Global Citizen Year will launch with a pioneer class of fellows in the fall of 2009. Detailed information on the application process and project sites will be available in early 2009. If you’d like to receive an update when the application is available, contact us and mention “application information” in your message.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Global Citizen Year fellowship program will consist of five components:

Recruitment
Each year we will solicit student applications through networks of high schools, college counselors, youth development organizations and universities.  A rigorous selection process will identify students with passion, potential and commitment. Once selected, fellows will defer college enrollment for one year in order to participate in the program.

Training
The Global Citizen Year experience will begin in the United States each fall with an intensive training facilitated by youth development experts and leading social entrepreneurs. The US training will focus on authentic leadership development and will provide students with an introduction to social innovation, global systems and sustainable development.

Fellows then travel in teams to country posts across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. They will receive state-of-the-art language and intercultural training, and will meet with local leaders across the private, public and social sectors.

International Apprenticeships
Global Citizen Year Fellows spend the next six months living with a family in a rural community and supporting a local development project in education, public health, appropriate technology or environmental conservation. Each week fellows will receive visits from their team leader, and each month teams will come together to process and integrate their learning as a group.

U.S. Service Projects
As a capstone to the year, fellows return to their US hometown to share their experience with others through presentations at local schools, community exhibitions, fundraisers and by working with the media.

Alumni Network and Support
As alumni move through college and beyond, Global Citizen Year will continue to nurture their involvement as social innovators. Alumni will have the opportunity to attend annual conferences and events designed to support their interest in development, and to connect them with internships, job opportunities and mentors across a variety of fields.

Over time, our aim is to build an undeniable force, a movement of social innovators who bring a commitment to poverty alleviation into positions of influence across all sectors.