If not you, then who?
If not you, then who?
If you have the courage to look into the eyes of suffering and awaken the changemaker within you, this fellowship is for you.
THE SATYARTHI
FELLOWSHIP
As the world faces rising inequality, conflict, climate crisis, and social fragmentation, there is an urgent need for a new kind of leadership - one that places Compassion at the centre of decision-making and systems change - to achieve Justice, Equality, Peace, and Sustainability for all.
The Satyarthi Fellowship, launched by Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion, aims to fill this critical gap. It is a one-year global leadership programme that will give our world a new cadre of leaders ready to question the status quo and act with a sense of urgency and accountability.
If not now, then when?
If not now, then when?
If not you, then who?”
If not you, then who?”
Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace Laureate
A Global Leadership Model for Systemic Change
Grounded in the vision of our Founder and Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, the Fellowship brings together 25 exceptional changemakers aged 23–40 for a year. Through immersive training, mentorship, action projects and real-world problem-solving, they will drive systemic change across disciplines such as business, law, technology, healthcare, politics, education, and faith.
The Satyarthi Fellowship
As the world faces rising conflict, climate crisis, polarisation, and inequality, there is an urgent need for a new kind of leadership. One that places Compassion at the centre of decision-making and systems change - to achieve Justice, Equality, Peace and Sustainability for all.
Our Mentors
José Ramos-Horta, President, Timor Leste & Nobel Peace Laureate 1996
“The commitment of people like Kailash and others around him has been extraordinary. And I’m proud to be part of this movement.”
José Ramos-Horta, President, Timor Leste & Nobel Peace Laureate 1996
“The commitment of people like Kailash and others around him has been extraordinary. And I’m proud to be part of this movement.”
José Ramos-Horta, President, Timor Leste & Nobel Peace Laureate 1996
H.E. Stefan Lofven, President, Party of European Socialists and Former Prime Minister, Sweden
“We have to find a way to cooperate, finally it is about shared responsibility. If we share responsibility, we can handle it.”
H.E. Stefan Lofven, President, Party of European Socialists and Former Prime Minister, Sweden
“We have to find a way to cooperate, finally it is about shared responsibility. If we share responsibility, we can handle it.”
H.E. Stefan Lofven, President, Party of European Socialists and Former Prime Minister, Sweden
Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace Laureate 2011
“Our world can only be changed if we harness the power of compassion.”
Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace Laureate 2011
“Our world can only be changed if we harness the power of compassion.”
Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace Laureate 2011
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, WHO
“Compassion is a medicine. Supporting other people in your community can help you as much as it does them.”
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, WHO
“Compassion is a medicine. Supporting other people in your community can help you as much as it does them.”
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, WHO
Gabriela Ramos, Former Assistant Director General, Social & Human Sciences, UNESCO
"We need to push for compassionate action in policy, technology and economics - putting people, rights, and sustainability first."
Gabriela Ramos, Former Assistant Director General, Social & Human Sciences, UNESCO
"We need to push for compassionate action in policy, technology and economics - putting people, rights, and sustainability first."
Gabriela Ramos, Former Assistant Director General, Social & Human Sciences, UNESCO
Compassionate
AI
Artificial intelligence that recognises harm, understands context, and embeds justice, equality, peace, and sustainability into its design, deployment, and governance systems.
Compassionate
Business
Businesses that pursue profit responsibly, ensuring that people and the planet are not harmed in the process. They create shared value for all stakeholders and take a long-term, resilient approach to growth.
Compassionate
Faith
Faith institutions that embed pluralism and inclusion into their practice, enabling faith to serve as a force for reconciliation, social cohesion, and the protection of dignity for all.
Compassionate
Justice
Fast, fair, and accessible legal and judicial systems that embed human dignity, equity, and accountability into institutions and processes.
Compassionate
Healthcare
Health systems that guarantee equitable, dignified access to care for all - embedding compassion into institutional design, resource allocation, and service delivery.
Compassionate
Education
Education that embeds Compassion into its system - ensuring equitable access to quality education and building learning environments that develop critical thinking and moral accountability.
Compassionate
Governance
Public systems that are inclusive, accessible, participatory, and accountable to all.
Thematic Focus Areas
Compassionate
AI
Artificial intelligence that recognises harm, understands context, and embeds justice, equality, peace, and sustainability into its design, deployment, and governance systems.
Compassionate
Business
Businesses that pursue profit responsibly, ensuring that people and the planet are not harmed in the process. They create shared value for all stakeholders and take a long-term, resilient approach to growth.
Compassionate
Faith
Faith institutions that embed pluralism and inclusion into their practice, enabling faith to serve as a force for reconciliation, social cohesion, and the protection of dignity for all.
Compassionate
Justice
Fast, fair, and accessible legal and judicial systems that embed human dignity, equity, and accountability into institutions and processes.
Compassionate
Healthcare
Health systems that guarantee equitable, dignified access to care for all - embedding compassion into institutional design, resource allocation, and service delivery.
Compassionate
Education
Education that embeds Compassion into its system - ensuring equitable access to quality education and building learning environments that develop critical thinking and moral accountability.
Compassionate
Governance
Public systems that are inclusive, accessible, participatory, and accountable to all.
Thematic Focus Areas
Thematic Focus Areas
Compassionate
AI
Artificial intelligence that recognises harm, understands context, and embeds justice, equality, peace, and sustainability into its design, deployment, and governance systems.
Compassionate
Business
Businesses that pursue profit responsibly, ensuring that people and the planet are not harmed in the process. They create shared value for all stakeholders and take a long-term, resilient approach to growth.
Compassionate
Faith
Faith institutions that embed pluralism and inclusion into their practice, enabling faith to serve as a force for reconciliation, social cohesion, and the protection of dignity for all.
Compassionate
Justice
Fast, fair, and accessible legal and judicial systems that embed human dignity, equity, and accountability into institutions and processes.
Compassionate
Healthcare
Health systems that guarantee equitable, dignified access to care for all - embedding compassion into institutional design, resource allocation, and service delivery.
Compassionate
Education
Education that embeds Compassion into its system - ensuring equitable access to quality education and building learning environments that develop critical thinking and moral accountability.
Compassionate
Governance
Public systems that are inclusive, accessible, participatory, and accountable to all.
Compassionate
AI
Artificial intelligence that recognises harm, understands context, and embeds justice, equality, peace, and sustainability into its design, deployment, and governance systems.
Compassionate
Business
Businesses that pursue profit responsibly, ensuring that people and the planet are not harmed in the process. They create shared value for all stakeholders and take a long-term, resilient approach to growth.
Compassionate
Faith
Faith institutions that embed pluralism and inclusion into their practice, enabling faith to serve as a force for reconciliation, social cohesion, and the protection of dignity for all.
Compassionate
Justice
Fast, fair, and accessible legal and judicial systems that embed human dignity, equity, and accountability into institutions and processes.
Compassionate
Healthcare
Health systems that guarantee equitable, dignified access to care for all - embedding compassion into institutional design, resource allocation, and service delivery.
Compassionate
Education
Education that embeds Compassion into its system - ensuring equitable access to quality education and building learning environments that develop critical thinking and moral accountability.
Compassionate
Governance
Public systems that are inclusive, accessible, participatory, and accountable to all.
Thematic Focus Areas
Core Components
Compassionate Leadership
The curriculum is inspired by Mr. Satyarthi’s doctrine of compassion and his five-decade journey of leading global impact at scale. The Compassionate Leadership curriculum is intentionally interdisciplinary, integrating systems thinking, moral leadership, problem-solving, and compassionate action.
Mentorship & Global Exposure
Throughout the year, fellows engage with and are mentored by global leaders—including heads of state, Nobel Laureates, stalwarts from various disciplines, policymakers, academicians across leading institutions—gaining strategic insight, broader perspectives, and exposure to proven models of transformative change.
Compassionate Action Projects
Fellows design and deliver high-impact projects tackling urgent social challenges across sectors, collaborating with institutions, governments, and civil society to catalyse the force of compassion for urgent, collaborative, and sustainable action.
Experiential Learning
Through the year, fellows will witness grassroots transformation first-hand, and engage with leading institutions, subject matter experts across real-world action projects.
Networking & Peer Learning
Through cross-cultural exchange, collaborative problem-solving, and shared reflection, fellows build lifelong partnerships that extend well beyond the programme year.
Program Structure
01
Application and Selection
The applicants will need to go through a four stage process including a written application, psychometric test, one video interview and a jury interview over the course of two months.
02
Residential Learning (1 month)
The Fellowship begins with an immersive residential learning module in India where the fellows have the opportunity to engage with the grassroot realities, existing compassionate action projects in the communities, compassionate leadership training, project design and systems thinking workshops.
03
Compassionate Action Projects (10 months)
Fellows will move to the city/country of their project placement to work on compassionate action projects within the identified disciplines, designing and implementing high-impact Compassionate Action Projects with monthly mentor check-ins, virtual cohort meet-ups and online masterclasses.
04
Residential Learning Module (1 month)
Fellows reconvene in India to reflect on their journey, present their final projects, integrate key learnings, and explore future pathways through the Alumni Network.
Who should apply?
Doers, disruptors, and dreamers who are ready to tackle complex global challenges, create lasting impact, and lead change that matters.
Eligibility Criteria:
Open to postgraduates and early-career professionals aged 23–40
A bachelor’s degree or higher
At least 30 months of meaningful work experience, including internships or grassroots engagement
Proficiency in English to collaborate, learn, and lead within a global community
A valid passport and readiness to travel and engage globally
TSF Advisory Council
Neha Shah, Co-founder and CEO, Senticell
Scott Cunningham, Global Partnership and Alliances Leader
Pavan Mamidi, Director of Center for Social & Behaviour Change, Ashoka University
Applications Open:
6th April 2026
Applications End:
15th May 2026
Screening & Interviews:
Rolling basis
Offers Rollout
31st July 2026
Fellowship Begins:
September 2026
Fellowship Ends:
August 2027
Please review all eligibility criteria and application requirements before submitting your application.
Important Dates
Karuna: The Power of Compassion
'I see a world where compassion is the only solution. Do you see what I see?’
Compassion is not a soft emotion but a powerful force for transformation. It transcends borders, ideologies, religions, and politics. And it asks only this: act mindfully as if the world is all one family—because it is. In Karuna, Mr. Kailash Satyarthi shows us how Karuna is the answer to our individual, social and global problems, and the key to a better future.
Fellows work on real-world projects in collaboration with SMGC’s partner organizations. This involves practical engagement with communities, iterative problem-solving, and continuous mentorship through the ten months. The process is carefully designed to ensure meaningful contributions and measurable social impact.
Can you tell me more about the Compassionate Action Projects?
The applicants are encouraged to share their ideas, interests, and preferred domains during the application process, we may incorporate them into the final project as relevant. Fellows will have the opportunity to ideate and refine the projects within the scope and scale of the project ensuring both meaningful impact and alignment with their interests.
Do I get to choose my project?
The process of finalising your projects is deliberate and thoughtful. You will be informed about your assigned project and location by the end of June, giving you ample time to prepare for your fellowship experience.
When will I know the final project?
Due to the global nature of the fellowship, a valid passport is required.
Why do I need a passport?
The programme requires 100% attendance. All selected Fellows are required to participate in every session, cohort call, and one-on-one meeting, and complete all assigned tasks.