Western Union Foundation Fellowship
Applications for the next cohort of this program will launch in Summer 2024
Meet the Western Union Foundation Fellows
The Western Union Foundation Fellowship is a venture and leadership program for entrepreneurs and community leaders from and working with highly marginalized, refugee, and forcibly displaced communities around the globe. This virtual and global program is designed to equip these next-generation entrepreneurs and leaders with the skills and experience to increase access to economic opportunity, build valuable networks and resources, and transform their communities.
This is a fully-funded program thanks to the support of the Western Union Foundation.
Dates & Details
- Dates: 16-week program with weekly programming.
- Format: Weekly virtual workshops with localized gatherings and events when possible (6-8 hours per week time commitment).
- Immersive & Orientation: 2-week virtual Immersive at the start of the program.
- Workshops & Training: Modules include Foundations, Data & Metrics, Go-To-Market, Funding, Team Management, and Pitch.
- Impact Series: The world’s foremost leaders, entrepreneurs, and practitioners are invited to our programs to share their entrepreneurial journey and experience as well as mentor the Watson Institute and Fellows.
- Basecamp: 1 to 3 day workshops designed to Fellows’ communities to ideate solutions, design business models, and compellingly communicate their businesses and organizations to an external audience.
- Summit: Culminating community event where Fellows pitch to local leaders, funders, and entrepreneurs.
- Venture Development Stipend: Venture development stipends will be distributed among select Western Union Foundation Fellows based on progress and impact throughout the Fellowship.
Who You Are & What You Do:
- You are an entrepreneur or community leader from and working with highly marginalized, refugee, and forcibly displaced communities around the globe.
- You are leading an early-stage social impact venture or community initiative with a proven track record of impact, entrepreneurship, and leadership in their community.
- You are looking for expert-led entrepreneurial training, access to funding opportunities, and a vast network of mentorship to accelerate your leadership skills and venture impact.
Sign up for Updates Here
Program Elements
The Western Union Foundation Fellowship provides award-winning training, committed mentorship, and a powerful community of peers to equip Fellows with the tools and knowledge they need to support their venture’s continued development and impact.
Basecamps
Grow your leadership skills, build local partnerships, and expand your impact by facilitating a Watson Institute Basecamp in your community.
Basecamps are 12 + hours of intensive workshops designed to help rising entrepreneurs from each of the Western Union Foundation Fellows’ communities to ideate solutions, design business models, and compellingly communicate their businesses and organizations to an external audience. As a key deliverable of the Western Union Foundation Fellowship, all Fellows will facilitate a Basecamp event during their time in the program.
The Watson Institute team will facilitate training workshops, share the Watson Institute Basecamp curriculum and planning materials, and provide a stipend to help organize and facilitate this event. Fellows are empowered through their training to tailor the Basecamp structure and outcomes to their desired participant community.
Learn More
On average each Fellow leading a venture impacts 32,130 individuals in their communities.
Western Union Foundation Fellows are Making an Impact
86 Fellows and alumni from 24 different countries have created impact for over 1,750 entrepreneurs, through the Basecamps they run around the world and initiatives they help lead.
Technology
Annabel Angwenyi ’23, Kenya
Annabel is the Co-Founder and CEO of Ziada, a tech-enabled support partner that collaborates with informal service providers in Kenya. Ziada not only matches service providers, with local clients but the platform also offers valuable services including equipment rental, marketing support and business advising.
Storytelling Platform
Mulenzi Tonny ’23, Uganda
Mulenzi, a Deaf entrepreneur, is a Team Lead at Love 4 immigrants, a social space for immigrant and refugee populations. The organization aims to connect immigrants to their communities as respected, loved, and heard individuals by sharing their narratives through art and storytelling. Love 4 immigrants connect immigrants to resources and acts as a platform for artists and storytellers to create and showcase their work. Love 4 immigrants has supported 1,000 immigrants and refugees to date.
Education
Ahmad Jalal Zalal ’23, Afghanistan
Ahmad is the Founder of a Developer for Developer online school that focuses on educating and advising girls in Afghanistan. The program offers online schooling as an alternative to traditional education, which is currently banned for girls and women across the majority of Afghanistan. Developer for Developer has trained more than 600 students online.
Western Union Foundation Fellows Summit
A high-profile event where Fellows share their impact and progress with a global audience
The Western Union Foundation is a separate charitable corporation from The Western Union Company that receives support from The Western Union Company, its employees, agents, consumers, and business partners. Watson Institute is the leading impact fellowship for next-generation entrepreneurs. Watson Institute shares Western Union Foundation’s belief that education is the surest pathway to economic opportunity. To date, the Western Union Foundation Fellowship has supported 78 Fellows and 2,216 earlier-stage entrepreneurs through the Basecamps they run around the world and initiatives they help lead.
