Youth Ambassadors Africa Program 2025

• Eligibility Criteria
  The following organisations are eligible to apply for the Youth Ambassadors Africa Program:
  – Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education;
  – Private institutions of higher education;
  – Public and State controlled institutions of higher education;
• Type of Funding: Programmatic
• Target Region: Sub-Saharan Africa
• Application Language: English

The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open competition for the Youth Ambassadors Africa program

The Youth Ambassadors program offers youth (typically between the ages of 15-18) and adult mentors the opportunity to examine civic engagement, leadership development, and pluralism through short term exchanges in the United States.  YA-AF should offer participants from countries in sub-Saharan Africa the opportunity to engage in a variety of activities such as, but not limited to, workshops on civic education, community site visits related to the program themes, and homestays with American families.

Upon return home, participants should apply what they have learned to implement projects that serve their communities. Multiple opportunities for participants to interact meaningfully with their U.S. peers should be included.

Themes

The primary program themes are:

• Civic Engagement (such as citizen participation, community service, participatory democracy, rule of law, volunteerism, etc.);
• Leadership Development (such as ethical leadership, team building, public speaking, negotiation, goal setting, and project planning); and
• Pluralism (including ethnicity, race, gender, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, and disabilities).

For each exchange, applicant organisations must focus on these primary themes. Additional topics that help illustrate the abstract concepts of the primary themes are encouraged. These may include topics relevant to the African context, such as, but not limited to, entrepreneurship, environmental sustainability, and media literacy.

Funding Information

Budget requests may not exceed $1,000,000. Applicants may provide separate sub-budgets for each program component, phase, location, or activity to provide clarification.

See here to learn more and apply.

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