Youth Initiative’s Girls LEAD Exchange Program 2014

Deadline: December 15, 2013

Youth Initiative is proud to announce Girls LEAD Exchange Program, sponsored by the US Department of State Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs and administered by FHI 360 in partnership with Youth Initiative. The program seeks to engage Nepali and American civic leaders, youth development professionals, women’s activists, and girls’ sports coaches in a project that will focus on ways in which sports can empower girls and help them develop the skills to become leaders in their communities.

Participation in the program will include a two-week visit to the United States in March/April of 2014, in which selected participants will interact with individuals and organizations involved in sports programming for girls, women’s empowerment, and civic activism. Upon returning to Nepal, participants will assist Youth Initiative in organizing a series of events and workshops for U.S. counterparts, who will travel to Nepal in May of 2014.

The highlight of the U.S. visit to Nepal will be a Civic Leadership School in which Nepali and American participants will come together to develop their leadership skills, forge sustainable relationships, and develop specific actions plans for future activities. Participants will have the opportunity to develop proposals for projects to be supported by community grants, funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs and managed by FHI 360 and Youth Initiative.

Objectives of the program

• To increase technical efficiency for the development and implementation of sports related programs.
• To develop culturally appropriate strategies for increasing girls participation in sports activities.
• To explore ways in which womens and girls can become community leaders.
• To create a cross cultural relationship and strong ties between American and Nepali participants and broader communities of youth development professionals.

Eligibility

• Nepali Youths (both male and female) of age below 35 years.
• Nepali youths must be residing in Nepal.
• Youths having the experience working in youth empowerment programs, civic issues, girls/women empowerment programs, sports players, sports coaches are given the priority.
• Applicants should be fluent in English.
• Applicants should have commitment to implement the mini projects that will be developed during Nepal portion programs for next 5 months after their US visit.

For more information, click here.