Dalai Lama Fellows Program 2027 for Emerging Changemakers

Applications are open for the Dalai Lama Fellows Program 2027, a year long leadership fellowship for emerging changemakers working to address social and community challenges. The programme is designed for young people who want to strengthen their leadership practice through self awareness, compassion, contemplation, community engagement and social innovation.

Organised by Dalai Lama Fellows, the programme brings together changemakers from around the world who are working on locally relevant social change projects. Fellows receive leadership education, coaching, mentoring and opportunities for group learning while continuing their work within their communities.

The 2027 fellowship will select approximately 15 to 20 changemakers from around the world. The formal fellowship year begins in April 2027 and concludes in March 2028. Most programme activities take place remotely, allowing Fellows to continue their professional or academic responsibilities while participating in the fellowship.

About the Fellowship

Dalai Lama Fellows is an international, non sectarian and inclusive leadership programme founded in 2010. It supports young changemakers working in areas including health and well being, education and youth development, social justice, environmental sustainability, cultural understanding and contemplation.

The fellowship combines an online Head, Heart, Hands leadership curriculum with individual coaching, group learning and practical social innovation work. The Head dimension focuses on attention, self awareness and systems understanding. The Heart dimension develops compassion, connection and the ability to work across differences. The Hands dimension focuses on applying these principles through community based action.

The fellowship is structured so that participants can remain engaged with their existing studies or professional responsibilities. Fellows are expected to dedicate approximately 12 hours each month to programme activities, in addition to the time required for their social change projects.

Fellowship Benefits

• Year long leadership development programme

• Head, Heart, Hands online curriculum

• Individual coaching and mentoring

• Small group and full cohort learning opportunities

• Training in mindfulness, emotional intelligence and compassionate leadership

• Opportunities to strengthen systems thinking and communication skills

• Support for developing and implementing a social change project

• Connection with an international network of changemakers

• Participation in a Contemplative Leadership Assembly

• Travel, visa and lodging costs covered for the in person Contemplative Leadership Assembly when applicable

• Lifelong membership in the Dalai Lama Fellows global community after graduation

• Continued opportunities for networking, coaching, webinars and community engagement through the LifeLong Fellows network

Programme Areas

Fellows may work on social innovation projects addressing areas such as:

• Health and well being

• Education and youth development

• Social justice

• Environmental sustainability

• Cultural understanding

• Contemplative practices and human flourishing

Projects should respond to a genuine need within a community that the applicant understands deeply.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be between 20 and 36 years old as of April 1, 2027.

• Applicants must demonstrate fluency in written and spoken English.

• Applicants must currently be engaged in a social change project or have a well articulated plan for a project.

• Applicants must be able to remain meaningfully engaged with their project throughout the fellowship year.

• Applicants must have in depth knowledge of the community and issue their project addresses.

• Applicants should preferably have at least one year of previous experience working with the relevant community.

• Applicants must have an interest in learning and engaging with contemplative practices.

• Applicants must be able to participate consistently in the online curriculum, coaching and group learning activities.

• Applicants must attend the virtual Contemplative Leadership Assembly scheduled for May 2027.

• Applicants do not need to be university students and may participate while studying or working.

• Applicants do not need to identify as Buddhist. The programme is non sectarian and welcomes people from different backgrounds and traditions.

Required Application Materials

• Applicant background and overview

• Short essay responses

• Video submission

• Resume or CV

• Letter of recommendation

How to Apply

1. Review the eligibility requirements and determine whether your social change work aligns with the fellowship.
2. Prepare information about your background, community engagement and social innovation project.
3. Complete the online application form through the Dalai Lama Fellows application platform.
4. Answer the short essay questions using your own experiences, motivations and perspectives.
5. Prepare and submit the required video submission.
6. Upload your current resume or CV.
7. Obtain and submit a letter of recommendation.
8. Review the complete application and supporting materials carefully.
9. Submit the application and all required materials by November 11, 2026 at 22:00 UTC.