Pelican Fellowship Cohort 1
Bahawalpur, September 2022
Cohort Overview
The first Pelican Fellowship was held in Bahawalpur in September 2022, the cohort that shaped everything we stand for today. Hosted in a city celebrated for its heritage, hospitality, and cultural depth, Cohort 1 brought together a founding group of young Pakistanis selected for their curiosity, character, and commitment to community.
Across an immersive multi-day program, fellows engaged in interfaith dialogue, peace education, leadership training, and social entrepreneurship, anchored by a diversity tour through Bahawalpur’s historic landmarks, including the iconic Noor Mahal.
This was more than a program. It was the foundation of a national network of young peacebuilders, a generation that would go on to lead Social Action Projects across the country, carrying the fellowship’s mission into their own communities long after the cohort ended.
Program Journey
Four days. One founding cohort. The beginning of a movement, mapped session by session.
Bootcamp & Arrival
Fellows from across Pakistan arrived in Bahawalpur for an opening bootcamp: an evening of introductions, expectation-setting, and the first conversations that would define the cohort’s bond.
Orientation, Interfaith Dialogue & Diversity Tour
The fellowship officially opened with an orientation grounded in the program’s mission and shared values. The flagship Interfaith Harmony Dialogue was held inside a local church: an intentional signal of the fellowship’s commitment to dialogue across difference.
Foundations of Peace & Communication
Day 2 moved fellows from inspiration to practice, building the core peacebuilding vocabulary and communication skills the fellowship is known for.
Leadership, Entrepreneurship & Closing
The final day shifted from learning to launching: preparing fellows to leave Bahawalpur as practitioners, not just participants.
Social Action Projects
Every Pelican Fellow is expected to translate the fellowship into action. After Cohort 1 closed, fellows returned to their cities and launched Social Action Projects (SAPs): community seminars, workshops, and campaigns built around the values they had studied together. These weren’t symbolic gestures. They were the first proof that the fellowship works.
The People Behind the Founding Cohort
Every fellowship is shaped by the people who design, deliver, and hold it together. These are the leaders and facilitators who built Cohort 1 from the ground up, and set the standard for every cohort since.
Naveed Kalyar
Naveed Kalyar served as the Project Lead for Pelican Fellowship Cohort 1, providing strategic direction and leadership throughout the fellowship journey. With a vision centered on youth empowerment, collaboration, and leadership development, he played a key role in establishing the foundation and culture of the fellowship program: the values every cohort since has been built on.
Irtaza supervised operational activities and logistical coordination during Pelican Fellowship Cohort 1. He contributed significantly to maintaining structure, teamwork, and efficient execution of fellowship activities and events.
Zubair supported program coordination and participant engagement for Cohort 1, assisting with session management, communication, and operational tasks that helped ensure a smooth and impactful fellowship experience.
Hamid managed accommodation arrangements and participant facilitation, ensuring a comfortable and organized environment for fellows throughout the program activities.
Athstam supported accommodation operations and participant coordination, helping create a welcoming and well-managed experience for all attendees during the fellowship.
Meerab guided participants through interactive sessions, discussions, and collaborative learning activities while encouraging leadership and personal growth across the cohort.
Sumbul contributed by supporting participant engagement, teamwork, and meaningful dialogue throughout the fellowship experience.
Tahir facilitated learning activities and discussions aimed at enhancing leadership skills, communication, and community-building among fellows.
Allah Rakha played an active role in helping fellows develop confidence, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities through various fellowship sessions.
Adeeba supported the fellowship by encouraging inclusive participation, learning, and peer interaction among participants.
Maimoona contributed by assisting in session management, participant mentorship, and creating a supportive learning environment throughout the cohort.
Umer led the media and visual communications for Pelican Fellowship Cohort 1. He managed media coverage, content coordination, and creative documentation of fellowship activities, helping showcase the spirit and impact of the program effectively.
Pelican Fellowship Cohort 1 – Participants
Meet the Participants of Pelican Fellowship Cohort 1
Pelican Fellowship Cohort 1 brought together emerging youth leaders, students, changemakers, and passionate individuals from across Pakistan. The fellowship focused on leadership development, community engagement, collaboration, and empowering young people to create meaningful social impact.
What Cohort 1 Achieved
A Founding Network of Peacebuilders
Cohort 1 established the first Pelican Fellowship alumni network: a community of young Pakistanis committed to peace, ethics, and leadership beyond the program itself.
Real Community Impact Through SAPs
Fellows launched 10 Social Action Projects across multiple cities, translating fellowship learning into tangible community programs on health, peace, and youth development.
Genuine Interfaith Engagement
By holding flagship dialogue sessions in spaces of worship and convening speakers from across faith traditions, the cohort modeled what respectful, honest interfaith conversation can look like in Pakistan.
A Replicable Model
Cohort 1 became the blueprint: the proof that the Pelican Fellowship method works, and the foundation every cohort since has been built on.