Applications are now officially open for the TuWezeshe Fellowship 2026, a powerful year-long leadership programme designed for African, Black, and minoritised young women aged 18–30 living in the United Kingdom who are passionate about ending gender inequality and driving real social change.

This fully funded fellowship is more than just a leadership programme—it is a transformative opportunity for young women ready to challenge inequality, lead community action, and build long-term impact through social justice initiatives.

TuWezeshe is looking for bold, driven, and committed young women who want to create meaningful change in their communities by designing and leading their own social action projects focused on gender equality.

Selected fellows will receive mentorship, leadership training, project funding, and access to a strong sisterhood of women committed to building a better and more equal world.

The programme begins with a fully funded residential training weekend in London from 24–26 July 2026, followed by online training, mentorship support, and project implementation extending until September 2027.

The application deadline is 31 May 2026.

What is the TuWezeshe Fellowship?

The TuWezeshe Fellowship is a one-year social leadership programme created to empower young women from African, Black, and minoritised communities in the UK to lead social action and tackle gender inequality at the grassroots level.

The name reflects empowerment, leadership, and collective action.

The fellowship supports participants in turning their passion for justice into practical community projects that create measurable change.

Rather than simply learning leadership theory, fellows actively design, launch, and manage real projects that respond to the needs of women and girls in their communities.

This makes the programme highly practical, impact-driven, and career-shaping.

What Fellows Will Do

As a TuWezeshe Fellow, participants will:

Design and Lead a Social Action Project

Each fellow will create and implement her own project focused on addressing gender inequality in her local community.

Projects may focus on education, economic empowerment, leadership development, mental wellbeing, youth advocacy, safety, representation, or other gender justice issues.

The goal is to create practical, meaningful, and sustainable impact.

Receive Dedicated Mentorship

Each fellow will be matched with a mentor who understands the lived experiences and challenges faced by African, Black, and minoritised young women.

Mentors provide guidance, accountability, encouragement, and leadership support throughout the fellowship journey.

This mentorship element is one of the strongest parts of the programme.

Join a Powerful Sisterhood

Fellows become part of a supportive network of women committed to collective growth, collaboration, and long-term leadership.

This creates opportunities for peer support, partnerships, confidence-building, and future professional connections.

The fellowship is designed to be both personal and professional transformation.

Programme Structure and Timeline

The TuWezeshe Fellowship runs for one full year and includes leadership training, mentorship, and project implementation.

Duration

1-Year Programme

Training Period

10 Weeks of structured leadership and social action training

This includes:

• Residential training weekend
• Online capacity-building sessions
• Final in-person closing session

Fully Funded Residential Training

Dates: 24–26 July 2026

Location: London, United Kingdom

This residential weekend is fully funded and serves as the official start of the fellowship journey.

It provides leadership development, networking, workshops, and preparation for project design.

Online Training

Period: September – December 2026

Dates: To be confirmed

These sessions focus on leadership, gender justice, project planning, fundraising, impact-building, and implementation strategy.

Social Action Project Implementation

Period: Until September 2027

Fellows will lead and manage their projects with continued support from mentors and the fellowship team.

Financial Support

One of the strongest benefits of the TuWezeshe Fellowship is the direct financial support provided to fellows.

Social Action Grant

Each fellow receives:

£250 project grant

This funding helps fellows launch and implement their social action project.

Additional Fundraising Support

If a project requires more funding, fellows receive support and guidance to raise additional funds through fundraising strategies and community support.

This helps ensure that strong ideas can grow beyond the initial grant.

Refundable Deposit

A £100 refundable deposit is required.

This amount is returned upon successful completion of the residential training weekend.

If applicants require an exemption, they can request one directly by email.

Travel and Expenses

Concessionary reimbursements are available for travel and out-of-pocket expenses, helping reduce financial barriers for participation.

This ensures accessibility and inclusion.

Why You Should Apply

The TuWezeshe Fellowship is one of the strongest youth leadership opportunities in the UK for young women because it offers:

• Fully funded residential leadership training
• Dedicated mentorship support
• Direct project funding
• Real leadership experience
• Social action project ownership
• Strong networking and sisterhood community
• Long-term personal and professional development
• Practical experience in gender equality advocacy
• Career-building opportunities in leadership and social impact

This fellowship is ideal for young women who want to move from passion to action.

It helps participants build confidence, leadership capacity, and lasting change.

Application Deadline Summary

Applications Open: Now Open

Final Deadline: 31 May 2026

Residential Training: 24–26 July 2026

Early application is strongly recommended.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should prepare:

• Personal motivation for joining the fellowship
• Interest in gender equality and social justice
• Initial idea for a social action project
• Commitment to full participation in the programme
• Availability for the London residential training

Applications must be submitted through the official TuWezeshe Application Form.

Candidates should ensure they meet all eligibility requirements before applying.

APPLY HERE 

Discover more opportunities here