Call for Applications: Hurford Youth Fellows Program
– Building Young Activists’ Leadership Skills –

for more info see http://www.wymdonline.org/

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 three 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.

Central to each fellowship will be an assignment to develop online discussion platforms that would generate active engagement of World Youth Movement members.  Each fellow will organize and lead a series of online discussions and information sharing on a key democracy issue that the fellow, in consultation with the Secretariat and Leadership Board, would identify. Youth Movement Fellows will identify, compile, present, and creatively share discussion materials and results.

Youth leaders up to the age of 30 with a demonstrated interest in the advancement of democracy are welcome to apply; particularly those affiliated with democracy/civil society organizations are especially encouraged. A monthly cost of living stipend and roundtrip airfare will be provided by the Program.

HURFORD YOUTH FELLOWS PROGRAM
With support from the Hurford Foundation, the World Youth Movement for Democracy working with the International Forum for Democratic Studies at NED, will host three fellows per year from around the world in its Washington, D.C., office. For a period of three months, each fellow will have the opportunity to build his or her leadership and organizational skills while contributing to the development of the World Youth Movement.

A project developing online discussion platforms to generate active engagement among World Youth Movement members around the world will be central to each fellowship. Hurford Youth Fellows will organize and lead a series of online discussions and information sharing sessions on a key democracy issues that they will identify in consultation with the Secretariat and Leadership Board. Materials for, and the results of, each discussion will be compiled, presented, and shared globally in a creative manner.
Specifically, each fellow will engage in the following activities:

• Facilitate online discussions;
• Maintain a weekly blog for the World Youth Movement website.
•  Conduct research on topics, such as youth activities against corruption, civic education, and the role of youth in policy development;
• Develop online resources, such as a collection of related publications and training materials;
•  Write articles for the World Youth Movement newsletter;
•  Identify a current, on-going activity, develop strategies for enhancing its impact, and take the lead in implementing those strategies;
• Take part in planning and implementing other activities of the 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 stay. Presentations may be open to the public or geared to a more select audience and will typically focus on the fellow’s online discussion topics.
Upon the successful completion of each fellowship at NED, the fellow will serve as a regional/country focal point, working with the Youth Democracy Ambassadors to remain involved and take a lead in World  Youth Movement activities.

Eligibility: Applicants interested in the Hurford Youth Fellows Program must no older than 30 years old. 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.
Please Note: The Hurford Youth Fellows Program is open to applicants from any country. It does not provide scholarship funds or any other type of financial aid to university or graduate students, nor is it designed to support postdoctoral research. The program is not an educational program offering academic courses leading toward a degree. In addition, it does not provide financial support International Forum for Democratic Studies National Endowment for Democracy to those seeking to complete professional training programs, attend conferences, or pursue internships at other organizations

Deadline for Applications, April 30, 2012

September-November 2012 and January- March 2013 Fellowships

Information and Application Guidelines Booklet
Application Form

Apply for the periods of September-November 2012 and January-March 2013. Deadline to apply is April 30, 2012.

The Hurford Youth Fellows Program is made possible by the generous support of the Hurford Foundation