Hurford Youth Fellowship 2021, Application Guidelines and Deadline
Hurford Youth Fellowship 2021 – Could you propose innovative ideas on how to foster democratic values in your community? Now is your chance to develop your leadership skills and meet youth leaders from around the world! Hurford Youth Fellowship applications will be accepted beginning May 3!
In the Hurford Program, emerging democratic leaders from around the world are trained in leadership skills, enhanced organizational abilities, and harnessed for the benefit of democracy.
Through the Hurford program, four youth activists per year spend three months in the program, during which they expand their global network, learn lessons from activists from democracy movements around the world, and contribute to the development of the World Movement for Democracy. Fellows will be expected to organize online discussion to generate active engagement among youth activists around the world.
Fellowship Summary
- Host Country: United States of America (USA)
- Category: Internships | Training | Fellowships
- Eligible Countries: All Countries
- Reward: Full Sponsorship with Monthly Stipend
- Deadline: July 3, 2021
Fellowship Details
Hurford Youth Fellows engage in strategic meetings; conduct research; and organize and lead presentations, online discussions, and information-sharing sessions on key democracy issues.
Upon the successful completion of each fellowship, the fellows serve as a regional/country focal point, working with the Hurford Youth Fellowship Alumni Network to remain involved and take the lead in youth-related activities.
Requirements
Eligibility:
- Applicants interested in the Hurford Youth Fellows Program must be no older than 30 years of age.
- They must demonstrate strong interest in democratic activism and in the advancement of democracy in their respective communities, as well as worldwide.
- Youth affiliated with civil society organizations are especially encouraged to apply.
- Please Note: The Hurford Youth Fellows Program is open to applicants from any country. It does not provide scholarship funds or any other type of financial aid to university or graduate students, nor is it designed to support postdoctoral research.
- The program is not an educational program offering academic courses leading toward a degree.
- In addition, it does not provide financial support to those seeking to complete professional training programs, attend conferences, or pursue internships at other organizations.
English Language Requirement:
A working knowledge of English is an important prerequisite for participation in the program for general communication purposes.
All application materials must be submitted in English.
Duration and Reward
- Each fellow will receive a monthly stipend for living expenses, plus basic health insurance and roundtrip travel to and from Washington, D.C. Stipends take into account the cost of living in Washington, D.C.
- Fellows are provided with a fully equipped office, including internet and email access, and a limited budget for fellowship-related long-distance phone calls.
- The World Movement Secretariat staff plays a vital role in helping fellows realize their fellowship objectives by collaborating with them on their fellowship projects and engaging them in ongoing discussions about their work.
NED houses a Democracy Resource Center (DRC), which includes a library with some 20,000 works, including books, journals, grantee reports, and other publications on democracy.
- The DRC’s expert 5 staff members assist fellows with their research interests.
- Fellows may enjoy access to other local libraries as needed.
- Cost of Living and Dependents: Applicants should bear in mind that the cost of living (housing, furniture, food, and other essential living expenses) in the Washington metropolitan area is very high and that fellowship stipends are not calculated to cover the financial needs of a family.
- Fellows who wish to bring family members with them to Washington, D.C. will be expected to cover the costs of their dependents’ roundtrip travel and stay within the United States.
- The program does not ordinarily cover costs associated with dependents’ health insurance. Please note that all dependents traveling to the Unites States on a J-2 dependent visa will be required to have basic health insurance coverage for the full period of their stay.
Visa Issues: Prior to their arrival in the United States, prospective fellows who are neither citizens nor permanent residents of the United States must secure a J-1 exchange visitor visa. The International Forum for Democratic Studies assists fellows with the documentation needed to obtain visas.
Themes
After considered, candidates must be ready to do research on the following theme;
- Defending Democratic Space
- Promoting Inclusive Governance
- Strengthening Democratic Leadership
Specifically, each fellow will engage in the following activities:
- Conduct research on one topic related to the democracy themes above
- Develop online resources, such as a collection of related publications and training materials
- Facilitate online discussions
- Contribute to the World Movement social media posts
- Take part in planning and implementing other activities of the World Movement and
- Participate in relevant events and discussions in Washington, D.C., to deepen understanding of issues and build working relationships.
- Identify, compile, present, and creatively share discussion materials and results.
Each fellow will also make at least one formal presentation of their work during their fellowship. Presentations may be open to the public or geared to a more select audience and will typically focus on the fellow’s research topic. Upon the successful completion of each fellowship at NED, the fellow will serve as a regional/country focal point, working with the Hurford Youth Fellowship Alumni Network to remain involved and take the lead in facilitating World Movement for Democracy youth initiatives.
Method of Application
Fellows will be selected by the World Movement Secretariat staff, NED regional program staff, and the Hurford Youth Fellowship Alumni Network following an application process. Selection will be based on a set of criteria including demonstrated activism or interest in the advancement of democracy, a desire to network with others, and a clear explanation of how the fellowship will benefit their own efforts for advancing democracy.
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