BOLD Civic Engagement Fellowship Program

Program Overview

The BOLD Civic Engagement Fellowship is an exchange program focused on developing a robust network of young leaders in the Balkans who can create innovative solutions to civic engagement issues in their communities, and develop bonds between the youth of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and the U.S. Our program includes a pre-departure virtual orientation program, a four-week intensive academic residency at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, a three-day visit to Mount Rushmore and the Badlands National Park in South Dakota, and an educational weeklong tour of New York City and Washington, D.C.

BOLD is an effort to harness the extraordinary potential of the next generation of changemakers from the region by providing our Fellows with opportunities to:

• Participate in daily workshops and experiential learning opportunities at the University of Nebraska at Omaha to develop leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Learn about the principles of democracy, diversity, promotion of ethnic and religious tolerance, and empowerment through engagement with community and government leaders.
• Gain a better understanding of U.S. democracy and cultural diversity by traveling to South Dakota, New York City, and Washington D.C.
• Develop innovative Action Plans to improve their countries in the areas of human rights, tolerance, diversity, environmental conservation, voting rights, public health, and any other area that will help strengthen community, inclusion, and democracy.

Program Cost

All program-related expenses including the participants’ travel, accommodations, meals, academic courses, and activities are covered by the United States Embassy located in their respective countries. Therefore, the participants from BiH are funded by the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, those from Montenegro are funded by the U.S. Embassy in Podgorica, and participants from Serbia are funded by the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade.

Program Timeline

• Pre-departure online sessions on Zoom: May 20 - June 15
• Four-week intensive academic residency on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus: August 18 -September 15
• Educational tour in New York City and Washington, D.C.: September 15 - September 20, 2024.
• Post-program Action Plan implementation phase varies from country to country. For more details, see below.

Program Applications and Eligibility Criteria

Please see below for a link to more detailed program timelines, eligibility criteria, and applications for each BOLD Fellowship country:

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Montenegro
Serbia

Meet our Program Team, and learn more about our academic residency and educational tours on the Pre-Trip Information page.

We look forward to meeting you!