Application for Young Peacebuilders Program

Selected Young peacebuilders are welcomed by alumni, donors, and organizers to set the stage for the program

Learn to use the Collective Leadership Compass for assessing strengths and enhancing leadership within yourself and stakeholder systems

Young peacebuilders and organizers meet to connect outer and inner peacebuilding approaches

Learn to deepen your connection to yourself, your history, and your unique purpose through embodied practices like breathwork, intuitive writing, and ancestral connection—building inner resources to navigate challenges with clarity, presence, and resilience

Practice using the Dialogic Change Model to foster trust and co-create successful collaborative initiatives

Learn to embrace the multiplicity of roles we inhabit, using inner parts work practices to foster clarity, alignment, and authenticity while exploring your values and desired growth as a leader

Apply both the Collective Leadership Compass and the Dialogic Change Model to design and practice facilitating engaging dialogue events and processes that build consensus for collective action

Learn to resolve inner conflict by using embodied exercises and nervous system regulation techniques to navigate tensions with compassion, cultivate somatic awareness, and build resilience for both internal and external conflict resolution

Young peacebuilders and organizers meet to celebrate the completion of the program, reflect on the experience, and gain clarity about next steps

Diverse people from around the world are encouraged to apply! Applicants MUST fulfill these requirements:

Age
Between 20-35 years old (on 15 March 2026).

Language
Able to speak English well (at least a B2 level).

Background
From a conflict or post-conflict setting. We define “conflict” broadly to include all forms of societal conflict, for example poverty, injustice, and inequality, as well as violent conflict.

Availability
Fully available for all scheduled sessions and workshop days (see schedule, above).

Technology
Able to access reliable technology and a strong internet connection to participate in all online sessions.

If the eligibility criteria are fulfilled, we will decide who is admitted to the program based on the following criteria, with due consideration given to ensuring a diverse group of Young Peacebuilders:

Peacebuilding Work
Actively working for peace in a conflict or post-conflict setting, for example, through a formal or informal peace-oriented organization, community group, network, or initiative.

Motivation
Open to exploring personal challenges you may be having in a safe space with our expert inner peacebuilding partner and other Young Peacebuilders. Interested in learning and applying collective leadership concepts and models from CLI to enhance your peacebuilding work.

Are you ready?! Applications for the 2026 Young Peacebuilders cohort open on 18 February 2026. The process is designed to help us ensure that you are a good fit for the program and for you to ensure that the program is a good fit for you!

Step 1: Complete the written application
Click here to fill in the written application form. Give yourself 20-30 minutes to submit a high quality application. Make sure you complete everything by the application deadline of 15 March 2026.

Step 2: If shortlisted, participate in an interview
After submitting your application, shortlisted applicants will be invited to a short interview with CLI team members in April to support our final selection of the 2026 cohort.

Step 3: Wait for results
By 30 April, all participants will be informed if they have been accepted, waitlisted, or turned down for this year’s program. (Re-applying in 2027 is, of course, welcome for all eligible candidates.)

Q1 Are there any costs involved?
No tuition is charged. Thanks to our community of donors, each selected Young Peacebuilder receives a full scholarship. Note that non-attendance in the program will result in the scholarship being withdrawn (see below).

Q2 Where does the program take place?
Online. Participants must ensure that they have the necessary technology (a laptop or desktop is ideal) and have a reliable and strong internet connection to participate in all sessions and workshops. 

Q3 How much time is required to complete the program?
Participation in all sessions and workshops is important. The dates of events are shown in the above program schedule. All “sessions” are 90-120 minutes each. The 3 “workshops” are 3 days each–approximately 6 hours each day–plus self-paced preparation. These dates are fixed and need to be blocked in advance.

Q4: Is a certificate offered for completion of the program?
If and only if at least 75% of each workshop is completed do participants receive a certificate for that particular workshop. If a certificate is earned for each of the 3 workshops a further “Collective Leadership Specialist” certificate, with the Young Peacebuilders logo,  is earned, and the participant is invited into CLI’s global Community of Practice.

Q5: Can I lose my scholarship?
Yes. If a participant does not earn a certificate for one of the workshops offered in the program, their spot may be given to the next person on the waiting list.

Q6: What are the Inner Peacebuilding Sessions NOT?
In our Inner Peacebuilding Sessions, we are not offering psychoanalysis or trauma counseling. While the sessions are designed to create a safe space and guarantee confidentiality—particularly for personal work—they are not intended as therapy but can be therapeutic. This is an educational environment where participants are welcome to share as much or as little as they wish, and our expert facilitator from Depth Work will encourage open discussion and reflection on personal experiences.