If you are a young professional and want to apply your expertise to making positive change in your community, a BOLD Professional Fellowship can help you take that next step. Professional Fellows will have the unique opportunity to work along experts in your same field in the United States, where you will receive intensive leadership training and mentoring toward the goal of developing and implementing a project idea in your community in Serbia.
They are available to BOLD members aged 25-35 and usually last 5-6 weeks.
Find out which of the fellowship programs listed below are best suited to you and apply!
Application closed
BOLD Professional Fellowships on
BOLD Community Engagement Exchange Program
The BOLD Community Engagement Exchange Program (CEE) is a transformational leadership development experience that equips emerging civil society leaders, ages 21-27, to harness the power of networks, relationships, and technology to develop multisector approaches and build healthy and engaged communities in over 100 countries.
Join a global network of emerging leaders dedicated to impacting lasting change in their communities.
CEE Fellows are innovators, activists, and changemakers making a difference in the areas of Environmental Sustainability, Women and Gender Issues, Youth Engagement, Civic Dialogue and Peacebuilding, and Open and Participatory Government. Explore civil society through a three-month fully-funded U.S. Practicum. Build leadership capacity with tailored leadership and civic engagement curriculum. Create and implement a unique community engagement project Engage with a global alumni network through Innovation Hubs and follow-on grant opportunities
Program eligibility:
- You will be between the ages of 21-27 on the application close date: July 2, 2024
- You are a citizen of Serbia
- You have a minimum of two years of professional or volunteer experience at the time of application
- You are living and working in Serbia at the time of application
- Individuals with refugee status working on behalf of their home community may be given special consideration
- You are working on a community project in your home country, either in a professional or volunteer capacity, with a vision to pursue a career working to support civil society
- You have a high level of proficiency in spoken and written English at the time of application Semifinalists will be required to take or submit previous scores from a TOEFL or IELTS English language exam and must receive or show proof of a minimum TOEFL score of 68, IELTS score of 6.0, or a Duolingo English Test score of 95
- You are available to travel to the United States for three months from approximately March to July
2025 - You are committed to returning to your home country to apply your experience and complete a Community Engagement Project (CEP)
- You are not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States and have not applied for U.S.
permanent residency within the past three years
- You are eligible to receive a U.S. J-1 visa
- Applicants who have participated in an exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government must have fulfilled their two-year home residency requirement by the time of application
- You are committed to returning to your home country for a minimum of two years after completing the CEE Program and
- Neither you nor your immediate family members are employees or consultants of IREX or the U.S. Department of State
Financial Support:
The program covers the costs associated with:
- J-1 visa application
- Round-trip travel from participants’ home city to the United States
- Monthly allowance to cover housing, meals, and other living expenses while in the United States
- Accident and sickness insurance
Program Themes:
- Civic Dialogue and Peace Building;
- Environmental Sustainability;
- Open and Participatory Government;
- Women and Gender issues;
- Youth Engagement are encouraged to apply.
Program Timelines:
July 2, 2024: Application closes
August 26, 2024: Semifinalists are notified
October 09, 2024: Finalists and alternates are notified
December 2024- January 2025: Pre-departure orientation (virtual)
March – June 2025: Program in the U.S.
July – December 2025: Participants implement Community Engagement Projects (CEPs) and Community Engagement Project Exchange
February – September 2026: Innovation Hub Activities
Applications must be submitted online at https://cee.irex.org/ by July 2, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. EDT to be
considered for the program. Applications that are mailed, faxed, or emailed to IREX will not be accepted.
Please direct any questions after reading this document to Apply.CEE@irex.org.
Theme Flyer
Application Instructions
Application closed
BOLD Professional Fellowships on
Civic Engagement
The BOLD Professional Fellowship Program (PFP) brings emerging leaders from the region in the fields of governance and society to the United States where they will be matched with a host in a U.S. organization dealing with issues relating to your work in Serbia for approximately one month. Carefully designed full-time fellowships will provide hands-on exposure to national legislative offices, state legislatures, local government offices, businesses, and non-profit organizations.
Details:
Program Eligibility:
- Young professional 25-35 years of age
- Must have permanent residence in Serbia
Program Details:
- Fellowship dates: May – June 2025
- Pre-departure orientation: April 2025
- Virtual programming: January – March, 2025
- Application deadline: April 30, 2024
Visit the Professional Fellows website for more information.
Apply for this opportunity here.
Application closed
BOLD Professional Fellowships on
Economic Development
The Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative (YTILI) Fellowship Program is the U.S. Department of State’s flagship program for emerging entrepreneurs from Europe. YTILI is a two-way exchange program for emerging entrepreneurs ages 25-35 from 49 countries in Europe.
PROGRAM BENEFITS
PROGRAM BENEFITS
- Individually tailored Fellowship with a U.S. company
- Closing Program in Washington D.C.
- Five week fully funded U.S. experience
- Reciprocal Exchanges: A select group of American participants travel to Europe to work with YTILI
- Fellows on joint projects relating to work and community.
- Young professional 25-35 years of age
- Must have permanent residence in Serbia
- Application deadline: December 5, 2024
- Virtual curriculum: July – August, 2025
- U.S. segment: September – October, 2025
Application closed
BOLD Professional Fellowship on
Community Solutions Program
The Community Solutions Program (CSP) offers community leaders working in the fields of gender equality, conflict resolution, environmental issues, governmental transparency, and other civic engagement issues a four-month professional development experience in the United States which includes
- a 32-hour per week practicum at a U.S. host organization,
- a 10-hour per week leadership development course, and
- a six-month community action project that leverages the knowledge, skills, and network that fellows developed in the United States.
Eligible applicant must:
- be between the ages of 26 and 39;
- have a permanent residency in Serbia.
Click here to learn more about the program and apply.
Program duration: August 2024 – December 2024.
Deadline for application is November 1, 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
Any BOLD member who is age 25-35. The most qualified applicants will be those who are seeking to best utilize their professional skills and experience to make a difference in the civic engagement or economic development of their community.
We will notify all BOLD members about new opportunities through the BOLD website and notify BOLD members on BOLD Forum.
There is no standard requirement, but the BOLD program wants young professional leaders who seek to use their skills and experience to improve communities in Serbia.
Yes! It’s very easy to become a BOLD member. Click here to sign up now!
Each program differs. Click on the links for information about each one.
Yes, the U.S. Embassy will assist you with the visa application process, but there is no guarantee that you will be granted a visa. If, according to U.S. immigration law, you are ineligible for a visa, you will not be able to attend the program.
