America for Bulgaria Foundation - Bulgarian Young Leaders Program

America for Bulgaria Foundation - Bulgarian Young Leaders

Program

The America for Bulgaria Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of the Bulgarian Young Leaders Program (BYLP), administered by the
Institute of International Education (IIE). The program aims to
identify Bulgarian undergraduate students of exceptional caliber, as
well as promising environmental protection professionals and provide
them with unique scholarship and leadership training in the United
States. ABF believes that the Bulgarian Young Leaders Program will
not only train individuals to become catalysts for Bulgaria’s
continuous civil society development and economic growth, but that it
will also increase mutual understanding and ongoing collaboration
between young and aspiring leaders in the U.S. and Bulgaria.

The America for Bulgaria Foundation (ABF) assists in the development and growth of a vibrant private sector for the benefit of a free and
democratic Bulgaria.  It was established in 2008 to contribute
to Bulgaria’s continued prosperity as a modern, free market
democracy.  The America for Bulgaria Foundation (ABF) is a
successor to the Bulgarian American Enterprise Fund, an investment
fund created by the U.S. government acting through the U.S. Agency
for International Development.  The grants provided by ABF will
build on the legacy of goodwill and friendship that exists between
the American and Bulgarian people.  The BYLP incorporates
three major components, outlined below:

1) Summer Entrepreneurship
Program (SEP)

The Summer Entrepreneurship Program (SEP) provides short-term,
non-degree experiential learning opportunity for 30 undergraduate
students from all accredited universities in Bulgaria in their second
or third year of study. In the course of five weeks of
entrepreneurship training and leadership development (July-August
2010) selected students will have the opportunity to study at leading
U.S. universities and interact with U.S. executives, entrepreneurs,
and American peers. In addition, as part of the program, participants
will be developing life plans and business plans. These plans will
serve as a blueprint for how the students will apply what they have
learned upon their return to Bulgaria.

SEP Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicants must be Bulgarian citizens who currently reside and study in Bulgaria.

• Applicants must have completed at least two years of undergraduate study at an accredited university in Bulgaria before participating in SEP
  (applications take place in the second or third year of study).

• Applicants must have a proven record of high academic achievement.

• Applicants must be fluent in English.

• Applicants must be able to demonstrate leadership skills and an aptitude for entrepreneurship.

• Applicants must demonstrate a strong interest in global citizenship while also demonstrating a strong interest in giving back to their country and
  community.
  

Application deadline for SEP: February 22^nd, 2010.

2) U.S. Academic Immersion Program (USAIP)

The U.S. Academic Immersion Program is a one-year, non-degree academic program which provides yearlong scholarships at U.S. universities and
colleges for 10 to 20 outstanding Bulgarian undergraduate students in
their second or third year of study. USAIP provides an opportunity
for talented young leaders to gain first-hand knowledge of U.S.
culture, society and education, after which they will return to
Bulgaria to complete their Bulgarian university degree. Selected
applicants will receive a scholarship fully covering the tuition,
room and board, living stipend, book allowance and international and
domestic travel expenses, as well as academic monitoring for academic
year 2010/2011 spent at one of the pre-approved leading U.S.
universities.

USAIP Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicants must be Bulgarian citizens who currently reside and study in Bulgaria.

• Applicants must have completed at least one year of undergraduate study at an accredited university in Bulgaria before applying (applications take
  place in second or third year of study).

• Applicants must have a proven record of high academic achievement.

• Applicants may be in any field of study provided that their English language skills are strong enough to enable them to pursue their academic
  program in the U.S.

• Applicants must demonstrate a strong interest in global citizenship while also demonstrating a strong interest in giving back to their country and
  community.
  

Application deadline for USAIP: February 22^nd, 2010.

For more information on program description and application documents, please visit www.iie.eu
(click on “Scholarship
Programs” and then select “Bulgarian Young Leaders Program”) or
contact Ms. Elena Hadjisotirova, Consultant - Institute of
International Education, European Office at e-mail: bylp(at)@iie.eu
or ehadjisotirova(at)iie.eu