Opportunities For Youth

Statement on the President’s Forum with Young African Leaders

(THE WHITE HOUSE) – In 2010, seventeen countries across sub-Saharan Africa celebrate fifty years of independence. In honor of this important historic moment; in acknowledgement of the extraordinarily young demographic profile of the region; and as part of an effort to forge strong, forward-looking partnerships in the years ahead, President Obama will host a forum in Washington, D.C., from August 3 – 5 with approximately 120 young leaders from civil society and the private sector representing more than forty countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Together with American counterparts and U.S. government officials, the participants will share their insights on key themes of youth empowerment, good governance, and economic opportunity. President Obama will host a town hall meeting at the White House with these young leaders to discuss their vision for transforming their societies over the next fifty years.

The President’s Forum with Young African Leaders presents the U.S. government and American friends of Africa with an opportunity to deepen and broaden our understanding of the trajectories of African societies, and to reflect on how the next generation are building their communities’ and their nations’ futures – just as their predecessors did in the era of independence from colonial rule. In addition to the town hall meeting with the President, the forum will include small-group discussions on topics such as transparency and accountability, job creation and entrepreneurship, rights advocacy, and the use of technology to empower individuals and communities. African participants will have an opportunity to meet with grassroots service organizations to share experiences and strategies.

As the President said in Accra, the future of Africa is up to Africans. The U.S. government’s role in this gathering is as a convener, encouraging networks between young American and African leaders, and pursuing lasting partnerships on behalf of our common security and prosperity. This dialogue and follow-up events in Africa will help the U.S. government better assess how to support Africa’s own aspirations going forward.

Submit an application if you are a prospective leader from the USA, the Russian Federation or the People’s Republic of China and, having completed your first degree (at least a Bachelor’s or comparable degree), have subsequently gained work experience and have already shown outstanding leadership potential in your career. A German Chancellor Fellowship allows you to carry out a project of your own design in cooperation with a German host you have selected.

The programme is under the patronage of the German Chancellor and also incorporates an intensive language course in Germany, a four-week introductory seminar in Bonn and Berlin, a study trip around Germany and a final meeting in Berlin. These activities provide additional insights into the social, cultural, economic and political life of Germany.

Candidates from all professions and disciplines, but especially individuals in the humanities, law, social sciences and economics, are eligible to apply to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation directly. The Humboldt Foundation grants up to ten German Chancellor Fellowships annually for prospective leaders from each of the three countries named.

Application deadlines (date of receipt by the Humboldt Foundation):
For applicants from the People’s Republic of China: June 30
For applicants from the Russian Federation: September 30
For applicants from the United States: October 15

For more information visit: http://www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/4074.html

We know most teachers and administrators are on summer vacation, so Youth Service America has extended its deadline for the STEMester of Service program to late August to allow time for educators to get back to school and apply. Funded by Learn and Serve America, a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, STEMester of Service incorporates YSA’s semester-long service-learning framework to engage educators and students in addressing critical environmental and disaster preparedness needs and connecting them to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) curricula. YSA is seeking middle schools with large populations of disadvantaged youth; STEM schools must be located in one of the 19 states with highest dropout rates (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wyoming). The $5,000 grant (that includes travel and training at YSA’s Youth Service Institute in Detroit in October) supports teachers as they engage local partners and guide students in addressing local needs through planning and implementing sustainable service projects that launch on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service (January 17, 2011) and culminate on Global Youth Service Day (April 15-17, 2011). www.ysa.org/grants/stem

NEW ELIGIBLE STATES: The STEMester of Service grant program targets states with the highest dropout rates. Based on the most recent dropout rate data released last month, YSA has added 7 states to the list of eligible states, including: the District of Columbia, California, Hawaii, Michigan, Montana, Rhode Island, and Wyoming. Middle schools in these states, in addition to those in the original 12 states, are eligible.

The World of Children Awards program was created “to recognize and elevate those selfless individuals who make a difference in the lives of children here in the U.S.A. and across the globe, regardless of political, religious, or geographical boundaries.” Awards are made in three categories, and each award carries a cash grant to help continue the honoree’s work.

The 2010 Humanitarian Award, which includes a grant of up to $50,000, recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to children in the areas of social services, education, or humanitarian services. Nominees must have created, managed, or otherwise supported a sustainable program which has significantly contributed to children’s opportunities to be safe, to learn, and to grow.
The 2010 Founder’s Youth Award, which includes a grant of up to $25,000, recognizes youth who are making extraordinary contributions to the lives of other children. Nominees must be under the age of 21.
Nominees may be individuals or groups of individuals but not organizations. Self-nominations are accepted.

GO TO: http://www.worldofchildren.org/index.php/awards

Deadline: May 14, 2010

The Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program provides opportunities for graduate students and professionals from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan for one-year non-degree, one-year degree or two-year degree study in the United States.

Eligible fields of study for the Muskie Program are: business administration, economics, education, environmental management, international affairs, journalism and mass communication, law, library and information science, public administration, public health, and public policy.

Established by the US Congress in 1992 to encourage economic and democratic growth in Eurasia, the Muskie program is a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State, and administered by IREX.

For more information about the Muskie program, please contact muskie@irex.org or one of our IREX Field Offices.

Further details go to:
• http://exchanges.state.gov/academicexchanges/muskie.html
• http://www.irex.org/programs/muskie/muskie_info.asp