September, 2016—The 2nd GLC Alumni Reunion brought 10 U.S. mentors and 40 European professional fellows together at Lake Balaton, Hungary, to share experiences and learn new ideas from each other.

WSOS/GLC has selected 22 European professional fellows for the spring 2017 travel to the United States from Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. Many of them are interested in education and youth organizing, neighborhood organizing, and LGBT organizing.

If you know of any organization or individual who maybe interested to be involved as a U.S. host organization/U.S. mentors in this program from April 24 through May 22,2017 that are willing to provide a professional internship/fellowship for 2 European fellows, we have the opportunity to include a U.S. mentor (one from each organization who will host the 2 fellows) to go afterwards on a 2-week trip to Europe to visit the fellows and work with them on follow on activities, provide some training, consulting or mentoring. (The dates for the out-bound trips are not finalized for summer or early fall, and there is an option for February/March 2018 as well).

All expenses of the European guests are covered by the grant, but the U.S. host organizations are asked to place the guests with a volunteer host family so the European fellows can learn more about the American people’s way of life, traditions etc.

Americans who will participate in the European trip will stay at hotels (unless they request otherwise) and all expenses are paid for by the grant, but they must have a valid passport.

The application deadline for U.S. mentors and host organizations has been extended until January 15, 2017, you can find the application form on the project website:

http://glc-teachdemocracy2.org/open-call-for-american-mentors/

We are looking forward to working with organizations that have hosted our fellows before, but would also like to see new organizations involved in this opportunity for the first time during the spring 2017 program.

Please contact Elizabeth Balint, Project Manager, immediately to expedite the process if you are interested in participating in this exchange program.  You can reach Elizabeth at 419-973-8007 or glc_teachdemocracy4@hotmail.com

This may be GLC’s last year to offer this program with the support of the U.S. Department of State Professional Fellows Program. We hope that many more organizations can benefit from this opportunity in 2017.

Please feel free to forward this information.

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