DEADLINE: April 18, 2025

DURATION: Mid-July 2025 to Mid-January 2026 (6 months)

LOCATION: Initial convening in New York City, then mostly virtual.

For decades, Afghans have been in search of dignified life throughout the world. Affected by conflict and forced displacement, generation of Afghans have found themselves in perpetual crisis. Deeply impacted by systems that render Afghans powerless and invisible, Afghans For A Better Tomorrow (AFBT) was created to achieve transformative change for Afghans and to move away from structures that have harmed us for decades. This project aims to build power for our community; for us, by us.

This Fellowship kicks off with a three-day in-person (August 1-3) convening and meets virtually for the following six months. The Emerging Leaders Fellowship aims to build capacity by investing in tomorrow’s leaders of our community, today.

During the six-month fellowship, fellows will be immersed in workshops, frameworks and conversations in order to invest in the grassroots leadership of the Afghan community. You will receive:

• Opportunity to learn from and connect with other social movements and leaders.

• One-on-one mentorship on how to develop your leadership skills.

• Group support for project planning and implementation.

• Collaboration with and opportunities to build meaningful networks with current and alumni fellows.

• $1,000 stipend to support you yourself or your project.

Fellows responsibilities:

• Young leaders who are passionate about social justice and want to build community organizing skills.

• Individuals who can fully commit to an in-person convening in New York City during the weekend of August 1st-3rd and attend virtual meetings during the remaining six-month fellowship.

• Commitment of at least 10 hours a month.

Projects that align with our pillars of programmatic work:

• Welcoming new Afghan arrivals

• Community safety

• Storytelling 

• Community resource

Examples of past projects we’ve accepted:

• Safe space creation for Afghan LGBTQ community members

• Preservation of Sikh Afghan community stories in Texas

• Trainings that supported Afghan new arrival youth in Utah

• A short film that centers an Afghan-American story

• An art exhibition that holds U.S. accountable for Operation Enduring Freedom

• Documenting U.S.. role and roots of displacement post-2021

• Advocating for systematic change and legal pathways for new Afghan arrivals

  How we will select you:
  After your submission, we might ask you for a quick phone conversation to get to know you further. We are looking for passionate individuals who are eager to learn and see themselves as part of the broader movement to bring real social change.
  
  Who should apply:

• Members of the Afghan community who reside within the United States who are at least 18 years old.

• If you are passionate and committed to building a better tomorrow.

About Afghans For A Better Tomorrow
AFBT aims to organize the Afghan-American community to bring about systemic change in the U.S. and beyond to ensure all Afghans have lives of safety, dignity, and freedom.

For questions, please contact contact@weareafghans.org.

See previous fellows here.