U.S. Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, U.S. Embassy Sarajevo Youth Leadership and Teacher Development Program

Overview

The United States Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, through the Office of Public Diplomacy Section (PDS), is pleased to announce a Notice of Funding Opportunity to design and implement the Youth Leadership and Teacher Development Program.

Mandatory components:

1. The Youth Leadership and Teacher Development Program should be organized for 18 high school students aged 15-19, and 3 teachers from three communities in BiH to reflect the country’s diversity and administrative divisions, for a total of 21 participants in one program. 
2. The Youth Leadership and Teacher Development Program should be a substantive three- to four-week exchange in the United States, in at least two different cities.  The program should incorporate a homestay experience as part of the program.
3. The program in the United States should include group discussions, experiential learning activities, and exercises that focus on the themes outlined below and include aspects of leadership, teambuilding, collective problem-solving skills, effective communication, appreciation of diversity, and management skills.  Therefore, participants should gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.  
4. The program should ensure a balance of speakers and perspectives throughout the program schedule, representing diverse U.S. political viewpoints, as well as other aspects of diversity. The program should foster the Embassy’s mission to promote mutual understanding between citizens of other countries and citizens of the United States.  Thus, the program should include robust opportunities for participants to meet Americans from a variety of backgrounds, to interact with their U.S. peers, and to speak to appropriate student and civic groups about their experiences and life in their home countries.  
5. The program should include requirements of continued follow-on engagement and project implementation once participants return home.  

The Youth Leadership and Teacher Development Program themes:

The Youth Leadership and Teacher Development Program will introduce participants to a comprehensive survey of civic education, community service, and youth leadership development. Activities will focus on building their knowledge and skill levels in these areas. The students and educators will participate in workshops, community service activities, meetings with community leaders, and discussion groups and will have opportunities for substantive interaction with each other and their American peers. The program should explore topics such as citizenship, community building, economic development, grassroots activism, political leadership, and volunteerism in the modern age.  Program should require participants to develop innovative and practical plans to become engaged citizens in their own communities and to implement an action plan to address a particular need.

Participants: 

Youth participants will be high school students between the ages of 15 and 19 years old at the start of the exchange; demonstrate leadership aptitude, an interest in community service, and an interest in the project themes; exhibit flexibility, maturity, integrity, good social skills, and open-mindedness; have the motivation necessary to be active and successful exchange participants; be proficient in English; and will return for at least one semester of high school after the exchange to the United States.

The adult participants will be teachers or school administrators/educators who demonstrate an interest in assisting youth to become productive and responsible members of society; exhibit maturity and open-mindedness; are supportive of the teenage participants; are proficient in English; and expect to remain in teaching positions or other positions of influence on young leaders.

• One organization may submit only one proposal to this NOFO.  
• Applicants must demonstrate an ability to work in all parts of BiH, whether independently or in cooperation with a partner organization.

• Length of Performance Period: 18 months and take place between January 2024 and July 2025.  
• Number of Awards Anticipated: One
• Anticipated Award Date: July 2023
• Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement