Fellowships & Scholarships
Funded places, so that who takes part depends on what people bring, not what they can afford.
Who it serves
Builders and community leaders with strong ideas and a clear commitment to their communities, for whom travel, accommodation or three weeks away from paid work would otherwise rule them out.
How people are chosen
Considered alongside the main residency application, for applicants who could not otherwise afford to take part.
What a gift funds
The cost of a full place at a residency for someone who could not otherwise afford it.
Outcomes so far
- Scholarships rose from 10% of the budget in 2025 to 14% in 2026
- About $14,000 went on scholarships in 2026
- A full 21-day place costs about $2,500
Why fellowships
Talent and ambition are everywhere. Time, travel money and three weeks away from work are not. A residency only tests the human layer properly if the room includes people from every kind of background, not just those who can pay their own way.
Fellowships make that possible. Every place we fund goes to someone who would not otherwise be in the room, chosen through a fair, documented process.
What a fellowship includes
A funded place at a ZuAfrique Residency for the full 21 days, alongside everyone else in the cohort. Fellows take part on exactly the same terms as every other resident.
Making it fair
As the foundation is established, fellowship decisions will be made through a documented process, with anyone involved declaring conflicts of interest. We will publish how many fellowships we award each year, and what fellows go on to do.
Charitable purpose: Promoting community development and economic opportunity through capacity building and community-led learning.