Deadline: 22 February 2016
The Swedish Institute (SI) is currently inviting the young leaders from South Asia to participate in the Young Connectors of the Future Programme (YCF), an intercultural leadership programme that aims to lay a foundation for dialogue and knowledge sharing among young leaders. The YCF 2016 will be held in Sweden from 29 August to 16 September 2016.
YCF is designed to provide the participants with new skills, broadened networks and innovative tools to strengthen their work to drive social change in their respective contexts. The programme invites leaders aged between 22 and 32 from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka who represent different sectors of society and are visionaries in positions to make a difference. The participants are actively working for democracy and human rights within the spheres of society, culture, politics, entrepreneurship and media.
Programme Structure
YCF integrates the following areas:
- Leadership training
- Social media
- Knowledge exchange and inspiration
- Practical experience
The programme comprises 3.5 weeks of intensive work divided into two modules.
Benefits
- All costs related to accommodation, food and transport during the YCF programme are covered by the Swedish Institute. The Swedish Institute will also arrange and pay for the participants’ air travel to and from Sweden and to the location of the second module of the programme. Participants are themselves responsible for costs related to transport within their own countries.
- During the programme in Sweden all participants will be insured against acute illness and accident through the Swedish State Group Insurance and personal insurance by The Swedish Legal, Financial and Administrative Service Agency (Kammarkollegiet). If the second module is held in Sweden the same arrangement as for module 1 will apply. However if the follow up is held in another country participants will need to arrange and cover insurance costs.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply to the programme one has to:
- Be an engaged leader within the spheres of society, culture, politics or media (for example project managers, youth leaders, entrepreneurs, journalists, bloggers, youth politicians, cultural workers, civil servants, lawyers and pedagogues).
- Work actively for democracy and human rights.
- Be between 22-32 years old (born 1994 – 1984).
- Have a good working knowledge of both written and spoken English.
- Be a citizen of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka.
Note: Participants are responsible for obtaining their visas in good time before departure to Sweden and other relevant countries.
Key Dates
- Call for application is open 20 January – 22 February 2016
- Deadline for applications: 22 February 2016
- Skype interviews: 25 April – 3 May 2016
- Accepted applicants will be informed by: 11 May 2016
- YCF module 1 in Sweden: 29 August (arrival) – 16 September 2016 (departure)
- YCF module 2 (location not confirmed): 11 –17 December alternatively February 2017 (preliminary dates)
How to Apply
Applicants are required to fill YCF Application Form 2016 through an online portal.
For more information, please visit YCF 2016.
