Pathy Foundation Fellowship

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Antigonish, NS
Pathy Foundation Fellowship

Francis Xavier University.

An intensive 12-month transformative personal and professional leadership incubator, designed to support you in pursuing your passion for social justice.
The Pathy Foundation Fellowship provides community-focused experiential learning opportunities for graduating students to become active and effective change-makers, bringing new ideas and working closely with communities to foster sustainable and positive social change in Canada and around the world. The Coady Institute is excited to partner with the following universities in offering this Fellowship: Bishop's University, McGill University, Queen's University, University of Ottawa and St. The year-long Fellowship is designed for students who have:

- demonstrated the capacity and potential to develop as effective change-agents;
- a meaningful connection with a community of their choosing, locally, nationally or internationally; and
- EITHER an innovative idea of how this community could be strengthened or developed OR a connection with a positive and sustainable community development initiative in any field already underway within this community that they would like to build upon. Candidates do not need to develop a completed plan at the application stage, but rather have an interesting and innovative idea of something that could strengthen their chosen community, that can then be further developed in the first few months of the program, informed by the on-campus and distance learning components. Upon selection to the program, Fellows are provided with up to $40,000 to contribute to:

- a living allowance (including housing, food, local transport and insurance);
- travel and travel-related expenses, to cover airfares to and from home locations and the community (if required), and, for those traveling internationally, such things as visas, immunizations and health insurance; and
- initiative funding, to cover expenses such as start-up and operational costs. The Fellowship also provides participants with dedicated support in sustainable project planning and implementation, leadership development and one-on-one coaching to support fellows' personal and professional learning throughout their fellowship experience. Integrated throughout the program is the Coady Institute's innovative and blended approach to citizen-led, community-driven, asset-based community development. On-campus and distance learning educational methods incorporate a participant-focused, flexible learning agenda underpinned by strong adult education principles, technical expertise, and technological support.

09/22/2026

Fellows in the Field!

⚡ This month has been a big one for Elyas and his initiative, Digital Pathway. After months of planning, he officially launched the website, received the program’s first donation, and arrived in Tajikistan to begin community phase. Elyas has been meeting members of the Afghan refugee community, connecting with local organizations, and building relationships that will help shape the program. He is preparing for the initiative’s first community conversation circle and has been connecting with potential partners and advisors who can support the work. Looking ahead, Elyas is excited to begin bringing young people together and continue building Digital Pathway alongside the community.

⚡ For Kiara, the past few months have been focused on laying the groundwork for her initiative through community outreach and partnership-building. She has been refining her program timeline and workshop schedule to ensure participants have a meaningful learning experience without feeling overwhelmed. As Kiara shares, "I wanted to make sure that I am being very open and responsive to feedback." She is especially excited to launch her website and begin sharing her idea in new spaces, while reconnecting with her community and gaining a deeper understanding of its evolving needs.

⚡ Maïmouna’s highlight of the month has been returning to Senegal. “Being back already feels so good and peaceful. I feel incredibly grounded and happy to be here,” she shares. Since FCC, she has been refining her curriculum, finalizing project details, and conducting outreach to explore potential collaborations. Through conversations with local NGOs, doctors, and psychologists, she has gained valuable insights that continue to shape her initiative. She has also been attending SRHR advocacy workshops, which have brought new perspectives to her work. Finally, Maïmouna is building the initiative’s website and social media presence, an exciting step toward bringing the project to life.

To learn more about our Fellows and the communities they're working alongside, visit our website: https://pathyfellowship.com/our-changemakers/

09/17/2026

Fellows in the Field!

⚡ For Amina, August was spent resettling into Rexdale as she focused on moving from the planning stage into community engagement. "A big part of this has been observing, listening, and learning more about what is currently happening within the community and where my initiative could complement and build upon existing programming", she says. Going into September, Amina is most excited about continuing to build community partnerships and working more directly with community members to shape the program around their ideas and priorities through co-design sessions and tabling events in the community.

⚡ "August has been a big month of readjusting for me. I have mainly been having conversations with community members, leaders, and community partners, discussing the coming months and expectations for one another. These meaningful conversations, alongside those with my mentors, have greatly refined my initiative and given me more tangible ideas for my next steps this month in September", shares Muram. She is currently with her community leader to run a focus group at the local after-school homework club to gauge interest in her initiative and see what they would like integrated. Muram is especially excited to volunteer with a non-profit art program for young children, gaining field experience that will help inform and strengthen her initiative, and has been preparing for meetings with local artists and a production company.

To learn more about our Fellows and the communities they're working alongside, visit our website: https://pathyfellowship.com/our-changemakers/

09/15/2026

Fellows in the Field!

⚡ "I feel like there’s so much information floating around my head! I’ve been engaging in conversations with my community since being back, reaching out to partner organizations and collaborators and mentors and such," shares Mikal. He has been forging new connections in Parc-Ex, and is running a focus group with parents to go over his initiative idea, which he hopes will be a launching point for the rest of his outreach and curriculum design. Mikal has also been coordinating meetings for co-design and responsibility delegation with potential co-facilitators.

⚡Transition Phase has been "a whirlwind of refinement and foundational work!" says Farifta. Through conversations with mentors, community members, and local partners, she has been strengthening her Fellowship plan and thinking throughh the details of her initiative. A major milestone this month was creating the initiative's first promotional pamphlets, which are now ready for community distribution! "I’m thrilled to start sharing these materials, deepening our community outreach, and seeing these early conversations turn into tangible impact. Excited for what’s ahead!", she shares.

⚡Madina has been dedicated to transforming Bridging Belonging from an idea into a stronger, community-rooted initiative. She has been refining programming, strengthening recruitment strategies, and connecting with organizations that support newcomer and vulnerable youth in Ottawa, such as the YMCA's youth and newcomer program. "I'm especially excited to begin recruitment in mid-September and move from planning into more direct community engagement," she shares. She and her team recently planned a Community Cultural Fest, which was a reminder of "just how strong, resourceful, and full of assets a community already is," says Madina.

To learn more about our Fellows and the communities they're working alongside, visit our website: https://pathyfellowship.com/our-changemakers/

09/08/2026

Fellows in the Field!

For the past five years, Bill has co-developed the Calgary Pop-Up Care Village, a community festival that supports people experiencing systemic vulnerabilities through dignified services, arts, entertainment, and connection. Following the successful fifth Care Village on August 21, 2026, he is entering an exciting period of reflection and transition. "My Fellowship idea has evolved several times since applying and participating in Foundations for Community Change," he shares.

This month, Bill has been meeting with volunteers and community partners to shape the Care Village Fellowship, an eight-month experiential learning program for 5 to 7 young people aged 18 to 30 in which "participants will learn, grow, and ultimately help design and deliver the 2027 Pop-Up Care Village."

As the initiative continues to evolve, the Care Village Fellowship aims to create meaningful opportunities for young people to develop leadership skills while contributing to a more connected and caring community.

Learn more about Bill's initiative and Fellowship experience by following this link: https://pathyfellowship.com/fellow/bill-zheng/

08/31/2026

🌟 Introducing this year's Pathy Fellowship Alumnx Council 🌟

Meet Damai, Sophie, Jess and Jannika! We are so excited to see how they bring their energy and insight to guide the Alumnx Network this year!

Read more about the Alumnx Council on our website: https://pathyfellowship.com/about-the-fellowship/meet-our-team/

08/21/2026

Introducing Bill Zheng⚡

Bill joins the Pathy Foundation Fellowship from the University of Calgary's Nursing Program.

What is Bill most looking forward to this year?

"I am looking forward to meeting like-minded peers, having access to tailored, structured learnings during FCC. I am also very much looking forward to having a year for me to focus on this initiative, bringing my deep passion for the art and storytelling space and connecting them to the community I’ve been so closely involved in. I think it will be an amazing experience and I can’t wait!"

You can read more about his Pathy Initiative, Unseen City, on our website: https://pathyfellowship.com/fellow/bill-zheng/

08/20/2026

Introducing Elyas Yari⚡

Elyas joins the Pathy Foundation Fellowship from Western University's Global Development Program.

What is Elyas most looking forward to this year?

"This year, I am most looking forward to learning alongside the community and turning this idea into something real and meaningful. I am excited to build relationships, listen closely to participants, and shape the initiative together rather than alone. I also look forward to growing as a leader, learning how to adapt, respond to challenges, and work in uncertain environments. Being part of the Fellowship community is equally important to me, as I hope to exchange ideas, learn from others’ experiences, and reflect on my own journey. Overall, I see this year as a chance to grow personally while creating something that has a lasting impact."

You can read more about his Pathy Initiative, Digital Pathways, on our website: https://pathyfellowship.com/fellow/mohammad-elyas-yari/

08/19/2026

Introducing Amina Saher⚡

Amina joins the Pathy Foundation Fellowship from the University of Toronto's MPH Nutrition and Dietetics Program.

What is Amina most looking forward to this year?

"I am most looking forward to building relationships and learning alongside my cohort as well as members of my community. I am excited by the possibility of creating a space where people can come together to cook, share stories, exchange knowledge, and build a sense of connection and belonging. I am also looking forward to growing through the process myself, especially by strengthening my ability to adapt to community needs and to build something that is shaped by the voices and priorities of the people it is meant to serve."

You can read more about her Pathy Initiative, Rexdale Community Kitchen, on our website: https://pathyfellowship.com/fellow/amina-saher/

08/18/2026

Introducing Farifta Rahman⚡

Farifta joins the Pathy Foundation Fellowship from the University of Toronto's Bioethics and Philosophy Program.

What is Farifta most looking forward to this year?

"I am most looking forward to building something that is both meaningful and sustainable within the community. I’m excited to engage directly with participants, facilitate conversations that are often avoided, and see how trust develops over time. I’m also looking forward to growing as a leader, especially in coordinating a full-scale initiative, managing partnerships, and learning how to evaluate impact. Equally, I’m excited to learn from other Fellows, gain new perspectives, and be part of a cohort that is committed to creating change in diverse and thoughtful ways."

You can read more about her Pathy Initiative, Rising South, on our website: https://pathyfellowship.com/fellow/farifta-rahman/

08/17/2026

Introducing Mikal Nazarani⚡

Mikal joins the Pathy Foundation Fellowship from McGill University's Anthropology Program.

What is Mikal most looking forward to this year?

"I’m most excited to see how young people tell their own stories – to read their writing, in all its forms, and witness the worlds they build through language."

You can read more about his Pathy Initiative, Worlds Within Words: A Parc-Ex Storytelling Initiative, on our website: https://pathyfellowship.com/fellow/mikal-nazarani/

Address

Antigonish, NS

Website

http://www.pathyfellowship.com/

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