The State Department has opened applications for the Young Leaders of the Americas (YLAI) Professional Fellows Program.
Residents of most western-hemisphere countries, who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. government employees, are between 25 and 35, and are proficient in English are eligible to apply.
The fellowship is a six-week program that takes place in cities across the United States, where participants gain professional development skills and experience entrepreneurial organizations in each Fellow’s business sector. Fellows collaborate with their fellowship host on their Entrepreneurial Leadership Action Plan (E-LAP), which they implement upon return to their home countries.
The YLAI Professional Fellows Program includes online and in-person coursework developed by the global development and education organization IREX and Arizona State University (ASU). The coursework combines technical entrepreneurship training and leadership development. Using their E-LAP plan, Fellows will set and achieve their entrepreneurial leadership goals. YLAI Fellows participate in an orientation in Tempe, Arizona, and a closing forum in Washington, D.C., as well as in networking events with business and social entrepreneurial leaders, and with U.S. government representatives.
There is no fee to apply. Travel, housing, meal stipends and visa costs as well as YLAI curriculum coursework and mentoring and the closing forum in Washington D.C. are all covered by the U.S. government. The application deadline is September 18, 2019, for the June 7 to July 17, 2020, program. Apply at ylai.state.gov.