Fellowship/Scholarship: The Spiritual Ecology Youth Fellowship Programme

Location: United Kingdom

Dates: September 2016 – May 2017

Number of participants: 10

We are looking for individuals who have the potential to be catalysts for change and recognise the need to create a future that is rooted in the values of interconnectedness, service, stewardship, and reverence for nature. The programme is aimed at emerging leaders aged between 20-32, based in the UK or in Europe. The programme is designed to offer an experience of deep study, reflection and practical project development, integrating the principles of Spiritual Ecology. A central aspect is the exploration of how the foundational values of Spiritual Ecology can be implemented into projects that create lasting change.

We are looking for participants from a diverse range of backgrounds including but not limited to: environmentalists, community builders, educators, craftspeople, farmers, chefs, designers, architects, builders, civil servants, entrepreneurs, journalists and writers, artists, musicians and film makers. The program is open to people from all faith backgrounds as well as those without any direct religious or spiritual affiliation.

The fellowship follows a nine month program and will consist of ten selected participants, all of whom will receive full scholarships for programme tuition. All accommodation for the retreats will be provided at no cost, and a stipend will be provided for travel and food expenses.

Course Structure

Projects and Initiatives

During the course of the programme, participants will be required to develop a project or initiative idea as an example of how their learning can be applied in practice. At the end of the programme, those participants interested in submitting a formal proposal of their final projects for seed funding will be invited to do so. Time will be allocated during each retreat for project development with assistance from teachers and mentors. After each retreat, fellows will receive ongoing post-retreat support and mentorship with regular webinars and online meetings. Fellows will also be required to complete assigned reading and assignments in between meetings, which will be given in advance to support the learning process.

At the end of the program, participants will have the opportunity to submit a formal proposal of their final projects for seed funding.

Programme dates are as follows and attendance to all of the sessions is required. Some dates and locations are provisional and will be confirmed in the coming months.

Opening Retreat: The Principles of Spiritual Ecology

September 9th – 17th 2016 (dates now confirmed), an 8 day nature immersion retreat including the following:

Workshops and classes with teachers and mentors exploring the principles of Spiritual Ecology, indigenous perspectives and sacred activism
Personal and group discussion and reflection time
Field Visit: Social and Environmental Regeneration

November 25th – 30th 2016 (dates TBC), an in depth 5/6 day visit with a leading practioner in the field
The purpose of the field visit is to give fellows the opportunity to experience an example of how the principles of Spiritual Ecology can come to life, how it can create positive social and environmental regeneration and to spend some time with a leading practioner.

Weekend Workshops: Tools for Practical Implementation

January 13th-15th & February 3rd – 5th 2017 (dates now confirmed), two intensive 3 day workshops at St Ethelburga’s in London focusing on the following:

Skill building workshops with teachers and mentors
Field visits and learning opportunities with local projects and organisations in London and/or UK
Development and support for project ideas and initiatives with mentors and teachers
Closing Retreat: Project Presentations and Final Harvesting

May 26th – 28th (dates now confirmed), final group gathering and fellows project presentations

Teachers and Mentors

With more to be confirmed.

Adam Bucko

Adam Bucko is an activist, spiritual director to many of New York City’s homeless youth, and co-author of ‘Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation’ and ‘The New Monasticism: An Interspiritual Manifesto for Contemplative Living’.

He grew up in Poland during the totalitarian regime and spent his early years exploring the anarchist youth movement as a force for social and political change. At the age of 17, Adam immigrated to America where his desire to find his path towards a meaningful life led him to monastries in the US and India. His life-defining experience took place in India, where on his way to a Himalayan hermitage, he met a homeless child who lived on the streets of Dehli. This brief encounter led him to the “Ashram of the Poor” where he began his work with homeless youth. After returning to the US, he worked on the streets of various American cities with young people struggling with homelessness and prostitution. He eventually co-founded The Reciprocity Foundation, an award winning nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of New York City’s homeless youth.

In addition, Adam has established HAB, an ecumenical and inter-spiritual “new monastic” fellowship for young people which offers formation in radical spirituality and sacred activism. He collaborates with spirtual leaders accross religious traditions and mentors young people, helping them discover a spiritual life in the 21st century and how to live deeply from the heart in service of compassion and justice.

Adam is a recipient of several awards and his work has been featured by many newspapers, magazines and media channels.

Tiokasin Ghosthorse

“We have to stop the idea of creating peace on Earth and begin with creating peace with Mother Earth. We’ve tried the first alternative for thousands of years, but look where that has lead us. Now is the time of the Original Ways, the Native Ways.”

Tiokasin Ghosthorse is from the Cheyenne River Lakota (Sioux) Nation of South Dakota. He is the host of First Voices Indigenous Radio on Pacific Radio. Tiokasin has been described as a ‘spiritual agitator, natural rights organiser, Indigenous thinking process educator and a community activator’.

Tiokasin has had a long history in indigenous rights activism and advocacy. He spoke, as a teenager, at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Ever since his UN work, he has been actively educating people who live on Turtle Island (North America) and overseas about the importance of living with each other and with Mother Earth.

He is the survivor of the ‘Reign of Terror’ from 1972 to 1976 on the Pine Ridge, Rosebud and Cheyenne River Lakota Reservations, and the US Bureau of Indian Affairs Boarding and Church Missionary School systems designed to ‘kill the Indian and save the man’.

Tiokasin is also a master musician and one of the greatest exponents of the ancient cedar Lakota flute, and plays traditional and contemporary music using both Indigenous and European instruments. He has been a major figure in preserving and reviving the cedar wood flute tradition and has combined ‘spoken word’ music in performances since childhood. Tiokasin performs worldwide.

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