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Billion Acts of Peace Changemaker Fellowship 2026

The Billion Acts of Peace Changemaker Fellowship 2026 is a global opportunity for young people who are already working to create positive change in their communities. Powered by the PeaceJam Foundation, the one-year fellowship combines project funding, mentorship, leadership development and access to an international network of changemakers.

Applications are currently open, and the published deadline is 28 September 2026. The programme is aimed at young leaders aged 18 to 30 who have already started or are actively developing a project, initiative, organization or social venture connected with peace, justice, equity or wider social change.

One of the most attractive features is the opportunity to receive up to US$5,000 in project funding. However, applicants should understand that this is maximum project funding, not a guaranteed personal cash award or stipend. The funding is intended to help fellows strengthen, develop or expand an existing initiative.

The fellowship is particularly suitable for young changemakers whose work has moved beyond the idea stage and is somewhere between just getting started and gaining traction.

Billion Acts of Peace Changemaker Fellowship 2026 Highlights

Particular	Details
Fellowship Name	Billion Acts of Peace Changemaker Fellowship
Year	2026
Powered By	PeaceJam Foundation
Duration	One year
Location	Global / Remote
Age Eligibility	18–30 years
Project Funding	Up to US$5,000
Mentorship	Year-long mentorship and monthly sessions
Coaching	Tailored one-to-one coaching
Network	Global community of changemakers
Application Deadline	28 September 2026
Target Applicants	Young leaders with an existing initiative
Main Focus	Peace, justice, equity and social change

The PeaceJam Foundation has officially announced that applications are open for the 2026 fellowship and has directed applicants to billionacts.org/fellowship. (LinkedIn)

What Is the Billion Acts of Peace Changemaker Fellowship?

The Billion Acts of Peace Changemaker Fellowship is a one-year global leadership and impact programme for young people who are already taking action to address important social and community challenges.

The programme is not designed primarily for someone who only has a future project idea. Instead, it looks for applicants who are already leading or actively developing something meaningful and are ready to strengthen it.

A project could take different forms. It may be a grassroots initiative, emerging nonprofit, activism campaign, social enterprise, mission-driven business, community programme or another practical project focused on positive change.

The fellowship combines financial support with learning and mentorship. This means selected fellows can potentially use the programme not only to obtain resources but also to improve their leadership, clarify their strategy and connect with people working on similar challenges around the world.

Who Can Apply for the Fellowship?

The fellowship is designed for young adults between 18 and 30 years old who are already working on a project or initiative.

A strong applicant should generally:

Be between 18 and 30 years old
Already lead or actively develop a project, initiative or organization
Work on peace, justice, equity or social change
Address one or more of the Billion Acts of Peace key issue areas
Have moved beyond the basic idea stage
Be somewhere between starting the project and gaining traction
Be willing to learn and collaborate
Be prepared to receive constructive feedback
Be committed to personal and project development
Be ready to participate actively throughout the fellowship

The programme is global, and current opportunity information describes it as open to young leaders from around the world.

What Types of Projects Are Eligible?

The fellowship covers a broad range of peace and social-impact challenges.

The 10 key issue areas include:

Advancing Women and Children

Projects that improve opportunities, safety, equality or wellbeing for women and children can align with the fellowship’s objectives.

Alleviating Extreme Poverty

Initiatives addressing poverty, economic exclusion and access to opportunities may be relevant.

Clean Water for Everyone

Projects focused on water access, sanitation and related community challenges can fit within the programme’s environmental and social priorities.

Conflict Resolution

Young people working on peacebuilding, dialogue, reconciliation or conflict prevention can apply.

Education and Community Development

Education programmes, youth development initiatives and community-based solutions are also relevant.

Ending Racism and Hate

Projects promoting equality, inclusion, tolerance and understanding can address this area.

Global Health and Wellness

Community health, mental wellbeing and other health-related initiatives may fall within the fellowship’s issue areas.

Human Rights for All

Human rights advocacy and projects designed to protect dignity, equality and access to rights can be relevant.

Non-Proliferation and Disarmament

Initiatives addressing peace, weapons reduction, disarmament and related issues may fit the programme.

Protecting the Environment

Environmental protection, climate-related community action and sustainability projects can also be considered.

These issue areas are reflected in current fellowship information and should be checked against the official application requirements before submission. (Youth Gateway Africa)

What Are the Benefits of the Fellowship?

Up to US$5,000 in Project Funding

Selected fellows can receive up to US$5,000 to develop, improve or expand their existing work.

This funding could potentially help an early-stage project test a new approach, expand its reach, purchase project resources or strengthen an existing programme. The funding should be connected to the project rather than treated as a personal fellowship stipend. (Opportunity Pool)

Year-Long Mentorship

The fellowship provides structured mentorship over one year. Current programme information describes monthly learning and mentorship sessions focused on leadership, skills development and project workshopping. (

One-to-One Coaching

Participants can receive tailored coaching to help them clarify their goals, strengthen leadership abilities and improve their approach to creating impact.

Global Changemaker Network

Fellows become part of a wider community that can include other changemakers, PeaceJam participants, network members, professionals and Nobel Peace Laureates connected with the PeaceJam ecosystem.

Peacebuilding and Leadership Development

The fellowship focuses on practical leadership skills, peacebuilding and the ability to create sustainable change.

International Opportunities

Fellows may receive opportunities to participate in PeaceJam conferences, virtual events and other activities within the wider network.

Six PeaceJam Competencies

A key part of the fellowship is its focus on six PeaceJam competencies.

1. Positive Power and Purpose

Participants explore their strengths, values and purpose and learn how these can be used to create positive change.

2. Creating Inclusive Communities

This area focuses on collaboration and creating communities where people with different experiences can participate and contribute.

3. Compassionate Leadership

Fellows develop leadership approaches based on empathy, understanding and responsible action.

4. Peacebuilding

Participants learn approaches that can help address conflict and build more peaceful and just communities.

5. Global Citizenship and Interconnectedness

This competency encourages participants to understand the connections between people, communities and global challenges.

6. Change Agent

Fellows are encouraged to become active agents of positive change and develop the confidence to turn ideas and learning into action.

Why Existing Projects Have an Advantage

One of the most important things applicants should understand is that this is not simply a competition for project ideas.

The fellowship is looking for young leaders who have already started something meaningful.

Applicants should therefore be able to explain:

What problem their project addresses
Why the problem matters
What they have already done
Who has benefited from their work
What results they have achieved
What challenges they currently face
How their project could grow
How US$5,000 could help
What they want to achieve during the next year

An applicant with a smaller project but clear evidence of action may be better positioned than someone with a large idea that has never been implemented.

How to Make Your Application Stronger

Applicants should focus on evidence rather than general statements.

Instead of simply saying that you want to “change the world,” explain the specific problem you are addressing.

For example, describe:

The problem: What challenge exists in your community?

Your action: What have you already done?

Your results: How many people have benefited? What changed?

Your learning: What have you discovered while running the project?

Your next step: What do you want to accomplish over the next year?

Use of funding: How would up to US$5,000 directly support that next step?

This approach can help reviewers understand that your project is real, active and capable of developing further.

What Should You Demonstrate?

A strong application should show some combination of:

Initiative
Leadership
Community involvement
Measurable progress
Commitment to social change
Ability to learn from challenges
Clear project goals
Understanding of the community being served
Willingness to collaborate
Potential for sustainable impact

The current application guidance also emphasizes substance and fit rather than simply polished English. Applicants are encouraged to communicate authentically and explain their actual experiences.

Important Application Note

Because the fellowship values an applicant’s authentic voice, candidates should make sure their application genuinely reflects their own experiences, project and motivations.

Do not exaggerate achievements or claim results that cannot be supported. The strongest application is one that clearly communicates what you have actually done, what you have learned and what you hope to accomplish next.

Application Deadline

The published application deadline for the Billion Acts of Peace Changemaker Fellowship 2026 is 28 September 2026. PeaceJam’s own public announcement confirms that applications close on September 28. (LinkedIn)

Candidates should apply early rather than waiting until the final day.

Some secondary sources have reported differences between the fellowship landing page and the deadline displayed in the application form. For this reason, applicants should treat 28 September 2026 as the safe published deadline and submit well before it.

How to Apply for Billion Acts of Peace Changemaker Fellowship 2026

Interested candidates should use the official Billion Acts of Peace fellowship page.

Official Fellowship Page: Billion Acts Changemaker Fellowship

PeaceJam Foundation: PeaceJam Foundation

The application generally asks candidates to provide information about themselves and their project, including the problem they are addressing, the project’s current stage, the issue area it addresses, previous work, future goals and how funding could help.

Application Checklist

Before submitting your application, make sure you can clearly answer:

What is your project?
What problem does it solve?
Who benefits from it?
How long have you been working on it?
What have you already achieved?
Which Billion Acts issue area does it address?
What challenges are you currently facing?
What would you accomplish with up to US$5,000?
What would success look like after one year?
Why are you personally committed to this work?

Who Should Consider Applying?

The Billion Acts of Peace Changemaker Fellowship 2026 may be a strong opportunity for young leaders who are already taking action in areas such as:

Peacebuilding
Human rights
Gender equality
Education
Community development
Poverty reduction
Environmental protection
Health and wellbeing
Anti-racism
Conflict resolution
Youth empowerment
Social entrepreneurship

It is especially relevant for people whose projects are already underway but have not yet reached significant scale.

Final Words

The Billion Acts of Peace Changemaker Fellowship 2026 offers a valuable combination of project funding, mentorship, coaching, leadership development and global networking for young people who are already creating positive change.

Selected fellows can receive up to US$5,000 in project funding and participate in a year-long programme designed to strengthen both their leadership and their existing initiatives. The programme is powered by the PeaceJam Foundation and connects young changemakers with a wider international community. (LinkedIn)

The most important point for applicants is that this opportunity is designed for people who have already started something meaningful. Your application should therefore focus on real action, evidence of progress, the problem you are addressing and a clear plan for using the fellowship’s support.

If you are aged 18–30, are actively developing a project related to peace, justice, equity or social change, and are ready to strengthen your work, this fellowship could be an excellent opportunity to take your initiative to the next stage.

Application Deadline: 28 September 2026

Apply through the official Billion Acts of Peace fellowship page and carefully verify all eligibility and application requirements before submitting. (LinkedIn)