A program called the Community Engagement Exchange Program 2023–2024 helps civil society leaders in more than 100 countries create vibrant, inclusive communities in order to strengthen international relations and advance peace. By giving them chances to form networks and long-lasting relationships, the US exchange program aims to maximize the potential of up-and-coming leaders. When it comes to addressing some important participatory factors in the development and progress of a society, the cultural exchange program in the USA is of utmost importance. Women and gender equality, participatory politics, sustainable development, youth involvement, and resilience are just a few of these crucial elements. The young leaders work together to create an ecosystem for a diverse, multidisciplinary global civil society.
IREX is assisting and implementing the Community Exchange Program, an initiative of the US government. The extraordinary exchange programme opportunities related to education and development offered by the International Research and Exchange Board (IREX), a non-profit organisation, are well known throughout the world. Since it was founded by the American Council of Learned Societies in 1968, IREX has kept up with scholarly exchanges. In actuality, the Soviet Union and United States carried out these exchanges earlier through IREX. Later, after the fall of the Iron Curtain, IREX’s support for democratic reforms increased. Now, IREX examines initiatives in the fields of education, internet access, support for journalists, media organisation training, and many other areas.
The goal of this young leaders exchange programme is to increase the participants’ capacity to reflect on pressing issues and develop workable solutions. The fully funded leadership programme also places a strong emphasis on giving up-and-coming decision-makers the opportunity to participate as great leaders and take on roles and responsibilities. The participants also possess the necessary democratic norms, knowledge, experiences, and skills that are necessary for a powerful leader or personality. The CEE programme is without a doubt among the best leadership exchange programmes because it creates a diverse global network through which the participants are constantly able to interact with one another, share ideas, and receive different viewpoints and recommendations.
Through its year-long programme activities, the Community Engagement Exchange Program offers a transformational leadership development experience. These programme activities consist of a three-month practicum in the United States, enrollment in the Leadership and Civic Engagement Academy, involvement in community engagement initiatives, and ongoing local and international networking. The fellows concentrate on one of the five major themes of the 2023–2024 CEE programme over the course of this 12-month, U.S.-funded programme. These themes include engagement of youth, governance, equality, resilience and sustainable development, and peacebuilding and civic dialogue. The fellows in this programme place special emphasis on community engagement, volunteerism, inclusive and innovative developmental models, and participatory roles in the areas of entrepreneurship, community-based agriculture, and climate change. Therefore, there are many reasons why the programme should not be missed.
Community Engagement Exchange Program in the USA:
Host Country:
- United States of America
Host Organization:
- The International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX)
Program Duration:
- A year-long cultural exchange program
Eligible Countries for CEE Program by Region:
Africa: Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe
East Asia and the Pacific: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam
Europe and Eurasia: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey, and Ukraine
The Middle East and North Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, and West Bank/Palestinian Territories
South and Central Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
Western Hemisphere: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay
Benefits of Community Engagement Exchange Program in the USA:
- The program covers the J-1 support for the participants.
- The participants will be provided a monthly stipend to cover the living expenses, meals, and house expenses.
- The participants will be given a round-trip travel grant from their home country to the USA.
- The medical insurance of the participants will be covered.
Eligibility Criteria of Community Engagement Exchange Program 2023:
- The candidates must be citizens of the above-mentioned countries.
- The candidates must be living and working in their home countries.
- The candidate must be aged between 21-28 years.
- The candidate must have a minimum of two years of professional or volunteer experience at the time of applying.
- If you are with refugee status, you will be working on the behalf of your home community.
- The candidate must be proficient in the English Language.
- The candidate must be able to stay in the U.S. for three months.
- The candidates must be committed to returning to their communities and to serving their home countries for at least two years.
- The candidates who have already participated in the U.S.-funded exchange program must have already fulfilled their two years home residency requirement.
- The candidate must not be a permanent resident of the U.S. for the last three years.
- The candidate must not be employed in IREX or any immediate family member of an IREX employee.
How to Apply for the Community Engagement Exchange Program?
- The applicants have to apply through the Community Engagement Exchange Online Application.
- Provide all the required documents and details accurately.
- Make sure to apply before the closing date.
- The semi-finalists have to provide English Proficiency Reports (IELTS, TOEFL, etc.)
Application Deadline:
- The application deadline for the Community Engagement Exchange Program in the USA 2023 is November 30th, 2022 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time.