The Move Up Global Fellowship is an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to participate in an education and community health immersion program in Rwanda, engaging in collaborations, upstream interventions, assessments, and projects with long-term impact. The program offers hands-on work in a rural community where Move Up Global works on an innovative bundle of interventions to improve the community through access to better health and education. The opportunity is longitudinal, and notably, the fellowship work continues even off the ground. Distinct from a typical service learning project,  planning, partnership, and sustainability are core to the model.

The fellowship integrates community engagement, policy-focused interventions, collaboration with non-profit leaders in the US and Rwanda, research, monitoring and assessment, and a collaborative cohort model. 

Pre-departure Training: Collaborate with the team in Rwanda to gain a thorough understanding of the projects and to outline the deliverables for their work, including the context of the community, its history, and its goals. Attend a required orientation to begin work before traveling to Rwanda.

Fieldwork in Rwanda: 4-5 weeks getting to know the country, its health and education systems, and working directly in the rural community supporting interventions.

Post-fieldwork Reflection: finalize and produce agreed-upon deliverables and share reflections, with possible team meetings after travel and a required exit interview. 

After the fellowship, students will receive feedback and career support from MUG members and have the opportunity to join Move Up Global's Innovation Council, a group of fellowship student alumni, who have gone to pursue graduate studies in global and public health, medical school, and careers in health equity.

What are the benefits of joining the Move Up Global Fellowship Program?

By joining the Move Up Global Fellowship Program, you will:

• Gain valuable experience designing, implementing, and evaluating health interventions in a low-resource setting.

• Learn about the challenges and opportunities of community health programming from local experts and mentors.

• Expand your network and connections with other young global health professionals and enthusiasts.

What are the requirements to join the Move Up Global Fellowship Program?

To be eligible for the Move Up Global Fellowship Program, you must:

• Be a college or graduate student in a relevant field (such as public health, medicine, nursing, social work, education, etc.

• Have a desire to learn and contribute to education and health in resource-constrained communities.

• Have a strong interest and commitment to global health and social justice.

• Have some prior experience or knowledge in global health or related fields.

• Be able to commit to the entire duration of the program.

• Be willing to adapt to different cultural and living conditions.

How do you apply for the Move Up Global Fellowship Program?

If you are interested in applying for the Move Up Global Fellowship Program, please follow these steps:

1. Fill out the online application form below. You must provide your personal information, academic background, work experience, and motivation statement.

2. If you are shortlisted, you will be invited for an online interview with the Move Up Global team and alumni.

3. If selected, you will receive an offer letter from Move Up Global with further details about the program.

What is the cost of the program?

1. The total program fees are $3,400 (covering accommodation, meals, in-country transportation, and program coordination). Airfare and personal expenses are not included.

2. Applicants are encouraged to apply for micro-grants or fundraise for their projects. For example, if the applicants are interested in malnutrition, neglected tropical diseases among children, menstrual health, mental health, education, and other projects, we recommend them to mobilize some resources from their academic institutions, family foundations, and/or individual donors. Move Up Global is willing to provide background information and offer letters of support.

3. While having additional funding to support the project is optional, we prioritize fellows with dedicated funding to support their projects.

4. Program fees should be wired to the Move Up Global account after receiving an official acceptance letter.

Click here to learn more about the program.