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The Louis August Jonas Foundation

The Louis August Jonas Foundation

The Ethical Leadership Experience (TELE)

ClosedLeadershipGlobal AffairsSummer Program

About the Program

What it is

The Ethical Leadership Experience (TELE), run by The Louis August Jonas Foundation, is a two-week live online program for teens ages 15–18. Participants join an international cohort, explore leadership and social-justice questions, work on a shared project with peers in other countries, and lead a workshop on a topic they care about. LAJF says previous sessions have involved public health, scientific literacy, sustainability, media, and arts and justice.

Eligibility and cost

The official LAJF pages say applicants may apply from anywhere in the world, must be 15–18 at the start, be available for the complete two-week program, and be able to communicate in English. Prior leadership experience is not required. The current application page lists a US$399 fee and limited, need-based partial and full scholarships. The 2027 fee and scholarship process are not yet confirmed; an award is not guaranteed. The current 2026 application cycle is closed.

2027 timing and next step

The LAJF program page describes sessions in July and August, but the exact 2027 dates have not been published. The application page invites interested students to sign up for a notification when 2027 applications open. Check the future application for exact session dates, fee, aid terms, and schedule before deciding whether it fits with other commitments.

Official sources

Eligibility

Applicants must be 15–18 years old at the program start, available for the complete two-week online session, and able to communicate in English. Applicants from anywhere in the world may apply; prior leadership experience is not required. Must be 15–18 years old at the start of the program. Current high school students are the intended audience; exact 2027 grade terms are not yet published.

Eligible Countries

Worldwide: All countries Applicants may apply from anywhere in the world.

How to Apply

The 2026 application cycle is closed. The official site invites students to sign up to be notified when 2027 applications open. The current process reviews applications in waves, with short-listed applicants invited to a 15-minute interview and admissions decisions released on a rolling basis. Apply early to improve the chance of scholarship consideration; the 2027 application dates and exact requirements have not yet been posted.