Become a Nunchi Health Fellow

Healing begins with you.

The Nunchi Fellowship is a selective training program, where students engage in a series of interactive mental health workshops. All sessions are virtual, and participants commit to attending weekly sessions for 7 weeks.
Applications for the Fall 2026 Fellowship is now open. Apply by November 23rd, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST.

Apply Today!
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What is it?

The Nunchi Fellowship is a structured, community-based program designed to help students build skills in emotional intelligence, peer support, and culturally responsive mental health leadership. Through weekly live workshops, Fellows join a small cohort of students from across the country to learn, reflect, and grow together.

As a Nunchi Fellow, you will play an important role in strengthening your own healing journey while supporting others who share similar backgrounds and experiences.

Where to Get Started?

1. Apply to the Nunchi Fellowship
Join a seven-week virtual program guided by trained Nunchi Facilitators. Through interactive weekly sessions, you will learn peer support skills, practice group facilitation, and deepen your understanding of mental health across cultures and identities.

2. Join the Nunchi Community
After completing the Fellowship, you will be welcomed into our national community of Fellows. Graduates may also be invited to become Nunchi Facilitators, helping lead future cohorts and empowering even more students.

If you have already completed the Fellowship, you may be eligible for additional leadership opportunities within Nunchi Health, including facilitation and campus engagement roles.

When’s the deadline to apply for the Spring 2027 Cohort?

The deadline for applying to the Nunchi Health Spring 2027 Fellowship Cohort is November 23rd, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST.

Who’s Eligible for the Fellowship?

To join the Nunchi Fellowship, you must:

  • 13–29 years old (as of Jan 1, 2026)

  • Able to attend all 7 sessions

  • Identifying with immigrant, international, multicultural, or diaspora backgrounds

What’s the Format?

  • 7 weeks of virtual workshops

  • 1.5 hours per week on weekday evenings

  • Small groups (5–6 students) across different schools

  • Open to high school, college, graduate students, and unenrolled students aged 13–29

  • Curriculum designed specifically for immigrant-identifying students

What are the Spring 2027 Cohort Dates?

The Spring 2027 cycle of the Fellowship spans 7 weeks, running from the week of February 15th to the week of April 5th. We expect accepted Fellows to attend all sessions of the Nunchi Health Fellowship. Please review session dates carefully to ensure your availability before applying. The schedule is as follows:

  • Session 1: Week of February 15

  • Session 2: Week of February 22

  • Session 3: Week of March 1

  • Session 4: Week of March 8

    **Week of March 15: SPRING BREAK

  • Session 5: Week of March 22

  • Session 6: Week of March 29

  • Session 7: Week of April 5

Sign up for our mailing list to receive updates and early access to future cohorts!

What Our Participants Are Saying

Real experiences. Real growth. Real community.

  • "This Fellowship is great for a student that may currently be seeking mental health services but is not sure where to start or does not have the financial resources to do so."

    — Spring 2023 Fellow

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  • "The Fellowship helped me realize how deeply my identity and upbringing shape my mental health. I walk away feeling more grounded, more aware, and more connected to who I am becoming."

    — Spring 2024 Cohort

  • "I would recommend this Fellowship to anyone who identifies as first generation, BIPOC, women, non-binary, LGBTQ+."

    — Summer 2023 Fellow

  • "I've never been in a space where facilitators listened so openly and without assumptions. It felt safe— like my story had value and like every part of me was welcome."

    — Fall 2024 Cohort

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  • "Being with people my age who shared similar cultural experiences was so powerful. It felt like we were all on this seven-week journey together, learning from one another and building trust with every session."

    — Summer 2026 Facilitator

  • "I didn't expect to feel so understood by people I had never met before. Every session felt like a space where I could finally breathe, open up, and not feel judged for once."

    — Summer 2026 Fellow

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  • "I didn't think I'd get attached to my group, but I honestly did. We built this little family where everyone felt connected even though we came from totally different places."

    — Summer 2026 Facilitator

  • "I've grown so much in my confidence to speak, reflect, and lead. The fellowship helped me understand that my voice matters and that I'm capable of supporting others in meaningful ways."

    — Spring 2025 Cohort

  • "The conversations we had every week were deeper than anything I've ever experienced in a school setting. We talked about culture, pressure, expectations, and things I didn't even know I needed to process."

    — Summer 2026 Fellow

  • "This was the first time I felt truly seen as a first-gen student navigating two cultures. It validated so many feelings I've kept to myself for years and helped me understand that my experience is worth acknowledging."

    — Summer 2025 Cohort

  • "I used to struggle so much with naming my emotions, but the fellowship gave me tools that I now use daily. I'm finally able to express myself and support the people I care about in healthier ways."

    — Summer 2026 Fellow

  • "I learned what it means to support others without overwhelming myself. The fellowship gave me confidence to show up for my community in healthier, more compassionate, and more sustainable ways."

    — Fall 2025 Cohort

  • "This program made me feel less alone in ways I didn't expect. Hearing everyone's stories reminded me that my challenges are valid and that healing really does happen in community."

    — Fall 2025 Cohort

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  • "The tools we learned weren't just theory— they're things I actually use in real life. I've shared them with friends, siblings, and even used them to calm myself on stressful days."

    — Summer 2026 Facilitator

From Fellow to Facilitator. Lead the Change.

Our facilitators are selected from graduates of the Nunchi Fellowship — leaders who represent diverse cultures, academic paths, and lived experiences. United by the belief that healing is collective, culturally grounded, and community-led, they are reshaping how mental health support reaches our communities

When you join the Fellowship, you’re not just participating in a program — you’re stepping onto a leadership pathway. Fellows who complete the program can become Nunchi Facilitators, guiding peer circles, mentoring future cohorts, and building healing spaces across campuses and communities.

If you’re ready to grow as a leader and create real change in youth mental health, this is where your journey begins.

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Meet Our Facilitators

FAQs

  • This fellowship is open to people interested in exploring mental health, leadership, identity, and storytelling in a collaborative environment. The program centers international, first- and second-generation, and DACA/undocumented students, but individuals from all backgrounds who share this mission are encouraged to apply.

    9 out of 10 Fellows are likely to recommend the Nunchi Fellowship to a friend or colleague

  • The Nunchi Fellowship allows Fellows to learn mental-health tools, practice emotional awareness, and offer a mode for reflection. One of the highlights of our Fellowship is Healing Stories in Solidarity (HESS), which offers Fellows an opportunity to share their story with their peers. Fellows will also have a chance to present on a topic within mental health, allowing them to practice research and presentation skills. Overall, the Fellowship is designed to encourage Fellows to go on to become mental health leaders within the various communities they are a part of.

  • Fellows meet weekly in a small cohort, engage in guided discussions, practice mental health tools, and learn how to approach advocacy through a culturally inclusive lens. The fellowship is a 7-week virtual experience that meets at the same time each week.

  • No mental health experience is necessary to apply, but if you feel that you have relevant experiences that you would like to share, we strongly encourage you to do so!

  • At the end of the fellowship, you will be invited to fill out a form if you would like to hear about our facilitator application for the next Nunchi Fellowship cycle. All Fellows who have successfully completed the fellowship are able and invited to apply!

  • Given the limited number of sessions in our Fellowship, we strongly recommend that all Fellows attend each session. However, we understand that certain unavoidable conflicts may arise. Therefore, if you know you will miss a session, please inform your facilitators in advance. In the case that this is not possible, please reach out to your facilitator as soon as possible to touch base regarding your absence.

  • Yes, the Fellowship is entirely free. In fact, Fellows who successfully complete the Nunchi Fellowship will receive a $20 gift card to credit their commitment to the Fellowship.

  • We welcome your questions — please reach out to [email protected]

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Attend our biannual Nunchi conference!

Contribute to mental health talks world wide by attending this year’s Nunchi Health conference where students, activists and various professionals will be in attendance.

We host panelists from health professions where you will be able to ask questions, network and get a taste of what Nunchi Health’s mission is all about!

Learn more