Wells Mountain Initiative

Young people are able to realize their full potential and become leaders in creating the changes they want to see in their communities and, ultimately, the world. Wells Mountain Initiative (WMI), fosters social change at the local level by building a global network of grassroots leaders who are catalyzing community transformation across 47 developi... ng countries. We support young people who have proved to be unstoppable in the face of adversity and are deeply committed to leading change in their community. We fund their undergraduate studies in high-need sectors, help them lead social service projects during their academic career and stand alongside them to address any challenges, so that they successfully complete their studies. Post-graduation, we provide life-long support, which includes professional development and social entrepreneurship training, community development grants to start and grow their own community projects and businesses, regular in-person conferences and online webinars and support for in-country scholar-led fellowships. Through our efforts, we are fostering a global community of grassroots leaders and social entrepreneurs who are tackling issues such as gender inequity, educational access, health disparities and climate change through a locally-rooted and community-driven approach, resulting in more just and sustainable solutions. Recognizing that poverty is the result of global structural inequity, our strategy is to empower a generation of leaders who have the tools, resources and peer support to lead change to address the root causes of problems. WMIs model is unique in three ways: Our work is based on the conviction that local leaders are the best positioned to lead change in their own communities. WMI Scholars lead in the face of daunting challenges and are implementing fresh and creative solutions to the worlds most pressing problems. As a US-based organization, we know that our role is to support local leaders, rather than implementing top-down solutions. Often the most talented ...Read More