• http://www.youthactionnet.org/index.php?fuse=aboutfellowship
• Laureate Global Fellowship
  

  2013 APPLICATION CLOSED!
  (we will reopen in Feb. 2014!)
  

  Launched in 2001 by the International Youth Foundation, YouthActionNet strengthens, supports, and celebrates the role of young people in leading positive change in their communities. Each year, 20 exceptional young social entrepreneurs are selected as YouthActionNet Global Fellows following a competitive application process. The year-long Fellowship program includes:

  Skill-building: 
  • A seven-day leadership retreat for twenty selected Fellows which offers dynamic peer-to-peer learning, collaboration, and sharing among young visionaries
  • Focus on the personal growth and leadership abilities of Fellows, in addition to providing instruction in specific skills required to manage innovative, world-changing organizations
  • Year-round learning opportunities based on Fellows’ individual needs and the six dimensions of leadership highlighted in the YouthActionNet® Global Curriculum: Personal, Visionary, Political, Collaborative, Organizational, and Societal.

  Networking and Resources:
  • Access to potential resources to support Fellows and their projects, including volunteers, mentors, and grant opportunities
  • Opportunities to network and collaborate with IYF projects and partners
  • Membership in the YouthActionNet® global network of fellows and alumni

  Advocacy:
  • Training in areas such as communications planning, media outreach, message development, presentation skills, and innovative uses of new media technologies
  • Access to global advocacy platforms and media coverage

  Eligibility

  • Open to all young people aged 18-29 (as of October 1, 2013)
  • Applicants should be founders of existing projects/organizations, or leading a project within an organization.
  • Proficiency in English is required; applications must be submitted in English
  • Must be available to attend full retreat (all expenses paid) in early October 2013.

  Learn more about the Fellowship application by checking out our Frequently Asked Questions, our Approach to Social Entrepreneurship, and Testimonials from previous Fellows!
  

About the application:

In order to provide our applicants with an outlet to clearly and thoroughly explain their projects/organizations and personal journey, the application consists of various components. In order for an application to be reviewed,all components must be completed.  

Video: The video is a mandatory portion of the application–if you do not submit a video, your application will not be considered. Your video will be the first opportunity we have to see your passion, knowledge, and unique perspective. We hope you will be specific and succinct in explaining your personal relationship to your work (why you do what you do), the steps you have made towards change (what your project/organization does) and what a successful future looks like for your project/organization.

We understand that there are varying degrees of technology access around the world and thus are willing to accept a variety of video qualities (from camera phones to Flip cameras) which will be given equal consideration across the pool of applicants. We much prefer a lower-quality video that directly addresses our questions to a professionally-produced video that does not address our questions. We are looking for authenticity.

Narrative Application: Within this section you will provide us with details that support what we learned in the video. Please remember to thoroughly describe your work in a way that an outsider with no knowledge of the issue you are addressing would understand. Help us understand the specific programs, projects, and activities that your organization offers. We are interested in your long-term vision, but it is important for us to understand your current activities. You must provide all requested information within the narrative application.

References: You will be asked to enter the contact information for two references who can discuss your eligibility for the fellowship.

Supporting Documents: You will have the opportunity to submit up to three additional documents that may provide judges with a better understanding of your project.

You are educated. Your certification is in your degree. You may think of it as the ticket to the good life. Let me ask you to think of an alternative. Think of it as your ticket to change the world. ~Tom Brokaw

As a Senior in High School, the only thing that will go through your mind is graduating, getting that diploma on your graduation day. Therefore, it takes dedication and commitment to achieve those accomplishments in the end. Its not something easy where you can just sit around all day and do nothing. You have to work for it.

Your Senior in High School will be one of the most hardest year for you. Each of the four years in High School counts, some of those years will be easy and some of those years will be difficult. Remember starting as a Freshman and Sophomore? All you had to do was attend school, get good grades so your GPA will stay decent and stay on track for credits. Junior year will be a bit harder, although you may do the same tasks, here comes the ACT, ACT is the trademark standardized for college entrance examination. Lastly, as a Senior, this is when you have to be on track with everything involving credits and grades in school. Procrastination isn’t an option as a Senior.

Try to get along and get to know your teachers because it will be helpful when it comes to your letter of recommendations for college. After receiving your letter of recommendations, sending your teacher a thank you card for your appreciation would be a nice thing to do. Here comes the most headache that every Senior in High School will experience. This is also the year that you have to finish your college resumes, teacher letter recommendations, special circumstance essays, college touring, applying for College, apply for as many scholarships as you can because there are scholarships everywhere and about anything! It takes major commitment to finish these task but in the end everything, every sweat that you have drop, the all night studying, everything will be worth it in the end.

As a Senior that have just graduated this June, I Dorkboua Yang, graduate Class of 2013 from Park Center Senior High School have been through these struggles, everything is not what it seems. You have to believe in yourself that you can do it, if you don’t you won’t go anywhere. Dreams don’t just happen, you have to make that dream come true. Senior year will be one of the most memorable and hard working year ever that you will experience, especially those friends who you thought were your friends, the true friends who stood by your side, all the dramas. But instead of worrying about those things, remember you have come so far but you still got so far to go. Starting off with College. Life isn’t over yet, it have just started. Make those dreams come true, be that someone to make a difference.

Dear College Made Simple Reader,

Every year, millions of high school students vie for admission in the few thousand colleges in the United States.

That’s a lot of competition. It can seem like you are up against impossible odds and that you are alone in overcoming them.

Not so. Getting into the right college isn’t an easy task, but it’s a task you don’t have to undertake alone.

Here are five people who can help improve your chances of getting into the college of your choice.

– Scott

Teachers

Teachers are the eyes and ears on the ground at high schools. They know how you perform in the classroom and how you interact with others. They know your strengths as a student and areas you need to work on.

When deciding on which teacher to ask to write you a letter of recommendation, there are a few things to consider: How well you did in your classes; how well they know you; and if you can trust them to write a personal and flattering letter about you.

Letters from a teacher work best if you’ve had multiple classes taught by them, and if you’ve had a challenging course load.

Principal

A recommendation letter from a principal carries a lot of weight, but they are much more difficult to get than a letter from a teacher.

To get a recommendation letter from a principal, you have to be a standout student – academically and socially. You have to be involved in school and show that you are a leader amongst your fellow students.

Most importantly, you have to have an established relationship with the principal before he/she writes the letter. That means they have to know you beyond your grades and what sports/activities you are involved in.

A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY…

You won’t find this anywhere else in the college planning space…

It’s an “inside look” at your college funding situation – over the phone, with one of our education consultants… absolutely FREE.

They’ll help you figure out where you stand… including whether or not you can lower your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) – and maximize your eligibility for financial aid.

What’s more – YOU set the date and time for the call.

To sign up for your Free Analysis today, follow this link.

Employer/Supervisor

A recommendation from a work supervisor isn’t as effective as an academic recommendation, but it can carry weight about an aspect of you that those in the academic world don’t see.

An employer can speak of your work ethic, how well you work under pressure and handle responsibility, how well you work with others, and how well you work with superiors.

These letters work best if your employment is lengthy and if your work experience has a connection to your desired career path. It also looks good if the letter is from work performed as a volunteer – whether it is for charity or for a community club.

Civic/Religious Leader

These people can provide an effective endorsement under the right conditions.

First, like a recommendation from a principal, you need to know them personally, and vice versa, they would need to know you.

Second, they should be able to speak to your character, talents, and best qualities in a way a teacher/principal or employer can’t.

For example, a recommendation from a religious leader can be effective in getting accepted to a Christian college. And a local civic leader can help you be accepted into programs such as criminal justice, political science, social work, law, etc.

Difference Maker

A difference maker is someone you put in a lot of work for with a meaningful result. It could be the neighbor next door, it could be an acquaintance of your family. Who they are varies on a variety of factors, but you’ll know a difference maker when you see one.

With all of these people, it’s important to give plenty of notice to whoever you ask to write a letter for you. It gives them plenty of time to write a good letter and time to follow up with you about anything they’d like to include in the letter.

Also, be sure to formally thank anyone who writes a letter for you. Not only is it an appropriate action to repay their kind gesture, but it further proves to them that you are worth their effort.

To your college funding & admissions success,

Scott Weingold
Co-founder, College Planning Network, LLC

Publisher, College Made Simple – The Free Educational Resource of College Planning Network, LLC

FMAA Scholarship Program