Scholarship Overview
You apply directly with the provider. We never charge for applications or ask for payment details. How we verify scholarships
People Also Checked: ARC–GSSP Scholarship Programme 2026/2027: Climate Risk Leadership for African Students (Fully Funded)
Programme Overview
The Leading for Humanity 2027 cohort is the flagship leadership programme of the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation. This immersive 8-day residential journey takes place in April 2027 in Cape Town and Hermanus, South Africa, and is designed to nurture courageous leaders who embody the values and moral courage of Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
The programme operates on the principle of “million ripples”—the idea that individual transformation catalyses broader societal change. Participants engage in courageous conversations, peer exchange, and personal reflection to build the moral courage needed to lead from wherever they are.
People Also Checked: One Young World Leading Scholarship 2026: Cape Town Summit for Emerging Leaders (Fully Funded)
What the Programme Covers
The Foundation provides comprehensive funding for selected participants:
- Full programme costs
- Accommodation for the 8-day residential period
- All meals during the programme
- Lifelong alumni network membership
Important: Participants or their sponsors are responsible for travel to and from South Africa. This includes international flights for applicants outside South Africa, visa costs, and any pre- or post-programme expenses.
People Also Checked: SARB External Bursary 2027: Undergraduate Economics Scholarship for South African Students (Fully Funded)
Core Themes and Curriculum
The programme explores interconnected themes designed to build moral leadership capacity:
- Self-repair for societal repair: Understanding how personal healing enables collective transformation
- Ubuntu and compassionate leadership: Leading through interconnectedness and mutual humanity
- Forgiveness, indignation, and righteous anger: Channeling emotional responses into constructive action
- Finding purpose and building a “Circle of Courage”: Creating sustainable support networks for ongoing leadership
Who Should Apply
The Foundation welcomes diverse nominations from across the globe, including Zimbabwe and SADC countries. Ideal candidates demonstrate:
- Leadership potential and courage: Standing up for truth, human rights, and justice in the spirit of Archbishop Tutu
- Diversity of backgrounds: Leaders of any age, sector, or life experience ready for deep engagement
- Commitment to societal repair: Willingness to participate in vulnerable, challenging conversations
- Travel capability: Ability to travel to Cape Town and Hermanus and participate fully in the residential experience
There are no restrictions based on age, professional sector, or educational background. The programme values lived experience and demonstrated commitment to justice alongside formal qualifications.
How to Nominate
Both self-nominations and nominations by others (colleagues, mentors, employers, community members) are accepted.
Step-by-Step Application Process
- Prepare your motivation: Outline why the nominee embodies courageous leadership and how they would contribute to and benefit from the programme
- Gather supporting documents: Include nominee’s contact details, brief biography, CV, and any reference letters
- Submit by email: Send to shanti@tutu.org.za with subject line “Leading for Humanity nomination – 2027 cohort”
- Wait for shortlisting: Shortlisted nominees will be contacted for interviews and additional information
- Final confirmation: The final cohort will be announced early in 2027
Selection Process
Nominations are reviewed by the programme team against these criteria:
- Demonstrated leadership in challenging contexts
- Alignment with Archbishop Tutu’s values of truth, justice, and reconciliation
- Commitment to social justice and human rights
- Diversity of cohort composition (geographic, sectoral, experiential)
Shortlisted candidates undergo interviews before final selection. Places are limited, and early submission is encouraged.
Important Dates and Logistics
| Nominations open | 11 September 2026 |
| Deadline | 14 October 2026 |
| Programme dates | April 2027 (exact dates to be confirmed) |
| Final cohort announcement | Early 2027 |
Full attendance is mandatory. The residential format requires participants to be present for the entire 8-day period.
For African and SADC Applicants
For applicants from Zimbabwe and neighbouring SADC countries, this programme offers significant advantages:
- Regional proximity: Lower travel costs compared to intercontinental applicants
- Relevant context: The programme’s focus on reconciliation, justice, and societal repair resonates deeply with Southern African experiences
- Ubuntu philosophy: The programme’s ethical framework draws from African wisdom traditions
- Network building: Connection to African and global change-makers committed to ethical leadership
Applicants should budget for flights to Cape Town, visa requirements (if applicable), and any necessary travel insurance. The Foundation does not publish specific guidance on visa support, so applicants should contact the programme directly with questions.
Contact Information
Email: shanti@tutu.org.za
Phone: +27 21 552 7524
For inquiries about accessibility, visa support, or other logistical concerns, direct contact with the Foundation is recommended.
Official scholarship page: https://tutu.org.za/news/call-for-nominations-leading-for-humanity-2027-cohort
You apply directly with the provider. We never charge for applications or ask for payment details. How we verify scholarships
