LEAD Fellowship
LEAD Fellowship
The LEAD Advocacy Fellowship (LEAF) is a flagship capacity-building initiative under the LEAD International Mental Health Conference (LIMHC). It is a community-driven program designed to identify, train, and support passionate mental health advocates emerging from the annual conference, empowering them to create sustainable impact within their communities.
As mental health challenges continue to rise, driven by stigma, misinformation, and limited access to care, there is an urgent need for informed advocates who can lead change at the grassroots level. LEAF responds to this need by equipping fellows with the knowledge, skills, and resources required to advance mental health awareness, education, and advocacy across African communities.
Objectives
The primary goal of the LEAD Advocacy Fellowship is to develop a network of community-based mental health advocates who can lead advocacy initiatives, strengthen local capacity, and contribute to closing gaps in mental health awareness and support.
We believe that individuals working directly within their communities hold critical insights and influence that are essential for driving meaningful, long-term change in mental health outcomes.
Why We Created This Program
The LEAD Advocacy Fellowship was created to extend the impact of the LEAD International Mental Health Conference beyond a single event. While the conference provides knowledge, dialogue, and inspiration, the fellowship transforms learning into action.
LEAF ensures that each conference cohort produces trained advocates who return to their communities equipped to challenge stigma and misconceptions, lead community education and awareness initiatives, and promote inclusive and supportive mental health environments.
The fellowship also allows LEAD to track long-term impact through structured community engagement and monitoring, ensuring that our programs remain action-oriented, measurable, and rooted in real-world change.
Fellowship Structure
The LEAD Advocacy Fellowship is a six-month hybrid program combining virtual learning with community-based project implementation. The fellowship includes orientation and induction, core mental health advocacy and leadership training, mentorship and peer support, community advocacy project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and graduation and recognition.
Phases of Implementation
Selection
Fellows are selected through a competitive, merit-based process from participants of the LEAD International Mental Health Conference. Selection is based on commitment to mental health advocacy, leadership potential, and readiness for community engagement.
Training and Mentorship
Selected fellows undergo structured training focused on mental health literacy and stigma reduction, community advocacy and engagement, leadership development, and project planning for sustainability.
Each fellow is paired with an experienced mentor who provides guidance throughout the fellowship.
Community Project Implementation
Fellows design and implement a mental health advocacy project within their community, applying the skills gained during training. LEAD provides ongoing oversight, mentorship, and seed support to ensure effective execution and measurable impact.
Project Formats
Fellows may choose between two project formats based on their context and capacity.
Onsite Projects
Onsite projects are community-based, in-person initiatives such as school outreaches, workshops, awareness sessions, and community forums. LEAD provides community engagement training, advocacy toolkits, funding support, and ongoing mentorship throughout project execution.
Virtual Projects
Virtual projects are digital advocacy initiatives delivered through social media campaigns, webinars, podcasts, blogs, and online peer support platforms. LEAD provides training in digital advocacy and content creation, branded templates and communication guidelines, and visibility through LEAD’s digital platforms
Both project formats follow the same standards of impact, accountability, and sustainability.
Where Projects Are Implemented
Onsite projects are strategically deployed based on the host location of the most recent LEAD International Mental Health Conference and the presence of active LEAD campus or zonal structures. This approach ensures strong local oversight, sustainability, and deeper community impact.
Benefits to Fellows
Participants in the LEAD Advocacy Fellowship gain expert-led training in mental health advocacy and leadership, one-on-one mentorship and peer learning opportunities, networking with advocates and professionals across Africa, seed support for community advocacy projects, official certification from LEAD Community Foundation, priority access to future LEAD programs and opportunities, and eligibility for the annual LEAD Advocacy Fellowship Award.
Impact and Accountability
The fellowship is supported by a robust monitoring and evaluation framework that tracks fellow growth and engagement, community reach and project outcomes, and long-term advocacy impact beyond the fellowship. This ensures transparency, learning, and continuous improvement across cohorts.