YLAI Professional Fellows Program 2017 Application Launched
March 30, 2017
For press inquiries, contact ECA-Press@state.gov
PRESS RELEASE
Meridian International Center is pleased to announce that applications for the U.S. Department of State’s Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Professional Fellows Program 2017 are now open. The five-week program will place up to 250 business and social entrepreneurs from Latin America and the Caribbean in relevant businesses and startups, non-governmental organizations, and similar entities in 24 cities across the U.S. Fellows will also become part of the larger YLAI Network, which will provide online resources and a space for young leaders to make regional connections.
The participants will arrive on October 3 and will further develop their business or social venture plans by engaging in skills-building workshops. They will also have the opportunity to learn from U.S. counterparts by job-shadowing and participating in day-to-day operations at the U.S. host organizations. YLAI Professional Fellows will develop stronger ties with other participants from Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as with their U.S. fellowship hosts. This is an important step in fulfilling the Department of State’s commitment to cultivating entrepreneurship and expanding opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs and innovative civil society leaders in the Americas.
To complement the U.S.-based program, up to 45 fellowship hosts from across the country will travel to the region in spring 2018 to learn about the fellows’ ventures, share best practices, and participate in a project benefiting the local community.
Eligible applicants must:
- Be between the ages 21 and 35;
- Be fluent in English;
- Have at least two years of work experience;
- Be a citizen and resident of one of the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Maarten, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela; and
- Submit the online application, which includes a business plan, a resume or CV, and short answer responses.
The YLAI website includes information about the YLAI Professional Fellows Program and a link to apply. For further information, please contact the program team at ylai@meridian.org.