

Fellowship Project:

Fellows pursue a challenge addressing a democratic problem of their nation or area and its implications for younger folks. Projects could discover the political, social, financial, authorized, or cultural dimensions of democracy and draw on a variety of strategies and progressive approaches. They ought to replicate candidates’ pursuits and experience. A study of, or comparability with, democracy within the United States isn’t anticipated.

In session with Fellowships workers and different NED colleagues, fellows develop a tailor-made plan of motion targeted on a key problem, equivalent to countering authoritarian affect, navigating the Opportunities and dangers of digital know-how, or translating youth mobilization into democratic positive aspects. Their work ought to determine sensible approaches and discover how classes from one context may apply elsewhere.

Program Details:

NED workers work with fellows to refine their challenge’s focus, scope, and supposed consequence. Each fellow should full at the least one product, equivalent to an article, handbook, toolkit, podcast, tech instrument, or video. Products could also be created in English or one other language.

Fellows take part in seminars, roundtables, subject journeys, and different actions that assist them:

• study NED and its core institutes
• discover urgent challenges and new approaches to advancing democracy
• join with authorities, civil society, tutorial, and media communities in Washington and past
• construct relationships and change concepts with different fellows.

Financial Support:

• Each fellow receives a month-to-month stipend for residing bills, primary medical health insurance protection, and roundtrip economy-class journey to and from Washington, D.C., originally and finish of the fellowship.
• Stipends are calculated to cowl a short-term furnished rental residence, meals, native transportation, and different requirements.
• Fellows who deliver relations are accountable for their dependents’ roundtrip journey and residing bills within the United States.

How to Apply:

Visit the Online Application System to create an account and apply. If you may have any questions, please contact [email protected].

Deadlines:

• Applications: November 30, 2026
• Recommendation Letters: December 4, 2026

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Hurford Youth Fellows Program