Sharing the Call for Applications: BOLD Regional Youth Leadership Workshop – Leadership and Civic Engagement in the 21st Century
Bard College, in collaboration the American Embassy in Serbia, is accepting applications for a year-long, youth engagement regional workshop focused on Civic Engagement in the 21st Century: Leadership and the Challenge of the Engaged Citizen.
The program is designed for a diverse group of up to 30 emerging youth leaders in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, between ages 18-24 who are interested in exploring notions of civic engagement and ethical leadership while building and practicing project development skills. Participants will be required to develop a community based project proposal for implementation. The goal of the program is to provide participants with the tools to become engaged citizens in their own communities.
The program includes three phases:
1) February – April 2025: Online seminars focused on building a sense of community and grounding the work in shared definitions and themes;
2) May 2025: In-person, six-day immersive regional workshop in Serbia which includes the following:
- a) skills based activities
- b) thematic seminars
- c) community engagement activities
- d) project proposal writing workshops culminating in the submission of a draft
- e) the development of a peer-led community of practice
3) June – December 2025: The implementation of a peer-led, online community of practice featuring monthly sessions designed by the cohort to support participants through the implementation phase of a community-based project. Culminating event designed by participants to be held in December 2025.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 31, 2024
*** Applicants must complete the application form to be considered
*** All program participants should be registered BOLD members. Registration process is very simple, and open to all. https://boldserbia.rs/en/join-bold/
**** Decisions will be released in February
Program Goals:
To enhance project development skills including communication and assessment skills;
To define and reflect on the role and responsibility of a global citizen within the local and regional context that highlights the links between civic organizations, NGOs advocacy groups, activists and government;
To develop a peer-led, community of practice within the BOLD network that incorporates cross-cultural experiences;
To incorporate research and best practices into project development;
To build a diverse network of experts, mentors and community leaders within the civil space to help advance participant’s capacity to successfully act within their communities.
Bold is designed to support youth leaders who have some previous civic engagement experience through volunteering, internships, academic coursework or leadership roles. Successful applicants will be prepared to implement a community-based project in their own context.
Three virtual info sessions will be offered:
Wednesday, January 15, 18:00 CEST
Thursday, January 16, 18:00 CEST
Wednesday, January 29, 19:00 CEST
Info sessions will be led by Erin Cannan, Bard College Vice President for Civic Engagement
The same zoom link for both meetings can be found HERE
Contact for questions: civic@bard.edu
LAST UPDATE: The BOLD25 Regional Program has been put on pause due to a global review of U.S. assistance programs that are funded through the US Department of State. There is no additional information at this time.
