Indigenous Youth Fellows Tackle Climate & Culture

Cultural Survival announced its 2026 cohort of 30 Indigenous Youth Fellows from Africa and Asia, supporting young leaders committed to strengthening their communities. The Capacity Building Program, running since 2018 and having awarded 157 fellowships, focuses on elevating and revitalizing cultures and Traditional Knowledge. This year’s fellows, aged 18 to 28, will implement projects addressing issues like climate change, food sovereignty, and land protection.

Fellows from countries including Indonesia, Nepal, South Africa, Botswana, and the Democratic Republic of Congo will focus on initiatives ranging from disaster preparedness education and language preservation to land rights advocacy and sustainable livelihoods. Many projects emphasize intergenerational knowledge transfer, connecting Elders with youth to safeguard ancestral practices and traditions.

The program recognizes Indigenous youth as vital agents of change, key to carrying forward ancestral knowledge while ensuring the continuity of their cultures. Cultural Survival hopes to amplify these young leaders' voices and support their community-driven initiatives.