Application for European Participants in the GLC Professional Fellows Program Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 From Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Great Lakes Consortium (GLC)’s Professional Fellows Program is a two-way, expenses-paid international exchange program focused on governance and society for approximately 21 emerging mid-level leaders from Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia. The fellowship program provides in-person, virtual and blended professional development for community leaders to develop skills for community organizing, citizen engagement, community-led development and advocacy. The fellowship includes an expenses-paid trip to the U.S. of approximately 38 days that includes a four-week internship placement in a professional setting with individually tailored agendas and activities in public institutions, non-profit organizations, and advocacy groups.
OVERVIEW
We invite professionals from any region of Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia to apply for participation in an expenses-paid 38-days fellowship in the United States with pre- and post-program opportunities and requirements. We encourage submissions by professionals who are emerging leaders in civil society who have demonstrated expertise pertaining to the fellowship theme of governance, society, and citizen-led democracy. Professionals should be actively involved in programs and organizations related to this theme, including in non-governmental organizations (NGO’s), civic education organizations, citizen advocacy groups, community activists, and community organizers.
The program is funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Global Leaders Division and is organized by the Great Lakes Consortium for International Training and Development (GLC), a program of Great Lakes Community Action Partnership (GLCAP) of Northwest Ohio. The fellowship program is conducted in collaboration with CO-PLAN in Albania, Pro European Network Association (PEN) in Bulgaria, Civil College Foundation (CCF) in Hungary, CeRe in Romania, Center for Community Organizing (CKO) in Slovakia, and partners in the U.S. and Europe.
CRITERIA
- Be age 25 to 40 at the time of application
- Citizen, national, or permanent resident of their home country (Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, or Slovakia)
- Live and work in her/his/their home country at the time of the application and during the preparation/pre-fellowship program process
- Have at least two years of professional experience at the time of the application
- Submit a complete application online by the application deadline
- Able to receive a U.S. J-1 visa
- Committed to returning to her/his/their country after completion of the program
- Proficient in spoken and written English at the time of the application
TO APPLY
- Step 0: Make sure you download and read the full announcement (above) to make sure you fit the program and it fits you.
- Step 1: You must first express your interest with your name, email, phone number, and country at the Expression of Interest form below
- Step 2: Please register for an upcoming virtual Information Session on January 25th 2023. Attendance is expected.
- Step 3: Interested applicants will then need to fill out the Online Application Form.
- Submission of an essay in English is required as the last part of the online application form. In the essay, please tell us about why you are interested in the GLC Professional Fellowship Program, and how you are working with civil society and community organizations. The essay should not be longer than 7000 characters (including spaces).
- Step 4: After you are notified that you are selected as a finalist or alternate, we must receive a confirmation email with your acceptance from you within one week.