Montenegro BOLD (Balkanski omladinski lideri - Young Balkan Leaders) Civic Engagement Fellowship Program
The Fellowship includes: 1) a one-week pre-departure virtual component; 2) an intensive four-week academic residency; 3) one week of educational study tours in South Dakota, New York, and Washington, D.C.; and 4) a five-month in-country project implementation, progress tracking and coaching to ensure the success and sustainability of the projects.
Upon their return to Montenegro, the Fellows will be provided with seed funds and mentorship support to assist them in implementing their follow-on Action Plans.
Eligibility Criteria
In collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Podgorica Office of Public Affairs, the UNO BOLD Institute on Civic Engagement team will identify, recruit, and nominate a group of BOLD Fellows from Montenegro. To be eligible to apply for the 2023 cohort, you must meet all the criteria below:
- Must be between ages 18-25 at program start
- Must have a permanent residence in Montenegro
- Must be a current student or a recent university graduate in Montenegro
- Must have civic engagement ideas for a project in their community that can be implemented within five months after their return from the United States
- Must be willing to become part of a larger network and cooperate with their counterparts across Montenegro and the rest of the Balkans
- Little or no prior experience in the U.S.
- Must be present in Montenegro for follow-on project implementation from September 2023 - January 2024
Program Timeline
- Call for applications opens: December 15, 2022
- Call for applications closes: March 3, 2023
- Interviews with semi-finalists: April 2023
- Notification of finalists by the first week of May
- Pre-departure virtual sessions: May 15-June 15, 2023
- Five-week academic residency and educational tour in the U.S.: August 13-September 16
- Action Plan implementation: September 16, 2023-January 31, 2024
Upon return to their country, with the assistance of our program staff, BOLD Fellows from Montenegro will receive seed funding to carry out their projects by January 31, 2024.