Indigenous Climate Action (ICA) is once again partnering with the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness (SCSC) for the 2024 Social Connectedness Fellowship! Join our team this summer to support the development of an Indigenous Divestment Toolkit! Applications are open until 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, March 10. More details are below.

About ICA’s Project

Indigenous Divestment Toolkit

This project aims to create a toolkit empowering Indigenous communities with divestment strategies, utilizing Indigenous rights outlined by UNDRIP to push for divestment from industries violating these rights, positioning Indigenous sovereignty as a financial risk for corporations and promoting a shift from extraction to regeneration. Please read the full project description. 

Application Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SCSCICA

Key Applicant Information:  

• Location: Canada, remote.

• Preference will be given to Indigenous applicants. 

About the Centre

The Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness (SCSC) Social Connectedness Fellowship empowers young people and people with a variety of different types of lived experience to carry out innovative research on social isolation and belonging. Social Connectedness Fellows are an invaluable part of the global movement to create a world where everyone belongs.

From May to September, Fellows work alongside partner organizations conducting research to address issues related to social isolation and belonging. Through this program, Fellows have the opportunity to connect with experts, grow as researchers and community leaders, and be part of a international cohort of changemakers. The main output of the Fellowship is a final, original report authored by the Fellow and detailing their collaborative work and findings.

UPDATE! Applications are open until 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, March 10.

FAQ

See full list of FAQ for the fellowship here.

What is the Social Connectedness Fellowship? 

The Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness (SCSC) Social Connectedness Fellowship empowers young people and people with a variety of different types of lived experience to carry out innovative research on social isolation and belonging.  Social Connectedness Fellows are an invaluable part of the global movement to create a world where everyone belongs. 

From May to September, Fellows work alongside partner organizations, conducting research to address issues related to social isolation and belonging. Through this program, Fellows have the opportunity to connect with experts, grow as researchers and community leaders, and be part of a international cohort of changemakers. The main output of the Fellowship is a final, original report authored by the Fellow and detailing their collaborative work and findings.  

At the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness, our mission is to build connectedness within and between communities through partnerships, research, programming, and mobilizing knowledge. Belonging is central to our work, and the Social Connectedness Fellowships offer the opportunity to apply the lens of belonging to intersectional issues, writing, and problem solving.  

 Through the Social Connectedness Fellowship, SCSC offers:  

• Competitive wages  

• The opportunity to work with national and international community partners  

• Capacity building, skills development, and mentorship 

• Connection to an international cohort of other Fellows 

• Meaningful research opportunities where your work has an impact  

To learn more about the partners, the projects, and for links to apply, please visit the 2024 Application Portal.

Is this a paid Fellowship?

Yes! These are paid positions, starting on May 6, 2024 and ending on September 27, 2024. The Social Connectedness Fellowship offers a competitive wage range adjusted according to each Fellow’s geographic location and experience.  

Applicants located in Canada can expect a range of $22-27 per hour.  Applicants in the Northwest Territories, Canada, can expect a range of $26-28 per hour. 

How many hours per week is the Fellowship?

The positions are full-time, 35 hours per week, from May 6 – August 31, 2024, and then will transition to part-time positions, 10-20 hours per week, from September 1 – September 27, 2024, while the Fellow is revising, editing, and completing their final report.

What is the timeline for the 2024 Fellowship?

Applications are open for three weeks, from February 19 until 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, March 10, 2024.

The 2024 Fellowship starts on May 6, 2024, and runs until September 27, 2024.  

From May to August, Fellows can expect to engage in research, attend regular meetings, meaningfully connect with communities, write blogs, and participate in workshops. In September, the SCSC team will provide research revisions, edits and recommendations for the Fellow to incorporate into a final report.  

To learn more, and to apply, please visit: the 2024 Application Portal

Who can apply?

The Social Connectedness Fellowship provides an opportunity for young people, students, new graduates and people with a variety of lived experience to carry out innovative research that will inspire local and global action to build community and belonging. Anyone from any part of the world who fits that broad description can apply.  

Fellows are required to: 

• Have a passion for building a more inclusive, and connected world. 

• Be ready to engage in regular online meetings, check-ins, capacity building sessions and work remotely. 

• Commit 35 hours per week to the program from May – August, and 10-20 hours per week during the month of September. 

• Be able to work a minimum of 4 hours per day in Eastern Standard Time to ensure overlap with the Toronto based team. 

• Be interested in supporting communities and research! 

How do I apply and what do I need to prepare?

Applications are open from Feb. 19 – March 10, 2024. All applications are online at the 2024 Application Portal here.

To apply you will need:  

1. Up-to-Date Resume/CV 

2. A cover letter  

3. Writing sample.* There are two options for the writing sample: 

   1. Provide a pre-written piece; this can be formal, informal, a college or university assignment, an essay or research paper, a story, a blog, published or unpublished.  

   2. Provide an answer to the following question: “In your own words, tell us about the barriers and opportunities to building belonging and social connectedness in the world today.” We recognize everyone communicates differently. Please aim for 500 words, and do not feel the need to write more than 1,500 words.