Inviting Applicants for Community Solutions Program

September 27, 2018 BusinessTrumpet

The International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) is seeking applications for its Community Solutions Program (CSP) 2018–2019 with an aim to improve their communities by addressing issues related to the environment, tolerance and conflict resolution, transparency and accountability, and women and gender.

Types of Program

Four-month Fellowship in the United States: Community Solutions fellows are matched to host organizations throughout the U.S. where they complete a four-month, hands-on professional experience.
Community Leadership Institute: Community Solutions fellows participate in the Community Leadership Institute, a leadership training program designed to strengthen their leadership and management skills. The Institute includes face-to-face trainings, online courses, professional coaching, and networking.
Community-based initiatives: While in the U.S. and with the help of their U.S. host organization, Community Solutions fellows design and plan a community development initiative or project to carry out after they return home. Once the fellows depart the U.S., they put these projects into action in their home communities.

Benefits

J-1 visa support;
Round-trip travel from participants’ home city to the U.S.;
Monthly allowance to cover housing, meals, and other living expenses while in the U.S.; and
Accident and sickness insurance.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants are between the ages of 25 and 38 as of January 1, 2019;
Applicants are a citizen of one of the eligible countries listed below;
Applicants are living and working in applicants home country;
- Individuals with refugee status working on behalf of their home community may be given special consideration.
Applicants have at least two years of experience working on community development, either as a full-time or part-time employee or volunteer;
Applicants are not currently participating in an academic, training, or research program in the U.S.;
Applicants have a high level of proficiency in spoken and written English at the time of application;
- Semifinalists will be required to take or submit recent scores for a TOEFL or IELTS English language test.
Applicants are available to travel to the U.S. for four months from August to December 2019;
Applicants are not a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. and have not applied for U.S. permanent residency within the past three years;
Applicants are eligible to receive a U.S. J-1 visa;
- Applicants who have participated in an exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Government must have fulfilled their two-year home residency requirement.
Applicants are committed to returning to applicants home country for a minimum of two years after completing the program; and
Applicants are not a current IREX employee or consultant, or their immediate family member.