Community Solutions Program
The Community Solutions Program (CSP), sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by IREX, provides experienced community leaders between the ages of 26 and 39 from 109 countries with an intensive professional development exchange program in the United States. CSP fellows collaborate with U.S. organizations to help promote mutual understanding, support local communities, and address some of the world’s most pressing social, political, environmental, and economic issues.
Program Activities:
Four-Month U.S.-based Practicum
CSP fellows are placed with nonprofit organizations, private entities, and government offices across the U.S. where they work with U.S. colleagues on initiatives related to issues they face in their own communities. CSP fellows work in one of four technical areas: democracy and human rights, environmental issues, peace and conflict resolution, and women and gender issues. For example, a gender rights activist from Vietnam focused on reducing human trafficking completed her practicum with YWCA in Houston, Texas and an environmental advocate from Haiti focused on food security and permaculture completed his practicum with Eco- City Farms in Riverdale, Maryland.
Community Leadership Institute
The Community Leadership Institute (CLI) is a leadership academy that provides customized learning and coaching to CSP fellows. The CLI uses a blended learning approach in which fellows participate in online sessions and in-person workshops, receive professional coaching, engage in experiential learning, and interact with other professionals in their field. Fellows complete subjects such as ethical leadership, strategic planning, motivational leadership, strategies for youth engagement, responsible digital engagement, measuring impact, and partnership building, and share these new learnings with their U.S. counterparts during their practicum.
Community Action Projects and Ongoing Alumni Engagement
CSP fellows develop innovative projects in collaboration with their U.S. host organizations and implement them after returning to their home communities, applying the new knowledge and skills gained through the U.S. practicum and CLI. Fellows share their projects in online portfolios, connecting and collaborating with a broad network of global change makers. CSP fellows continue to network and collaborate with like-minded leaders from around the world on development issues through alumni activities such as the Alumni Reunion Week, Collaboration for Community Impact Grants, and virtual course offerings.
For more information, eligibility requirements, and to apply, please Click Here.