Deadline: April 17, 2017
Are you a youth leader? The World Youth Movement for Democracy and the International Forum for Democratic Studies at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) invite you to apply for the Hurford Youth Fellows Program in Washington, DC. Youth leaders from around the world will be considered for two positions throughout the year. For a period of four months, each fellow will have the opportunity to build his or her leadership and organizational skills and benefit from and contribute to the development of the World Youth Movement.
The Hurford Program seeks to build the leadership skills, enhance the organizational talents, and harness the potential of emerging democracy leaders from around the world. Through the Hurford program, two young activists spend four months per year at NED, during which time they expand their global network, learn lessons from activists from democracy movements around the world, and contribute to the development of the World Movement for Democracy and the World Youth Movement for Democracy.
A project developing online discussion to generate active engagement among youth activists around the world will be central to each fellowship. Hurford Youth Fellows will engage in strategic meetings; conduct research; and organize and lead presentations, online discussions and information-sharing sessions on key democracy issues that they will identify in consultation with the World Movement Secretariat. Fellows will identify, compile, present, and creatively share discussion materials and results.
Specifically, each fellow will engage in the following activities:
- Conduct research on topics such as civic education, the role of youth in policy development, and youth activities against corruption;
- Develop online resources, such as a collection of related publications and training materials;
- Facilitate online discussions;
- Contribute to the World Movement/World Youth Movement social media posts
- Take part in planning and implementing other activities of the World Movement/World Youth Movement; and
- Participate in relevant events and discussions in Washington, D.C., to deepen understanding of issues and build working relationships.
Each fellow will also make at least one formal presentation of their work during their fellowship. Presentations may be open to the public or geared to a more select audience and will typically focus on the fellow’s research topic.
Upon the successful completion of each fellowship at NED, the fellow will serve as a regional/country focal point, working with the Hurford Youth Fellowship Alumni Network to remain involved and take the lead in World Youth Movement activities.
Benefits
Each fellow will receive a monthly stipend for living expenses, plus basic health insurance and roundtrip travel to and from Washington, D.C. Stipends take into account the cost of living in Washington, D.C. Fellows are provided with a fully equipped office, includ
Eligibility
- Open to applicants from any country
- Applicants must be no older than 30 years of age.
- They must demonstrate strong interest in democratic activism and in the advancement of democracy in their respective communities, as well as worldwide.
- Youth affiliated with civil society organizations are especially encouraged to apply.
- A working knowledge of English is an important prerequisite for participation in the program for general communication purposes. All application materials must be submitted in English.
- Fellows will be selected by the World Movement Secretariat staff, NED regional program staff, the World Youth Movement’s Leadership Board, and the Hurford Youth Fellowship Alumni Network following an application process.
Selection Criteria
Selection will be based on a set of criteria including
- demonstrated activism or interest in the advancement of democracy
- a desire to network with others
- a clear explanation of how the fellowship will benefit their own efforts for advancing democracy.
Application
Applicants are asked to submit the following:
- Applicant Form;
- C.V./Resume; and
- Two Letters of Recommendation.
All application materials should be uploaded in the application portal. The Applicant Form has four sections: (1) Personal Information; (2) Project Proposal; (3) Curriculum Vitae/Résumé; and (4) Two Letters of Recommendation. Each applicant must complete the entire Form. Please note that incomplete application forms will not be reviewed.
For any technical problems, please email [email protected].
For more information, visit Hurford Youth Fellows Program.
