U.S. Embassy in Serbia: 2017 Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellow Summer Institute

Deadline: 25 February 2017

The U.S. State Department, Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs, and the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade are seeking applications for its 2017 Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellow Summer Institute.

The Summer Institute will enable teenagers, ages 16-18, to participate in an intensive, four-week exchange program in the United States that focuses on global issues facing both European and American youth. The Institute will focus primarily on an exploration of issues through interactive activities, practical experiences, and other hands-on opportunities. Participants will learn more about democratic practices, volunteer service, conflict resolution, problem solving, communication skills, critical thinking, tolerance and respect for diversity, youth leadership, team building, and the media.

Goals

The goals of the Institute are:

to develop a commitment to transatlantic cooperation;
to foster relationships between American and European youth from different ethnic, religious, and national groups;
to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Europe,
to develop a cadre of youth leaders who will share their knowledge and skills with their peers through positive action.

Eligibility Criteria

Serbian citizenship;
Be born between June 24, 1998, and June 24, 2001;
Be a member of one of eight American Corners in Serbia;
Highly proficient in English;
Committed to enrolling in high school or university in their home country in fall 2017, following completion of the Institute program;
Demonstrate strong leadership potential and interest in transatlantic relations and diplomacy;
Indicate a serious interest in learning about the United States;
Sustained high level academic achievement, as indicated by academic grades, awards, and teacher recommendations;
Demonstrate a commitment to community and extracurricular activities;
Have had little or no prior U.S. study or travel experience in the United States;
Be mature, responsible, independent, confident, open-minded, tolerant, thoughtful and inquisitive;
Willing and able to fully participate in an intensive summer program, community service, and active educational travel program;
Comfortable with campus life, shared living accommodations, travel and interaction with a multinational, coed group of participants from across Europe and the United States, 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.