The U.S. Embassy is pleased to invite young writers between the ages of 15 and 18 to apply for a U.S. Government-Sponsored 2025 International Writing Program (IWP) Between the Lines (BTL): Peace and the Writing Experience program. Selected candidates will participate in a two-week, in person creative writing program from July 12-July 26, 2025, at the University of Iowa.
The deadline for applications is February 10, 2025.
Program Description
The International Writing Program (IWP) and the Department of State will design and implement this dynamic program focused on emerging voices and peaceful youth empowerment. BTL nominees should be able to travel to the U.S. independently with a chaperone and/or in a small group. BTL participants will be required to attend all in-person workshops, seminars, and cultural exchange sessions during the two-week program. All program activities will be in English and will include creative writing workshops, group and individual writing assignments, world literature seminars, cultural visits, and other local events. Upon completion of the program, participants will receive a certificate and the IWP will publish the students’ writings as an anthology.
The BTL program will include a cultural exchange opportunity for 3 overseas educators accompanying the young writers as chaperones. A substantive creative writing and professional development program created by the IWP will enable chaperones to further their skills while providing unconditional support to young writers during their time in the United States.
The Department of State will cover program costs as well as travel, per diem, and other expenses associated with the young writers’ and chaperones’ stay in the United States.
How To Apply:
Each Applicant should submit all application materials as attachments to the following address:
A complete application will include the following:
- A detailed CV
- A writing sample of 6–8 pages of original prose (creative fiction/ nonfiction) and/or poetry in English. Critical essays (book reports, academic reports, and so forth) will not be accepted; submissions may be one cohesive piece or several pieces of creative work to meet this requirement. Poems may be single-spaced with multiple poems per page. Document types accepted: PDF, DOC, DOCX. All writing samples must be sent in 12-point font, double-spaced, and have one-inch margins.
- A brief statement of purpose (no more than 250 words), in English, describing why writing is important to the applicant’s life, and what he/she/they hope to learn at BTL.
- A short essay (no longer than 300 words) on the following topic: In our daily lives, we navigate many distinct roles—student, sibling, daughter, son, peer. We negotiate family, friends, community and educational groups as well as class, gender, race, country, and so many other groups, adjusting the way we speak or behave to fit (our perceived) demands of each encounter. As we move through the day, we work through how and why we occupy each role. We consider (we reflect on) personal stories to help us understand and empathize with stories outside of our lived experiences. What do you consider to be the strongest, most central aspects of your identity? What does it mean to you to be a member of (or seen as a member of) a particular group? How can stories about your own lived experience counter what others may think about who you are? In what way does your identity influence you as a creative writer and reader?
Note that English language fluency is required and will be tested.
Send your application package by email to: yaoundepdculturaldl@state.gov no later than February 10, 2025.