A call for youth and adult applicants for the
Youth Leadership Program with Central Europe
A program of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Second year in a row, the Meridian International Center and its partner organization Ekvilib Institute are inviting ten young people between the age of 16 and 18 years and two adult leaders between the age of 25 and 40 years to apply for the Youth Leadership Program with Central Europe. The goal of the program is to increase mutual understanding among high school students and adult leaders from Slovenia, Serbia, Slovakia, Hungary and the United States, and to provide training in leadership skills that contribute to the development of a community. The program enables young people from Central European countries a 3-week visit to the U.S. and a 4-day alumni seminar in Beograd in August, during which training in leadership skills, community project development and diversity management will be provided. The participants will furthermore have the opportunity to gain broader knowledge of the American culture, society and history.
There will be 64 people taking part in the program: ten youth participants (aged 16 – 18) and two adult leaders from each target country (Serbia, Slovenia, Hungary and Slovakia) as well as sixteen youth and adult participants from United States of America. The participants will have the possibility to decide for one of the three offered fields in which they will improve their knowledge. These fields are: programs for the deprived youth (members of minorities and people with low socio-economic status), protection of environment and advocacy, and international fight against poverty. The program is a two-way exchange between Central Europe and the USA. The participants from Central Europe will visit the United States in July 2012 and all the participants will meet at an alumni seminar in Beograd in August 2012.
Who is eligible to apply?
Student applicants must:
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Be at least 16 years old and not more than 18 years old at the time of the exchange 18 (birth years between July 1, 1994 - July 1, 1996);
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Have a high school graduation year of 2013 or later or one year following the completion of the program;
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Have permission from either a parent or legal guardian to participate in the four-week program, to begin in July of 2012;
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Have citizenship and current residency in the country of application (Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia or Hungary. Applicants with dual U.S. citizenship will not be considered);
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Be proficient in English; and
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Submit a complete application, including photograph and letters of recommendation.
Adult participant must:
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Be between 25 and 40 years of age;
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Be currently employed as a teacher or a leader in his/her community (the applicant works with some of the student participants);
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Express interest in supporting young people to become active and responsible members of the society;
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Demonstrate the ability to collaborate with people of different cultures and backgrounds;
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Express interest and commitment in developing and sustaining his/her own community project;
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Have long-term goals to keep his/her teaching or other positions that enable him/her to influence young people;
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Have experience in accompanying young people between 16 and 18 years of age;
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Have citizenship and current residency in the country of application (Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia or Hungary. Applicants with dual U.S. citizenship will not be considered);
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Be proficient in English; and
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Submit a complete application, including photograph and letters of recommendation.
Further information is available in the application forms below:
- Adult participant application
The application and the reference letters must be written in English.
Interested individuals can raise potential questions regarding the program to the organizers in a web chat. You can find the connection here. The password to enter the web chat is: YLPCE2012.
You can pose your question in the web chat on:
5.12.2011 from 19 until 20 o'clock.
21.12.2011 from 16 until 18 o'clock.
11.1.2012 from 16 until 18 o'clock.
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT AS A PARTICIPANT IN THE PROGRAM
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 13th January 2012
Please, send your application to the Ekvilib Institute Youth Program email address: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
** If you cannot scan and email your complete application, it can also be sent by post to the following address:
Ekvilib Inštitut
Medvedova 28
1000 Ljubljana