Deadline: July 2, 2024 23:59 GMT-0500 | Apply here
Eligibility: civil society leaders between 21-27 years of age
Are you looking to develop your approach and build healthy and engaged communities? Join the Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) Program by IREX and its global network of young innovators dedicated to addressing some of the most pressing issues of the 21st century.
Community Engagement Exchange Program
CEE is a year-long leadership development experience and provides expertise, skills, and resources for the best development of civil society leaders.
Key areas of the program focus on civic dialogue and peacebuilding, open and participatory government, women and gender, environmental sustainability, and youth engagement.
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Program components include:
Three-month U.S.-based practicum, during which fellows are matched with diverse organizations, to tackle civil society challenges. Supervised by experienced professionals fellows gain practical insights into addressing community issues.
Leadership and Civic Engagement Academy includes blended learning components, to enhance leadership and societal problem-solving skills. Components include service learning, face-to-face training, mentorship, professional coaching, and inclusion in a global network.
Community Engagement Project invites fellows to design a community engagement project to carry out in their home communities as soon as they leave U.S.
Community Engagement Project Exchange:
Select U.S. hosts and specialists are chosen to travel to a fellow’s country to support project implementation. Moreover, they bring back what they learn during this exchange to the communities across the United States or their home country.
Financial Support
The program covers the cost of most expenses associated with:
- J-1 visa support
- Round-trip travel from participants’ home city to the U.S.
- Monthly allowance for the coverage of housing, meals, and other living expenses while in the U.S.
- Accident and sickness health benefits
Eligibility Requirements
CEE invites community leaders with at least two years of experience working on community or civil society issues, with a vision to pursue their career in that direction. Applicants can have either professional or volunteer experience working in their home country. Additionally, all applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Between 21 and 27 years of age
- Currently living and working in their home country
- Able to begin the CEE Program in the United States in 2025;
- Eligible to receive a U.S. J-1 Visa;
- Proficient in spoken and written English (Semifinalists will
- be required to take a Duolingo English language test)
- Commitment to return to home country post-program to implement a community project
- Citizen of one of the eligible countries listed below;
Africa: Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
East Asia and the Pacific: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vanuatu, and Vietnam
Europe and Eurasia: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Türkiye, and Ukraine.
Middle East and North Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, and Palestinian Territories
South and Central Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
Western Hemisphere: Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela
Interested in applying for the Community Engagement Exchange Program? Register your participation by following the registration link and taking the suggested steps.
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