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Western Union Global Fellowship Program

Equipping courageous leaders and entrepreneurs supporting highly marginalized, refugee, or displaced communities to create systemic change.

Priority Application deadline is July 1st, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis after the deadline.

Start your Application

Humzah Farrukh, 2024 Western Union Global Fellowship Program Alum

The Western Union Global Fellowship Program is a fully-funded Impact Fellowship, empowering individuals supporting or hailing from refugee, highly-marginalized, or  forcibly displaced communities around the globe. Through this experience, Fellows will gain essential skills, resources, and networks to scale their ventures and accelerate their impact.

This program is fully-funded through the generous support of Western Union.

Dates and Details

Key Dates

  • Program: August 25–December 16, 2025
  • Immersive: 2-week virtual Immersive, starting August 25, 2025
  • Virtual Summit: December 16, 2025

Time Commitment

  • Weekly Sessions: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 8:30 AM-10:30 AM MT (GMT-6)
  • Total Weekly Commitment: 8–10 hours
  • Immersive Period: 10–15 hours per week

Core Components

  • Virtual Workshops: Interactive online sessions with your cohort
  • Basecamp: Lead a 1-3 day impact workshop in your community
  • Virtual Summit: Pitch to leaders, funders, and entrepreneurs
  • Community Development Stipend: Fellows will receive financial support to plan and execute their Basecamp—an interactive, community-focused workshop.

To create the most valuable experience for all, we ask every Fellow to fully participate and attend all weekly workshops and events.

Who Should Apply

Entrepreneur Profile
You have experienced the challenges of marginalized, refugee, or displaced communities and are actively working to address issues for these populations.

Venture Stage
Your nonprofit or for-profit organization has an established business model and is actively serving customers or beneficiaries in historically underserved communities. You’re now ready to scale your impact with the support of dedicated mentorship and resources.

Location & Eligibility
Applicants located in and/or creating impact in the following locations are encouraged to apply:

  • Costa Rica, Argentina, Lithuania, the Philippines, the United States, Brazil, Uganda, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, India, Bangladesh, Mexico, Germany, Colombia, Japan, and Pakistan.

 

What You Will Receive

Through this fully-funded Fellowship, supported by Western Union and powered by Watson Institute, you’ll gain the tools, mentorship, and network needed to scale your venture’s impact. The Fellowship is specifically optimized for entrepreneurs and leaders from marginalized, refugee, and forcibly displaced communities worldwide, with carefully selected facilitators, mentors, and speakers who bring deep expertise in driving meaningful change within these communities.

Pitch Development & Professional Recording

Refine how you communicate your venture’s impact and vision to stakeholders.

Create a professionally recorded pitch video you can use beyond the Fellowship.

Master the art of engaging and persuading key audiences.

Skill Enhancement & Leadership Growth

Develop essential skills through hands-on workshops focused on strategic planning, venture development, and problem-solving.

Build resilience and adaptability for the entrepreneurial journey.

Learn to effectively lead and scale an impact-driven organization.

Mentorship & Expert Guidance

Receive one-on-one guidance from experienced mentors and industry professionals.

Participate in group mentorship circles for collaborative learning.

Work directly with an Entrepreneur in Residence who supports your venture’s growth.

Community & Network Expansion

Join a dynamic community of impact-driven entrepreneurs and changemakers.

Connect with Fellows, Alumni, and experts who share your commitment to social impact.

Build lasting relationships that extend beyond the Fellowship.

Visibility & Collaboration

Share your work through Watson Institute summits and events.

Connect with mission-aligned leaders, funders, and industry influencers.

Position yourself as a thought leader in social impact.

Real-World Experience Through Basecamp

Design and lead a Basecamp community event with provided training and resources.

Put your leadership skills into action through hands-on experience.

Receive a stipend to support your community initiative.

Application Process

1. Submit Your Application Candidates complete the online application in approximately 30 minutes. Submit by the priority deadline of July 1st, 2025, for early consideration. Applications will continue to be reviewed on a rolling basis until all spots are filled.

2. Application Review Our Admissions Committee evaluates applications to identify entrepreneurs with scalable ventures and strong potential for impact. Early applicants receive priority consideration.

3. Interview Selected candidates will be invited to a 20-minute Zoom interview to share their entrepreneurial journey, discuss their venture’s vision for growth, and explore how the Fellowship aligns with their goals.

4. Final Selection & Enrollment Final decisions will be announced by July 25th, 2025. Accepted applicants must confirm their enrollment to secure their spot. The program begins on August 25, 2025.

Start Your Application

Aisha Ali, 2024 Western Union Global Fellowship Program Alumna

Melisa Manrique, 2024 Western Union Global Fellowship Program Alumna

To date, the Western Union Global Fellowship Program has supported 154 Fellows and over 6,000 earlier-stage entrepreneurs through the Basecamps they run around the world and initiatives they help lead.

Creating Lasting Impact: Empower Your Community with Basecamps

As a core component of the Fellowship, you will design and lead a 1-3 day Basecamp—an interactive, community-focused workshop that strengthens your leadership skills, expands your network, and provides valuable feedback. You’ll receive training, resources, and a stipend to plan and execute an impactful event that supports rising entrepreneurs and changemakers in your community.

Learn More About Basecamps

Alekza Fabiana, 2024 Western Union Global Fellowship Program Alumna “Teikirizy Basecamp”, Tijuana, Mexico

Meet the Alumni

Watson Institute alumni are creating measurable impact through ventures that address challenges in marginalized, refugee, and forcibly displaced communities worldwide. Their innovative solutions are transforming communities and improving millions of lives.

Lavina Nagpal
The BoomerEm (Boomer Empowerment) Digital Education United States

The BoomerEm bridges the digital divide by providing accessible digital education to older adults and people with disabilities, empowering them to stay connected, access essential services, and engage in lifelong learning. Through partnerships with community centers and disability organizations, the initiative has impacted over 10,000 individuals. Having raised $140,000 in capital, The BoomerEm continues to expand its reach and empower more individuals in navigating the digital world confidently.

Hassan Mutjaba Zaidi
Discovering New Artists Creative Learning Pakistan

Discovering New Artists (DNA) promotes quality education and inclusiveness through creative learning for marginalized and refugee youth. With over $120,000 raised, DNA uses arts and design to engage youth in addressing global issues through the Sustainable Development Goals, advocating for their rights. DNA has impacted 156,114 students and directly involved 78,057 children. Their one-for-one registration model allows 36,889 economically disadvantaged students to participate for free. DNA’s exhibitions across Pakistan and the USA showcase artwork on social issues, reaching over 14.1 million through media coverage.

Edith Valencia Diaz
Vía Erismar Migration Mexico

Vía Erismar addresses Sustainable Development Goal 10.7, which focuses on facilitating safe, orderly, and responsible migration. The venture provides crucial information on security, rights, routes, and legal processes to migrant communities through courses and workshops in shelters and camps. Launched in February 2024, Vía Erismar has formed partnerships with key shelters and local citizen networks, collaborated with a law firm to deliver legal workshops, and have engaged in public consultations for Cartagena 40+, the expanded framework of the Cartagena Declaration on Refugees.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the eligibility for this program?

  • You are from and/or working with highly marginalized, refugee, and forcibly displaced communities around the globe.
  • You are located and/or creating impact in Costa Rica, Argentina, Lithuania, the Philippines, the United States, Brazil, Uganda, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, India, Bangladesh, Mexico, Germany, Colombia, Japan, and Pakistan.
  • Fellows’ nonprofit or for-profit organizations must be in the Problem-Solution or Product-Market Fit stage, with an established business model actively serving customers or beneficiaries and demonstrating measurable impact in historically underserved communities. Ventures should have begun generating revenue, securing funding (grants, investments, or donations), or building a strong user base. Additionally, Fellows may have a team of up to ten full-time members.

Furthermore, we prioritize individuals who are fully committed to actively participating in the entire four-month program. At the heart of the program is a strong sense of community, and its success hinges on the active engagement and enthusiasm of all participants, who are eager to both learn and share.

How selective is this program?

Fellowships powered by Watson Institute receive a high volume of applications each year and have a 2% selectivity rate.

What do the in-person components entail?

Fellows facilitate a Basecamp event in their communities during their time in the program. They will also have the option to meet up with other program Fellows in their locations.

What is the application review timeline?

We understand the substantial interest in the program and strive to provide prompt responses. Decisions will be dispatched during the week of July 25th, 2025. Your patience during this process is greatly appreciated.

Can I apply if my country is not listed under the priority countries?

Western Union Global Fellowship Program is designed for entrepreneurs who are based and are creating impact in Costa Rica, Argentina, Lithuania, the Philippines, the United States, Brazil, Uganda, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, India, Bangladesh, Mexico, Germany, Colombia, Japan, or Pakistan. If you’re located elsewhere, we encourage you to explore other Fellowships powered by Watson Institute here.

I have another question and need assistance.

For all other questions, please reach out to Angelique Newhouse at angelique@watson.is.