2012-2013 “Community Solutions” Professional Fellows Exchange Program (Deadline Closed)

Call for Applications (Deadline Closed)

Application Deadline:  November 7, 2011
 
  
The Public Affairs Office of the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem announces a Professional Fellows Exchange Program for 2012-2013 entitled “Community Solutions.”  Fellows selected for the Program will participate in a four-month fellowship in the United States at community-based, non-profit organizations or government offices throughout the United States, focused on the following themes: Environmental Issues, Tolerance and Conflict Resolution, and Women's Issues.  The Community Solutions Program is a professional development program for the best and brightest global community leaders in these fields; approximately 68 young community leaders from up to 50 countries and territories worldwide will be selected to participate.

The program will provide opportunities for the participants to gain practical expertise and leadership skills; and, to develop professional contacts in the United States who can help Fellows address issues in their own communities.  Special emphasis will be placed on assisting Fellows in applying newly learned strategies and best practices to solve community problems upon their return to their home countries.  Using a combination of traditional learning styles, educational environments and web-based technologies, the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) will create an online Community Leadership Institute to provide the Fellows with up to 500 hours of structured leadership training during the U.S. exchange.

Applicants may apply to participate in one of the following thematic areas:

1. Environmental Issues:  Fellowships will focus on issues related to water and resource management, food security, supporting the food supply (at local, regional or national levels), social entrepreneurship (to leverage science and technology to address ecological and environmental issues), low-carbon technologies, and the use of natural resources, pollution, sustainable energy, and climate change.

2. Tolerance/Conflict Resolution:  Fellowships will expose participants to issues and strategies that address tolerance, multi-culturalism, discrimination, and conflict resolution. Negotiation skills, the art of compromise, fair treatment of minority populations, and civil rights and responsibilities can also be addressed.  Based on participants’ specific interests, fellowships may need to be identified that deal with conflict resolution and crisis response tools for use in failing, failed, and post-conflict states and complex emergencies/disasters.
  
3.  Women's Issues: Fellowships will focus on issues related to women’s empowerment, women’s education, women’s health, women entrepreneurs, gender equality, and the prevention of all forms of exploitation, including domestic violence.  Special emphasis will be placed on identifying fellowships that will provide exposure to best practices for grassroots organizations working to advance the political, economic, and social empowerment of women.

Application Deadline: November 7, 2011
 
For more information on the financial provisions of the grant as well as eligibility requirements, please visit: http://bit.ly/9mqzad.  Applications must also be downloaded and submitted through this site.