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Young Climate Leaders Fellowship 2026
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Publish Date 8/27/2026 Application Deadline 9/20/2026 Opportunity Type Fellowships Publisher Foras Khadra Available Countries All World, The Arab World, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania, Djibouti, Somalia, Comoros Description

The Young Climate Leaders Fellowship is a global online program for high school students interested in climate action. The program helps students identify a climate or environmental challenge in their community, research it, and design and implement a practical project to address it. Fellows collaborate with students from different countries and receive guidance and support while developing their community projects. The program is offered by Rustic Pathways in collaboration with the Stanford University Deliberative Democracy Lab and the Rustic Pathways Foundation. 
Details
  • Duration: 8 weeks.
  • Format: Fully online.
  • Program dates: October 9 – December 8, 2026.
  • Time commitment: Approximately 2–3 hours per week.
  • Meetings: One live Zoom session each week; half of the sessions are required and half are optional.
  • Project: Fellows must design and implement a real volunteer project in their community aimed at reducing the impacts and harms of climate change.
  • Cost: Pay What You Want; students can participate at no cost, and may decide at the end of the program how much they believe the program was worth.
  • Admission: Rolling admissions until the cohort is full.
  • Partners: Rustic Pathways, Rustic Pathways Foundation, and Stanford University Deliberative Democracy Lab.
Eligibility Criteria
  • Be a high school student.
  • The program is open to students worldwide.
  • No previous climate action or environmental activism experience is required.
  • No specific prerequisites are required to apply.
  • Be willing to participate throughout the 8-week program.
  • Be prepared to design and implement a real community project.
  • Be able to commit approximately 2–3 hours per week.
  • Participation is not simply a training experience; completing the fellowship requires implementing a real community project. 
Opportunity Benefits
  • Receive a volunteer-hours certificate from Rustic Pathways and the Stanford University Deliberative Democracy Lab.
  • Gain practical experience in leadership, climate action, and community service.
  • Complete a real project that can demonstrate leadership and impact in college, job, or scholarship applications.
  • Have the opportunity to have your project and story featured on Rustic Pathways’ social media or website.
  • Potential opportunities to join youth service trips and the Climate Leaders Summit.
  • Selected Fellows may be invited to attend a Global Summit.