IREX Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) Program 2026 for civil society leaders (Fully Funded to the United States)

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Application Deadline: May 22, 2025.

Applications are actually open for the 2026 IREX Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) Program. The CEE Program is a dynamic world community of innovators working with communities to handle vital twenty first Century points. CEE equips devoted visionaries with the experience, expertise, and sources to develop multisector approaches and construct wholesome and engaged communities in the U.S. and round the world. 

A transformational management growth expertise, CEE is a year-long program designed to allow civil society leaders, ages 21-27, to harness the energy of networks, relationships, and knowledge for the public good. 

Fellowship parts embrace:

Community Engagement Project (CEP) Exchange: Select U.S. hosts and CEE specialists will journey to a CEE alumnus’ nation and work collaboratively to assist the fellow’s mission implementation and convey again what they study to strengthen communities throughout the United States or their home nation. 

Three-month Practicum in the United States: IREX matches CEE fellows to civil society organizations all through the United States. Designated supervisors and friends assist the fellows via a three-month, hands-on skilled practicum.

Leadership and Civic Engagement Academy: CEE fellows discover the program themes via interactive curriculum that features service studying, face-to-face trainings, mentorship, skilled teaching, and inclusion in a world community.

Community Engagement Project (CEP): With the assist of their U.S. host group and mentors, CEE fellows design and plan a group engagement mission to perform after they return home. Once the fellows depart the U.S., they put these initiatives into motion of their home communities.

Eligibility Requirements

Competition for the CEE Program is merit-based and open to rising civil society and group leaders who meet the following standards:

• Age 21-27;
• Citizen of considered one of the eligible international locations listed beneath;
• Currently dwelling and dealing of their home nation at the time of application;
  • Special consideration will be given to people dwelling out of the country who’ve refugee standing and are engaged on behalf of their home group.
• Has a minimal of two-years skilled or volunteer expertise, engaged on group or civil society points, at the time of application;
• Working on a group engagement initiative of their home nation, both in knowledgeable or volunteer capability, with a demonstrated intent and imaginative and prescient to pursue a profession working to assist civil society or inside the civil society sector;
• Able to start the CEE Program in the United States in 2026;
• Able to obtain a U.S. J-1 Visa;
• Committed to returning to their home nation after completion of the program and implementing a community-based mission; and,
• Proficient in spoken and written English at the time of application.
  • Semifinalists will probably be required to take a Duolingo English language take a look at
  • Finalists ought to find a way to fulfill most communication targets, even on unfamiliar matters. They ought to perceive the major concepts of each concrete and summary writing and they need to find a way to work together with proficient audio system pretty simply. 

Eligible Countries

• Africa: Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. 
• Middle East and North Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, and Tunisia.

Financial Support

The program covers the price of most bills related to:

• J-1 visa assist
• Round-trip journey from members’ home metropolis to the U.S.
• Monthly allowance to cowl housing, meals, and different dwelling bills whereas in the U.S. and
• Accident and illness well being advantages

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the IREX Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) Program