The Pathy Foundation Fellowship is an intensive, immersive, 12-month experiential-learning opportunity in youth leadership and community engagement. Through the Coady Institute, they provide comprehensive training, dedicated ongoing support, and up to $40,000 in funding to equip successful Fellows with the best possible tools and supports to grow as leaders, make an impact in a community they’re connected with, and gain competencies that will serve them for life.
The program is designed for students who demonstrate:
- the capacity and potential to grow and evolve into effective agents of change;
- a strong, meaningful, pre-existing connection to a community (domestic or international); and
- an innovative project/initiative idea on how to strengthen their chosen community.
Application Process
Applications open every year in early September, and close in December. Following the review of applications, up to 20 shortlisted candidates will be invited (and funded) to attend a centrally conducted Selection Process in Montreal, consisting of participatory and interactive activities with the other candidates along with an individual interview with the Selection Committee. All shortlisted candidates MUST make themselves available to attend the Selection Days (and potentially travel days either side) which generally takes place in February.
Applications for the 2025-2026 Cohort are open until December 15th, 2024.
Requirements: Students applying must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, under 30 years of age, and about to graduate from full-time undergraduate or Masters level study at Carleton.
About the Application
Candidates do not need a fully developed plan when applying; in general, a strong/meaningful/pre-existing connection with a community, an interesting & innovative project, and evidence of capacity and potential in the candidate themselves are the three main components of a strong application. We often refer to these components of a strong application as the “three-legged stool” (i.e., each ‘leg’ should be as strong as the other in order to make a strong stool).
Applicants may apply with an existing organization within the community in which they are proposing their initiative, or independently. Applicants may also apply with either a new initiative idea to strengthen their community, or with a positive and sustainable project already underway in their community that they wish to build on in a new or innovative way. Along with the application, candidates will need academic, professional, and community references, who will be sent a questionnaire to complete once applicants have submitted their application. We suggest that applicants contact their references prior to submitting their application to ensure their availability.
Applicants are also encouraged to start their application well ahead of the deadline, as the application form is quite arduous. There are two main resources which we encourage candidates to use as they complete their application: their university contact, who is able to provide relevant guidance and advice, and the Pathy Fellowship Program Assistant, who is a neutral (and non-voting) resource. The PA is a program Alumnx and as such is able to offer in-depth advice on project idea development, and is able to answer specific questions relevant to potential candidates. Candidates are also encouraged to read the FAQs on the Pathy Fellowship website, which are very detailed, and to attend Info Sessions throughout the application phase.
For more information, and to register for application support or Info Sessions, please visit: https://linktr.ee/pathyfellowship.
Assistance
Need help with your application? Email us at pathyfellowship@cunet.carleton.ca, and we’ll be happy to assist.