Welcome to the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity Fellowship Programme!
Are you a young academic passionate about global dialogue, peacebuilding, and interfaith collaboration? If so, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity is excited to announce the opening of applications for the 2025 Human Fraternity Fellowship Programme in partnership with Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs.
Established in 2019 to commemorate the historic meeting between the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Professor Ahmed Al-Tayeb and Pope Francis, where they co-signed the Document on Human Fraternity, the Award is dedicated to fostering a new generation of leaders committed to principles of inclusivity, intercultural understanding, and human fraternity.
Thomas Banchoff, Director of Georgetown’s Berkley Center, emphasizes the importance of programs like this in today’s world: “The Human Fraternity Fellows Program is a unique opportunity to carry forward the spirit of the Declaration on Human Fraternity signed by Pope Francis and Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb in 2018. It has never been more important to support young people committed to interfaith dialogue and cooperation.”
This second edition of the Fellowship Programme builds on the success of the 2024 program, which brought together students from around the world for a transformative experience. Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, highlights the significance of partnerships with global universities to equip future leaders with the skills needed to promote peace and coexistence.
If you are interested in becoming a Fellow for the 2025 programme, don’t miss the deadline of May 16, 2025. You can apply online at here.
The programme will kick off with virtual sessions in June 2025, followed by a week-long study tour in Jakarta, Indonesia, in August 2025. This immersive experience will allow fellows to engage with global peers, religious leaders, policymakers, and past recipients of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.
Join Aisha Alyassi, a 2024 fellow from the UAE, in describing the program as a life-changing journey: “We had the pleasure to meet a number of international leaders, who emphasized the importance of youth in carrying out peacemaking processes and fostering human fraternity. Their faith in us left a mark in our hearts and made us all feel a sense of responsibility to provide a better world for future generations.”
Recap of the 2024 Edition
The first edition of the programme, held in Abu Dhabi in February 2024, brought together students from eight countries and five different religious traditions. This diverse cohort participated in the inaugural Human Fraternity Majlis, attended the Zayed Award ceremony, and had the opportunity to meet esteemed leaders such as Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb and East Timor President José Ramos-Horta.
Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this incredible opportunity to contribute to global peace and understanding. Apply now for the 2025 Human Fraternity Fellowship Programme!
