Offered by the Academy for Educational Development (AED), the New Voices National Fellowship Program is a capacity-building and leadership development grant programme that assists non-profit organisations and professionals entering fields related to human rights and social justice. Officially sponsored programme areas include international human rights, women’s rights, reproductive rights, racial justice, HIV/AIDS, and migrant and refugee rights. New Voices aims to bring innovative, fresh talent to the staff of organisations and to cultivate and strengthen the leadership potential of these "new voices."

In 2008, the programme will focus on addressing needs, solving problems, and defending human rights related to the impact on the Gulf Coast of the United States of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The main objectives of the current programme are:

• To diversify the voices heard in the debate about regional recovery and transformation - with a strong interest in supporting Fellows who are women, people of colour, lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgendered/questioning (LGBTQ) people, disabled, who live in the Gulf Coast region or who are displaced from the region, of low income background, and/or who will bring compelling perspectives or life experience to the fellowship (e.g., displaced residents).
• To address longstanding inequities in the region based on race and class, by empowering stakeholders to participate fully in transforming the region.
• To hold government agencies and officials accountable for meeting the needs and respecting the rights of those affected by hurricanes in the Gulf Coast.
• To fund innovative and impactful programmes with work grounded in six sponsored fields - human rights, immigrant rights, women's rights, reproductive rights, racial justice, and HIV/AIDS.
• To build needed institutional and individual leadership in the Gulf Coast region through leadership training, technical assistance, and membership in a nationwide community of activists.

New Voices Fellows are offered financial assistance, training, and other opportunities for personal and professional development. Host organisations are provided salary-support grants. The goal of the programme is to help both the host organisation and the Fellow realise their full potential.

Grantees will be headquartered in one of the three states in the Gulf Coast region hardest hit by hurricane Katrina - Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Organisations based in three cities with the largest numbers of displaced residents - Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston - are also eligible to apply. Finally, hurricane-affected organisations along the Gulf Coast of Texas and Florida may apply.

Applications are to be prepared jointly by the organisation and its proposed Fellow and submitted by the organisation. The original plus four complete collated copies of the application must be received by post by AED no later than January 21 2008. Submissions by fax or email will not be accepted.

The deadline for application is January 21 2008.

Click here to access downloadable application packets in MS Word.

Click here for more information.

Click here to read about previous Fellows.