Human Rights Close to Home offers high school student fellows leadership development through a one-year, stipend-supported program. Student fellows learn and share human rights knowledge and civic engagement skills in order to plan and implement civic actions in their own communities. Students from across the state of Connecticut are welcome to apply.
Applications for the 2025-2026 HRCH student fellowship are due February 28, 2025.
The application will open in late fall/early winter for high school students in Connecticut who will be entering their sophomore, junior or senior year in fall 2025. Check back here for updates and to access the application at that time.
Key Activities for Student Fellows
Summer Institute:
Summer 2025 Dates: July 6, 2025 - July 11, 2025 (One-week residential experience on the UConn Storrs campus)
Up to twenty Connecticut high school student fellows will participate in a one-week residential leadership institute focused on human rights and civic engagement. You will explore human rights issues, considering how they relate to your own lives, and develop knowledge and skills to contribute to civic action projects in your home communities. Teachers from across Connecticut will learn about human rights and civic engagement alongside you throughout the week.
Community Engagement Projects:
Working in teams or individually during the school year, you will engage in a human rights-based civic action project. Receiving close guidance and supervision from HRCH staff, college student mentors (undergraduate or graduate students), and community mentors, you will learn about local human rights issues, gain practical experience, and develop valuable skills you can apply to future human rights and civic engagement work. You will return to UConn 2-4 times throughout the year to meet with the other student fellows and work on your civic action projects.
Alumni:
Alumni of HRCH will have opportunities to continue to engage with HRCH and each other after completing the yearlong program through our alumni network.
Program Timeline
November/December 2024: Applications for the 2025-2026 HRCH student fellowship open
February 28, 2025: Application deadline
March 17, 2025: Decisions sent
April 1, 2025: Commitments due
May – June 2025: Program information sent
July 6 – 11 2025: One-week residential Summer Institute (Sunday to Friday)
End of July/August 2025: First $750 stipend payment is disbursed upon completion of the summer institute
Sept 2025 - May 2026: Civic engagement project implementation with support from HRCH team and peers
June/July 2026: End of program celebration (exact day to be determined)
August 2026: Second stipend payment of $750 is disbursed upon program completion
Online Information Sessions for High School Students
To request an information session on HRCH for high school students in your school or community organization, please contact us at hrch@uconn.edu.