Community Connections Project

(Funded by the  U.S. Agency for International Development)

The Community Connections Program, managed by the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and administered by World Learning, is designed to promote public diplomacy through the exchange of cultural ideas and values among participants, U.S. families and local community host organizations. It seeks to establish and strengthen links between U.S. communities and communities in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine . 

In September 2005, World Learning was awarded a five-year contract to implement the USAID Community Connections Program. Recruitment and preliminary selection are carried out by World Learning’s three sub-contractor organizations: Project Harmony in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, and Ukraine; American Councils for International Education in Belarus and the Central Asian Republics; and The Center for Social and Economic Development in Moldova. Recruitment is conducted through a merit-based open competition. The USAID Mission in the relevant country makes the final selection of visitors.

World Learning identifies U.S. hosting organizations for the overall implementation of the program based on an annual open call for proposals. Hosting organizations arrange for internship and host-family placements, local transportation, interpretation, and Experience America activities. Hosting organizations work closely with local businesses and public and private organizations, which volunteer their time and resources to develop and implement professional and business programs for Community Connections visitors.

Professional and business groups of seven – ten visitors each will be formed based on specific themes. Past themes for professional groups have included Administration of Justice, Agriculture, Arts, Civil Society, Disability Issues, Economic Development, Education, Environment, Gender and Women’s Issues, Historical and Cultural Preservation, Library and Information Science, Media, NGO Management, Public Administration, Public Health, Recreation and Tourism, Religion, and Youth and Family Issues. Business groups will consist of visitors representing a variety of sectors, such as agribusiness, finance, and advertising.

Business Groups: High-quality individual internships tailored to specific professional interests, needs, and experience level of individual entrepreneurs. In internships, sufficient attention is given to the experience level of each visitor. Business visitors will be experienced managers or owners of existing small or medium-sized firms, or entrepreneurs who manage their own businesses. Visitors are deeply immersed and integrated into the day-to-day operations and management of U.S. host businesses. Hosting organizations are responsible for identifying and negotiating with U.S. business communities to develop a plan that provides visitors with exposure to American business practices for a five-week period, including a minimum of 15 days of hands-on training in a selected host business. Visitors speak English, so interpretation is not necessary.

Professional Groups: Hosting organizations work closely with community institutions to develop a plan that provides exposure to U.S. practices for a three-week period, including a minimum of 10 days of practical training at local organizations relevant to the visitors' professional responsibilities. Visitors will be leaders, or potential leaders, in their respective field. All visitors will have the opportunity to work closely with their professional counterparts. Visitors in professional groups are not required to speak English, so programming will be in small group format with interpretation, rather than individualized internships. Visitors may participate in job shadowing activities when appropriate.

For First Tier and Second Tier Information, click here:  English, Russian, and Armenian.

CIU Community Connections Alumni Success
Stories

Home stays and visits are arranged for CIU international trainees so as to get a flavor of American life.

Community Connections Programs Success Stories

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