Get to know the Spring Fellows 2017

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Spring Fellows 2017The first delegation with a total of 21 fellows from Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia will visit the U.S. from April 18- June 2 2017 to participate in seminars, round-table discussions, site visits, and will have interactions with U.S. leaders. A 4-week tailored internship with mentoring, multicultural events and participation in volunteer activities as well as in the Professional Fellows Congress in Washington, D.C. will be also included in the 6-week professional fellows program. Participants will prepare a 6-to-9 month individual Action Plan for follow on activities. They will 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), Port Clinton (Ohio), New York City, Albany and Rochester (New York), Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), Charlotte (North Carolina), Albuquerque (New Mexico), Silver Spring (Maryland), Charleston (West Virginia), and in Washington, D.C.

A second European delegation is expected in the U.S. from October 4-November 17, 2017. The Out-Bound component is schedule for summer 2017 when American Mentors who hosted the spring 2017 fellows will travel to Europe (for up to 2 weeks for each mentor) to provide joint workshops with the alumni and on- site consultation to help implementing new projects. Web-based technology, social media, and public outreach efforts will strengthen the identity of the Professional Fellows Program and lead to wider alumni and international networking and collaborative projects.

12 U.S. mentors travel to Europe in February

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The third outbound delegation with 12 U.S. mentors will travel to Europe from February 18 through March 12, 2017. Each US mentor will stay on this program for 14 days on individual schedules with support and program arrangement of his/her European fellow whom the U.S. mentor hosted during the spring or fall of 2016. US mentors will have various site visits to their fellows working sites, and will contribute assistance, and provide trainings, workshops, consultations to their fellows to complete their follow on activities. African American members of the U.S. mentors delegation will also contribute to the Black History Month celebration in Hungary and Romania. WSOS/GLC Project Manager, country directors and alumni assist to the U.S. delegations.

 

Open Call for American Mentors

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usmentorsOrganizations 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.

We are looking for U.S. organizations that are interested in acting as volunteer hosts for 2-3 incoming professionals for a 4-week internship program at their U.S. workplace. They should be able to provide a professional development opportunity for up-and-coming and mid-level professionals from Central and Eastern Europe and help them learn American methods in sustaining civic participation in minority communities while comparing experiences.

Host organizations are also asked to place the guests with volunteer host families where they will learn about American culture and family life and can become involved in volunteer activities in their host family’s own community. U.S. host organizations will work closely with WSOS/ Great Lakes Consortium in planning and implementing the internship program.

Participation in this exchange from the U.S. side is a multi-phase program. 36 participants (9 from each selected European country) are included in two delegations: the first delegation will be from April 19 – June 2, 2017 and the second delegation will be from October 4 – November 17, 2017. A portion of fellows’ visit consists of a 4-week internship experience between April 24-May 22 or October 11-November 8 at various host sites across the U.S.  .  European participants are professionals between 25 and 40 years of age, who are creative and innovative, have accomplishments in solving issues in minority communities, and who can make a large impact with implementing new ideas and changes. Participants will have good organizational and management skills, be active members of their local community, be interested in long-term international cooperation, have good communication and presentation skills, and be receptive to modem technology.  The internship experience will be tailored to the individual fellow’s background and interest. All European participants speak English well and will be carefully selected by an international selection committee.

Deadline

The application deadline for US host organizations and mentors is extended until January 15, 2017

Read the Announcement
Application Form
Note

Organizations & mentors who hosted before should contact directly Elizabeth Balint at glc_teachdemocracy4@hotmail.com for a different application form.

Open Call for the Fall 2016 Professional Fellowship Program

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1Spring Congress 3 046We are inviting people interested to apply for the Fall 2016 Professional Fellowship Exchange Program by 10th February 2016. 

We 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.


Read the announcement Announcement for 2016

Download the application Application Form 2016 

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

Please note that you should send all required documents in order to be eligible for the program.

Testimonies from Fall 2015 Professional Fellows Delegation

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glcRead the testimonies from the Fall 2015 Professional Fellows Delegation
from Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia
visiting the United States in September 29 – November 13, 2015

Thank you to the Leaders and Mentors from 11 host organizations in 6 different states across the United States for their internship’s supervision and help to our delegation.

Download the newsletter here