Deadline: 30-Jun-23
The United States Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, through the Office of Public Diplomacy Section (PDS), is pleased to announce a Notice of Funding Opportunity to design and implement the Youth Leadership and Teacher Development Program.
The Office of Public Diplomacy Section (PDS) invites proposal submissions from U.S. public and private non-profit organizations and accredited U.S. post-secondary and secondary educational institutions (community colleges, liberal arts colleges, public and private universities) meeting the provisions to design and implement the Youth Leadership and Teacher Development Program, pending the availability of FY 2023 AEECA funds.
This NOFO is for the design and implementation of the U.S. component of the Youth Leadership Program and Teacher Development Program.
Themes
- The Youth Leadership and Teacher Development Program themes:
- The Youth Leadership and Teacher Development Program will introduce participants to a comprehensive survey of civic education, community service, and youth leadership development. Activities will focus on building their knowledge and skill levels in these areas. The students and educators will participate in workshops, community service activities, meetings with community leaders, and discussion groups and will have opportunities for substantive interaction with each other and their American peers.
- The program should explore topics such as citizenship, community building, economic development, grassroots activism, political leadership, and volunteerism in the modern age. Program should require participants to develop innovative and practical plans to become engaged citizens in their own communities and to implement an action plan to address a particular need.
Components
- The Youth Leadership and Teacher Development Program should be organized for 18 high school students aged 15-19, and 3 teachers from three communities in BiH to reflect the country’s diversity and administrative divisions, for a total of 21 participants in one program.
- The Youth Leadership and Teacher Development Program should be a substantive three to four-week exchange in the United States, in at least two different cities. The program should incorporate a homestay experience as part of the program.
- The program in the United States should include group discussions, experiential learning activities, and exercises that focus on the themes outlined below and include aspects of leadership, teambuilding, collective problem-solving skills, effective communication, appreciation of diversity, and management skills. Therefore, participants should gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
- The program should ensure a balance of speakers and perspectives throughout the program schedule, representing diverse U.S. political viewpoints, as well as other aspects of diversity. The program should foster the Embassy’s mission to promote mutual understanding between citizens of other countries and citizens of the United States. Thus, the program should include robust opportunities for participants to meet Americans from a variety of backgrounds, to interact with their U.S. peers, and to speak to appropriate student and civic groups about their experiences and life in their home countries.
- The program should include requirements of continued follow-on engagement and project implementation once participants return home.
Funding Information
- Length of Performance Period: 18 months
- Number of Awards Anticipated: One
- Award Amounts: Awards may range from USD 60,000 to USD 120,000
- Total Available Funding: USD 120,000
- Anticipated Award Date: July 2023
Eligible Activities
- Community service/volunteer activities
- Peer training/education workshops
- Training in project planning
- Teambuilding exercises
- Leadership development with workshop trainers or organizations
- Meetings with government, community, and business leaders
- Computer training that emphasizes research, critical thinking and analysis, and the use of the computer and the internet as resources in education and business
- Exercises related to increasing tolerance and developing strategies for future collaboration and cooperation among participants.
- Dialogues, simulations, role plays, and other activities aimed at helping participants articulate their thoughts about the project’s themes.
- Visits to historical sites, government and community centers, museums and landmarks that combine learning about principals of government, history, and society with tourism.
- Sports, drama, fine arts, musical and other extracurricular activities which provide opportunities for participants to work and play together.
Eligibility Criteria
- U.S. public and private non-profit organizations and accredited secondary U.S. or higher education institutions (community colleges, liberal arts colleges, public and private universities) meeting the eligibility requirements outlined in this section are eligible to apply. Applicants must demonstrate an ability to work in all parts of BiH, whether independently or in cooperation with a partner organization.
- Other eligibility requirements: In order to be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number issued.
For more information, visit U.S. Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.