Open Competition for U.S. Participation “SHAPING PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY” Professional Fellows Program for Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and the United States of America.
Invitation
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 marginalized or rural communities, 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 five Central and Eastern European countries.
The Program
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. Our goal is that our partners from different parts of the world learn from each other first in the U.S. and in Europe afterwards that will contribute to positive change in both of their communities as a result of this exchange. European participants will be actively involved in organizing the U.S. mentors’ visit to their organization and their country as well as assist in joint trainings with their U.S. mentors and other alumni.
What are we looking for
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 from April 25 through May 23, 2018. 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 shaping participatory democracy in marginalized or rural 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.
In addition to the mentorship of the European participants during their 4-week internship in the U.S., one representative from each of the selected U.S. host organizations interested in travelling will be also invited to travel overseas for a reciprocal visit for 2 weeks in September 2018 or February/March 2019 after the European Fellows’ internship. In 2 groups 19 U.S. mentors will have the opportunity to visit their fellows in Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania or Slovakia (about one week in the fellow’s country) to participate in seminars, workshops, visit fellows’ organizations, provide on-site consultation and mentoring.
HOW TO APPLY
- Fill out the on-line Registration Form bellow with your basic contact information and WSOS/GLC Project Manager will reach you to determine which category of mentors you belong to – (A) former mentor who was previously already in the program, (B) new mentor in former host organization, or (C) new mentor and/or new host organization to the program;
- Based on this communication we will ask you to fill out the on-line application form (and/or e-mail us your latest bio with a photo, and your passport copy;
- Other requirements depending on your type of application. (we may need a letter of support/interest from new organizations interested in hosting)
Complete this process by December 31, 2017
During December/January we will have a phone or Skype interview with the interested U.S. mentors
For any questions write an email to: glc_teachdemocracy4@hotmail.com or call Elizabeth Balint at 419-973-8007