Youth Healing Hate

“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming of it.”

-Helen Keller

In 2016 the United States experienced a rise in hate crimes that continued into consecutive years.

Local communities have been targeted because of their religion, sexuality, and ethnicity. In response to these events, the Gandhi Institute (in partnership with the Farash Foundation) created Youth Healing Hate grants to empower youth to address the root causes of hate and incivility.

Now in its seventh iteration, the grant has enabled Rochester-area youth to complete over 50 projects that build community and support in place of fear and hate. Every year, local youth ages 12-24 can receive up to $1,000 for projects that provide a creative solution to fear, hostility, and division within their community.

For more information or questions on Youth Healing Hate, email katie@gandhiinstitute.org

Apply for Youth Healing Hate

As of November 2025: The Youth Healing Hate grant application is OPEN! We are accepting applications on a rolling basis. This year, due to limited staff and financial capacity, we will be offering fewer grants than in previous years. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis, with decisions based on both our current resources and the alignment of the proposed project with the Institute’s mission and values.

We encourage youth and adult mentors to continue applying, and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate this period of reduced capacity. Thank you for your ongoing creativity, courage, and commitment to healing hate in our community.

Who can apply: Anyone ages 12-24. You can work solo or in a group size of your choice. You/ your group will need an adult mentor if you are under age 18.
What you’ll get: Up to $1000 to do a project of your choice, in your community!
What we’re looking for: Projects that challenge hate, promote healing, and include your community in a creative way. Grants will be awarded based on creativity, vision, solid planning, and responsible budgeting.

How to Apply:

Pick your project group: You can work on this project solo or pick a group of people to work with you. If you are under the age of 18, you’ll need one adult mentor (parent, teacher, mentor, etc.) to support your group throughout this process.
Brainstorm your idea: What do YOU want to do to address hate in your community? We want you to create a project that addresses an issue in your community and spreads peace in a creative way! Here are some examples from past projects to inspire you:
- Host a community event, like a peace walk or open mic night.
- Create an art project that spreads a message of healing.
- Start a club or group focused on stopping bullying.
Fill out the application: First, you’ll need to complete the Youth Healing Hate application using the online form or by filling out and submitting the PDF version. You don’t need to write an essay—just tell us your project plan.
After you fill out the application: The written application is the first part of the application process, and the second part is an interview between Gandhi Institute staff and applicants. Our team will reach out to schedule an interview after you submit your application.

Inspiration for the Grants

The Youth Healing Hate project initially drew from two sources for inspiration. First is Howard Thurman’s book Jesus and the Disinherited, a book that Dr. King carried with him for years. In this book, Thurman, an African-American faith leader who mentored Dr. King and countless other leaders, warns people of the danger to any society where hatred has become respectable, and of the need for people to actively understand and reduce hate.

A second source of inspiration is the founding story of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, whose lands are where the Gandhi Institute and the recipients of these grants live. It is a remarkable example of the enduring power of transforming hate. We hope that everyone involved in these projects will become healers, peacemakers, and warriors for justice.