Deadline: 26-Aug-2025
The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), has announced an open competition for the Youth Ambassadors Europe (YA-EUR) Program.
The YA-EUR Program will offer Russian youth, approximately aged 18 to 22, a month-long exchange in the United States. The exchange will focus on civic engagement and leadership development through the lens of science and technology. Participants will engage in activities such as civic education workshops, community site visits, and homestays with American families. After returning home, they are expected to implement community-based projects inspired by their experience. The program must also provide multiple meaningful interactions between the Russian participants and U.S. peers.
The program aims to prepare youth leaders to become responsible citizens and active contributors in their communities. It also seeks to empower them to address local issues, foster mutual understanding between U.S. and Russian participants, and create lasting international connections.
Participants are expected to gain a deeper understanding of community engagement in the U.S., strengthen their critical thinking and leadership skills, and learn to plan and implement community projects effectively.
The main themes of the program are civic engagement—covering topics like citizen participation, grassroots democracy, and anti-bullying—and leadership development, which includes ethical leadership, public speaking, team building, and project planning.
The total funding for the award is $360,000, with no variation between the ceiling and floor amount. The performance period for the program is 24 months.
Eligible applicants include U.S. not-for-profit organizations, think tanks, civil society and non-governmental organizations, as well as U.S. public and private educational institutions.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
