Atlandiülene Benjamin Franklini nimeline Stipendiaatide Suve Instituut kuulutab välja konkursi osalejate leidmiseks suve instituuti. Kohti suve instituudis on 45, millest 35 on Euroopa noortele ja 10 kohalikele noortele.
Suve instituut kestab 3-4 nädalat. Kandideerida saavad noored vanuses 16-18. Tegevused hõlmavad diskussioone erinevatel globaalsetel teemadel, toimuvad juhtimis- ja meediaalased koolitused, arendatakse koostööd projektide osas, tehakse vabatahtliku tööd, toimuvad üldharivad ekskursioonid ning planeeritakse suve instituudi järeltegevusi.
Avaldus kandideerimiseks tuleb saata hiljemalt 8. märtsiks 2010 e-maili aadressile
vitsutt@state.govVäljavalitud kanditaatidega viib USA saatkond Eestis läbi intervjuu.
2010 Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Summer Institute
Nominations deadline at the U.S. Embassy Tallinn is March 8, 2010
Interviews with successful candidates will take place on March 18, 2010
There will be one institute in the summer of 2010 with approximately 45 students: up to 35 European students plus 10 Americans. The age range for participants is 16 to 18 years old at the time of the institute. Activities will include discussions of global issues of common interest, leadership and media training, collaborative project development, community service, educational travel, and plans for follow-on activities.
The Institute will be three to four weeks in duration between late June and late August at a U.S. organization to be announced separately.
Program Background
The initiative is named after the legendary American statesman and diplomat Benjamin Franklin, in honor of the inspiration his own life and career provides to those who are working to strengthen transatlantic cooperation. In today's terms, Franklin could be called a transatlantic man, someone whose career, interests, studies and life took him back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean, bringing Americans and Europeans closer in understanding. Even 300 years after his birth, Franklin's life offers inspiration to young citizens of today in the effort to bridge the Atlantic. As a diplomat and a printer, he leveraged the powers of diplomacy and of the media to explore how Americans and Europeans see each other and the world.
Goals of the Institute
(1) to develop a commitment to transatlantic cooperation;
(2) to foster relationships between American and European youth from different ethnic, religious, and national groups;
(3) to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Europe/Eurasia;
(4) to develop a cadre of youth leaders who will share their knowledge and skills with their peers through positive action.
The Summer Institute will enable teenagers (ages 16-18) to participate in an intensive, three to four-week exchange program in the United States that focuses on the global issues that European and American youth face on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Students will participate in a variety of activities such as training sessions, workshops, community-based programs, study tours, and cultural events. Participants will work together to prepare a joint project that presents and promotes the stated goals and objectives of the Institute.
Before and during the Institute, students will gather information on young adults' views about one or two areas of common or global interest, such as sustainable development, inter-ethnic cooperation, or human rights. The program will also provide the participants with a new perspective on mass media and how they learn about each other and the communities they live in, and the broader media culture. This will include training on the critical reading of printed, broadcast, and electronic media and the ability to judge the content and accuracy for themselves. Training will cover communication and presentation skills, problem solving, and team building. Community service activities, social and cultural activities, and home stays with American families will deepen the participants' experience of U.S. society during their exchange.
Recruitment/Candidate Profile
A. Nominees should have a strong interest in learning more about the transatlantic relationship, the role of a free press in a democracy, and an interest in public or community service. They should have a strong demonstrated interest in communications, advocacy, debate, or civic participation. They should have the academic aptitude for a program of this nature and personal qualities needed to be successful participants, including maturity, strong social skills, flexibility, and open-mindedness. These factors are particularly important given the diverse group atmosphere of the Institute. English fluency is required.
B. It is important that nominees exhibit serious interest in pursuing leadership opportunities in their home countries, and demonstrate a genuine desire to learn first-hand about the United States, its people, society, and institutions. It is also very important that nominees understand that, if selected, they will be expected to fully and seriously participate in all program components during the three-four weeks, as well as in follow-up activities afterward in the home country. In addition, participants should be ready to inform and educate Americans about the cultures and societies of their home countries in non-structured gatherings and in public presentations.
C. Selected participants will travel to the United States on J-1 visas under the International Visitor government designation held by ECA's Youth Programs Division (ECA/PE/C/PY). ECA will also provide travel health benefits through its Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE).
Funding/Travel
A. Funding for participation in the U.S. institute. The costs for all U.S.-based activities will be covered by the organizers and host in the U.S.
B. International travel and related costs will be covered by the nominating U.S. Embassy or home country partners and /or sponsors. These are: domestic travel in the home country, such as a visit to the capital for a visa interview; round trip international travel to the United States; a travel allowance; pre-departure orientation.
All embassies will provide a pre-departure orientation to review the details of the program, cross-cultural issues, and travel and financial matters. Since many participants will be minors and will be traveling from their home country alone, the U.S. grantee organization will provide adult chaperones who will accompany participants on flights between one or two European airports to the location of Summer Institute and back.
Candidate Qualifications
a. Between 16 and 18 years of age as of July 1, 2010;
b. Highly proficient in English, as demonstrated in a personal interview or the results of a standardized test, such as SLEP or the TOEFL;
c. Committed to enrolling in high school or university in their home countries in fall 2010, following completion of the Institute;
d. Demonstrate strong leadership potential and interest in transatlantic relations and diplomacy;
e. Indicate a serious interest in learning about the United States;
f. Sustained high level of academic achievement, as indicated by academic grades, awards, and teacher recommendations;
g. Demonstrate a commitment to community and extracurricular activities;
h. Have had little or no prior U.S. study or travel experience in the United States; nominees with significant U.S. experience may be considered on a case by case basis;
i. Mature, responsible, independent, confident, open-minded, tolerant, thoughtful and inquisitive;
j. Willing and able to fully participate in an intensive summer program, community service, and active educational travel program;
k. Comfortable with campus life, shared living accommodations, travel and interaction with a multinational, coed group of participants from across Europe and the U.S., and comfortable with engaging various Americans in the broader community; able to adjust to cultural and social practices different from those of their home countries.
Nomination Form
Please submit via e-mail at
vitsutt@state.gov before or on March 8, 2010
Nominations must include complete biographical data in the following order:
A. Last (family) name as on passport;
B. First name as on passport;
C. Middle name(s) as on passport;
D. Date of birth (month/day/year);
E. City of birth;
F. Country of birth;
G. Country of residence;
H. Country of citizenship;
I. Gender;
J. Position (Choose from "Secondary School Student", "University Undergraduate Student", or "Special School, Institute, or Vocational Student". If the student is in the gap year between high school and college, we will use the secondary school student position);
K. Nominee's full postal address;
L. Home telephone number;
M. E-mail address;
N. Medical, physical, dietary, or other personal considerations (at this time, no physical examination is required to participate in the program although the U.S. host institution may have specific requirements);
O. Name of nominee's high school or college/university;
P. Nominee's field of study (if applicable);
Q. Any other relevant educational, academic and professional experience or training.
R. Active memberships, special interests, or extracurricular activities;
S. Previous travel and study experience in the United States. Please include dates and indicate whether such travel was supported by U.S. government funds;
T. Evidence of competence in written and oral English (e.g., personal interview, test score, etc.);
U. Future study or career plans;
V. IMPORTANT: Statement from home institution (a school administrator, teacher or coach) justifying the selection of the nominee for the subject Institute
Postitatud: 10:44 23. Nov 2009