2020 Young Leaders Access Program Call for Applications

Young Leaders Access Program 2020
Applications Closed!

See you next year.

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About the Program

Thank you so much for your interest in MCW Global’s Young Leaders Access Program. We are always looking for young people who are addressing communities’ pressing needs by empowering current leaders and readying leaders of tomorrow. Our commitment to selecting candidates necessitates a highly selective and deliberative process, and we are fortunate to have many qualified candidates apply for this year’s program. At this time you are unable to make edits/changes to your application.

If we determine your application is a potential fit for our program, you will be contacted by our MCW Global team to move into the second round. If you have any questions regarding your application, please contact us at apply@mcwglobal.org

MCW Global’s year-long flagship program is for participants between the ages of 18 to 26, who are prepared to become leaders of positive change in their communities by obtaining tools and skills needed to transform passion into action. The program is based on 3 phases:

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Summer
Program

The program begins with an intensive, 10-day summer program that facilitates leadership development, self-awareness, a deep  understanding of global citizenship, and how to implement a project from beginning to end. The program is held in late July in New York City, New York and Burlington, Vermont. In addition to working alongside MCW Global team members, alumni mentors, and volunteers, participants will also hear from a range of experts from academia, civil society, development, and the public and private sectors about their own community-action projects.

(10 days)

Vision Planning: Project  Development

Participants come to the Program with an idea of a community issue they want to address through the process of vision planning, which aims to transform passion into a tangible plan for change. During this process, participants will be able to put their local issues into a larger global context while exploring why they are in a unique position to make change happen. Participants will also determine which tools they need to apply to the plan, in order to make it actionable. After the program, Young Leaders are expected to further develop and/or implement their plan in collaboration with their alumni mentors.

(12 months)

Alumni Mentorship and Ongoing Support

To further develop and implement their vision plans, Young Leaders are paired with alumni mentors, who guide them at the summer program toward creating an actionable plan. During the year, alumni mentors support participants by facilitating quarterly “hangouts” and ongoing remote communication. Alumni mentors undergo customized training prior to the start of the program in order to support team building and cultural competency.

(12 months)

Application

Step 1: Application

Fill out the application, which is available until Friday, April 17. The application includes sharing your resume, filling out some basic information, and a few short essay questions.

Step 2: Interview

If selected, candidates will be contacted for a virtual interview with alumni who have gone through the program.

Step 4: Decision

Applicants who are selected to participate in the program will be notified by email of their status on May 15, 2020.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the program, Young Leaders should:

  • Demonstrate commitment to their community
  • Identify an issue in their community to address
  • Be between the ages of 18-26
  • Be fluent in written and spoken English
  • Possess a permanent or temporary US residency permit.
  • Commit to attending the 10-day program and spending the following year aiming to execute their community project
  • Have access to email and Internet to allow for consistent communication with the MCW Global Team and Young Leaders Program alumni-mentor for the duration of the year-long program
  • Adhere to Young Leaders Access Program graduation guidelines (to be provided upon acceptance to the program)
  • Submit a completed application on or before April 17, 2020

Timeline

  • February 17, 2020: Young Leaders Access Program application opens
  • April 17, 2020: Young Leaders Access Program application closes
  • April 24, 2020: First round decisions sent out; short list candidates notified
  • May 1 – 8, 2020: Interviews with Alumni
  • May 15, 2020: Acceptances sent out
  • June 3, 2020: Confirmation of acceptance and deposit
  • July 21, 2020 – July 30, 2020: Young Leaders Access Summer Program
  • July 30, 2020 – July 22, 2021: Young Leaders Access Program duration

HOW TO APPLY

The application must be filled out in English. All letters of recommendation and your resume need to be prepared in English. Any parts of the application that are not in English will not be read and the application will be considered incomplete.

The application includes:

1. General information

2. Essay questions

  • Identify an issue in your community that concerns you. How would you address this issue?
  • Describe one time you have faced a challenge and used a leadership skill to come up with a solution.

3. Resume

  • Your resume should not be more than 1 page. We suggest that it be prepared in Times New Roman, 12 font, with 1-inch margins.

4. Two letters of recommendation

  • Your letters should come from people who know your work ethic and commitment to your community. Friends and family members are discouraged from writing the letters of recommendation.
  • Recommenders should state their name, position, and relationship to the applicant at the top of the letter.
  • The letter should be on official letterhead, signed and dated.

5. Liability waiver

  • At the end of the application, please review the terms and conditions.

       6. APPLY

Program Costs

  • In an effort to make the program accessible to all participants, MCW Global will cover program and flight costs.
  • MCW Global will also cover costs during the summer program (July 21- July 30, 2020), including housing, food, travel to and from the summer program venues, and any necessary supplies.
  • MCW Global requires all participants to pay for their ground transportation from the airport and back, as well as passport or visa fees. (Not applicable for U.S. based participants.)
  • Learn more about program costs.

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