Applications are now open for the 2027 Samuel Fellows in Belonging Program, an eight-month, fully funded fellowship designed for individuals with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences who are interested in research, social connectedness, community development and belonging.

The fellowship brings together a global cohort of fellows who will work alongside partner organizations on applied research projects addressing social isolation and strengthening belonging in communities. Fellows will receive a bursary, one-to-one mentorship and opportunities for professional development while gaining practical experience through their selected projects.

The 2027 programme features projects with organizations working across areas including disability rights, education, human rights, community engagement, older people's rights, youth and social inclusion.

About the Samuel Fellows in Belonging Program

The Samuel Fellows in Belonging is an initiative of the Belonging Forum that connects fellows with organizations from around the world to conduct innovative, practical research on belonging and social isolation.

The programme recognizes the importance of lived experience and creates opportunities for young people, older adults and people with different backgrounds and experiences to contribute to research and community-based solutions.

During the eight-month fellowship, participants will work directly with partner organizations, contribute to real-world projects and develop their professional skills through mentorship, peer learning and collaboration with an international cohort.

Fellowship Partners and Projects

The 2027 fellowship includes projects with a range of organizations, including:

• ARCH Disability Law Centre – Barriers to Belonging
• Connected North, a Program of TakingITGlobal – Advancing Belonging in Education
• Harvard Law School Project on Disability
• Inside Out Center – Anthologizing 30 Years of the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program
• Human Rights Watch – An Older People’s Rights Treaty Fit for Belonging
• Serve the City Belgium – Belonging on Both Sides
• Special Olympics International – Voices of Belonging
• Tamarack Institute – Communities Building Belonging

Additional project and partner information may be announced during the application period.

Featured Project: Communities Building Belonging

One of the 2027 fellowship opportunities is hosted by the Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement, a Canadian organization focused on collective action and community change.

The project, Communities Building Belonging, aims to integrate belonging into community-led efforts addressing poverty reduction, climate equity and youth employment across Canada.

The selected fellow will work closely with the Communities Building Belonging team and local leaders to strengthen member engagement, support peer learning, document community experiences and turn local knowledge into useful resources for practitioners and policymakers.

Key Responsibilities

The fellow will contribute to four main areas:

1. Coordinating member engagement

The fellow will help co-design and facilitate virtual gatherings, peer-learning sessions and communities of practice. They will also support relationships with participating communities and document how local leaders are incorporating belonging into their policy and community priorities.

2. Stewarding community data

Using Tamarack's Community Pathways tool, the fellow will gather, organize and synthesize qualitative community insights. This will include mapping stories of progress and identifying important milestones, lessons and factors that contribute to successful community action.

3. Curating stories and learning resources

The fellow will help catalogue community stories, case studies and impact reports into a digital repository. These resources will support peer learning, capacity building and the development of evidence-based policy recommendations.

4. Mobilizing knowledge

The fellow will contribute to briefing reports, case studies and webinar content that translate community-level experiences into accessible knowledge for practitioners and policymakers. The work will also support broader efforts around the Global Charter for Belonging and advocacy for a Canada-wide Strategy for Belonging.

Location

For the Tamarack Institute project, the fellowship is remote and based in Canada.

Applicants should carefully review the specific project descriptions and requirements before selecting a fellowship opportunity.

Applications for the 2027 Samuel Fellows in Belonging Program will close on October 19, 2026, at 12:00 PM EST.

The fellowship provides an opportunity for participants to combine their lived experiences and professional interests with practical research that can contribute to stronger, more connected communities.