Deadline Extended – Announcement for participation as U.S. Mentor & Host Organization

US MentorsWe are extending the deadline for application from U.S. Hosting Organizations who are interested to participate in the 2016 Professional Fellows Exchanges, to share Community Organizing methods from U.S. with Central & Eastern Europe. Please contact Elizabeth Balint by January 20, 2016 if you are interested at: 419-973-8007 or glc_teachdemocracy4@hotmail.com

Organizations and individuals, who are actively involved in the legislative process and/or in policy-making through their work in government, civic education organizations, citizen advocacy groups, community activists, or community organizers working with minority populations, are invited to apply for participation as a U.S. host organization and/or as a U.S. mentor. We encourage professionals and their organization to submit their application to take part in an exchange program with matching participants from four Central and Eastern European countries.

This program is a two-way exchange opportunity involving professionals and leaders from the U.S. and selected European countries. U.S. mentors will share their professional expertise with the EU fellows of this program and travel for a two-week reciprocal visit to counterpart organizations for consulting. Mentors will conduct joint workshops in order to share experience and to promote mutual understanding and partnership between key professional groups in the United States and groups in the selected European countries. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Citizen Exchanges. The Professional Fellows Program is organized by WSOS Community Action Commission, Inc. – Great Lakes Consortium for International Training and Development (GLC) from Northwest Ohio  in collaboration with Creating Effective Grassroots Alternatives Foundation (C.E.G.A) in Bulgaria, Civil College Foundation (CCF) in Hungary, The Resource Center for Public Participation (CeRe) in Romania, and Center for Community Organizing (CKO) in Slovakia and other local partners in the United States of America and in the selected countries in Europe.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: January 10, 2016

Application Form C – if you are a new US mentor and new host organization who did not work with WSOS/GLC before.

If you were  US mentor earlier and/or your organization previously hosted European Professional Fellows, please contact Elizabeth Balint by phone 419-973-8007 or e-mail: glc_teachdemocracy4@hotmail.com and we will e-mail you a different – shorter – application form to fill out and return back by December 15, 2015.

Read the Announcement

Download Form C

Announcement and Application for Fellowship Exchange Program 2016

20151006_091839We invite professionals from any region of Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia to apply for participation in a 42-day fellowship in the U.S.A. We encourage submissions by professionals who are actively involved in programs related to citizen participation and advocacy (NGO/civil society development), civic education organizations, citizen advocacy groups, community activists and/or community organizers who work with minority groups. The overall goal of the program is to provide a professional development opportunity for mid-level emerging leaders; create a forum for American and foreign participants to collaborate and share ideas and strategies; and build a global network of professionals able to work effectively in an interconnected environment.

“DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES TO ACCESS INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2016 PROFESSIONAL FELLOWS PROGRAM,
WE WILL EXTEND THE DEADLINE UNTIL NOVEMBER 15, 2015. THERE IS A WORKSHOP AND INTERVIEW SCHEDULED in ROMANIA AND BULGARIA BEFORE THIS DEADLINE SO PLEASE CONTACT YOUR COUNTRY DIRECTOR TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE UPCOMING WORKSHOP IN YOUR COUNTRY SO YOU DO NOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY”

Read the announcementAnnouncement for 2016

Download the applicationApplication Form 2016 

Download the pre-departure action plan Pre-Departure Action Plan Form 2016

Professional Fellows from Europe in United States

12068645_852199188211823_8671911631801316222_oThe second delegation with a total of 18 fellows from Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia will visit the U.S. from September 29–November 13, 2015 to participate in joint trainings, round-table discussions, site visits, and will have interactions with U.S. leaders. A tailored internship with mentoring, multicultural events, and participation in volunteer activities as well as in the Professional Fellows Congress in Washington, D.C. also included in the 6-week professional fellows program. Participants will prepare a 6-9 month individual and group Action Plan for follow on activities. They have various opportunities to experience the American family life and the diversity in the U.S. through staying with American host families during their internship in Chicago, Illinois; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Detroit, Michigan; and the rural areas of New Hampshire and Vermont, and Charleston, West Virginia.

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