Apply for the Community Engagement Exchange Program in the US

Name of the Event: Community Engagement Exchange Program

Place: United States

Working language: English

Last Date of Application: 22 May 2025

Link to Apply:

Apply Here

A transformational leadership development experience, CEE is a year-long program designed to enable civil society leaders, ages 21-27, to harness the power of networks, relationships, and information for the public good.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Age 21-27;

• Currently living and working in their home country at the time of application;

• Has a minimum of two years of professional or volunteer experience, working on community or civil society issues, at the time of application;

• Working on a community engagement initiative in their home country, either in a professional or volunteer capacity, with a demonstrated intent and vision to pursue a career working to support civil society or within the civil society sector;

• Able to begin the CEE Program in the United States in 2026;

• Able to receive a U.S. J-1 Visa;

• Committed to returning to their home country after completion of the program and implementing a community-based project; and,

• Proficient in spoken and written English at the time of application

Eligible countries by region:

1. Africa- Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

2. East Asia and the Pacific: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.

3. Europe and Eurasia- Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia.

4. Middle East and North Africa- Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, and Tunisia.

5. South and Central Asia- Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

6. Western Hemisphere- Bolivia, Cuba, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Peru, and Venezuela.

Financial Support:

The program covers the cost of most expenses associated with-

• J-1 visa support

• Round-trip travel from participants’ home city to the U.S.

• Monthly allowance to cover housing, meals, and other living expenses while in the U.S. and

• Accident and sickness health benefits

We are not the official organisers of the program. If you have any queries regarding it, kindly contact the organisers at - Apply.CEE@irex.org