Education and Culture

People-to-people relationships have the power to break barriers, build friendships and change the world.

When people from different backgrounds connect, it presents an opportunity to be immersed in a new culture, learn a new language and exchange ideas. These relationships often lead to enduring partnerships based on mutual understanding, respect, and shared interest.

Our Education and Culture program connects people and institutions and supports small projects that promote service in the community and enhance cross-cultural understanding and cooperation between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean. The program has been supported by funding from the U.S. Department of State since 1983.

The Education and Culture Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by Partners of the Americas.

2,202 Professional exchanges
20,500+ Volunteers
  • Small Project Assistance Sub-Awards

    Our small project assistance sub-awards support local community development initiatives across the Americas. They build bridges across borders, exchange expertise, and partner with communities to create lasting change. Projects can be an outcome of or in alignment with a travel exchange. 

    Funds are available to support community development projects that are planned and executed in collaboration with local partners. This program is funded by the U.S. Department of State.

    • 32 small project assistance sub-awards awarded since 2021.

    For a full description of the Education and Culture late 2023 opportunity, review the Request for Proposals (RFP) below:

    The next round will open in mid to late 2024. 

    Below, find the dates of the previous round:

    Open Application September 20, 2023
    Deadline November 30, 2023 at 11:59pm Eastern Time
    Notification Around February 1, 2024
    Award Period March 1 - August 31, 2024
    Report Deadline  September 30, 2024

    Applicant Eligibility:

    • All applicants and project activities must be based in one or more of the following countries:
      Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kits and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
    • All applicants must be a Partners Chapter or Organizational Member, with a bank account and a UEI numberLearn more about how to become a member here.
    • The projects must meet one of the competition's themes:
      • Access to Education
      • Economic Growth
      • Fostering Strong Democracies
      • Inclusion of Underserved Communities
      • Media Literacy/Countering Disinformation
      • Protecting the Environment
    • Cost-Share must match the funds requested in the Education and Culture subaward funding.
    • Activities and expenses (award period) should take place after March 1, 2024 and conclude prior to August 31, 2024. No extensions.
    • Funding cannot be used for any activities or expenses incurred before or after your award period.
    • Subawards of USD$3,000
      • Must have at least 30 participants
    • Subawards of USD$16,500
      • Must have at least 100 beneficiaries with substantial impact

    Proposals from Chapters and Organizational Members who have not received a subaward in the last two years (2022, 2023) will be prioritized. All are encouraged to apply.

    Themes 2023:

    • Access to Education
      Projects increase access to quality education through advocacy, capacity development and technical assistance. Projects may target early education, inclusive education for students with disabilities, or other problems communities face regarding access to quality education. Projects that only focus on providing food or building infrastructure for schools cannot be funded.
      • Example: In Butanuka Preschool Phase 4: Community Involvement (CDAF grant, not Education and Culture sub-award), teachers from Butanuka Community Preschool and local health workers visited homes of each of the 112 children in the preschool, strengthening the relationship between home and school and teaching parents about child development, health, and nutrition. Seeds, watering cans, hoes, and other equipment was purchased for kitchen gardens for each of the preschool families. A local agronomist met with the parents to teach them how to create their kitchen gardens and care for them. They also worked in the kitchen garden of a local organization. U.S, educators met with the preschool teachers and director on Google Meet on four occasions to teach them about child development, positive discipline, teaching with small groups, play in the early childhood classroom, and making books with children. A new kitchen was built with cost share funds. 
    • Economic Growth
      Projects enhance inclusive economic opportunity and prosperity within the participant's community; expand partnerships that enables greater regional stability; encourage inclusion; and develop small business capacity. Projects should include ethical programming including mentorship, campaigns, or workshops to empower women, young people, people with disabilities, Indigenous populations, or other underrepresented communities.
      • Example: Youth Employment Program (Implementing Chapter - Cochabamba, Bolivia) - This project empowered youth by supporting their economic and professional growth. The Chapter improved employability by strengthening digital literacy skills, job search preparation, and more. 
      • Example: Empowering the Indigenous Artists of the Xingu (Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund project in Brazil) equipped Indigenous artists with the necessary resources and skills for them to continue their craft in the midst of a pandemic, which left the artists economically vulnerable since a majority of them rely on urban centers to sell their benches and provide a steady stream of income. With the purchase of new materials to produce these benches, the artists were able to perfect their techniques and produce their benches more rapidly. By equipping them with the skills to create social media sites to sell their benches, their potential vendors and ultimately income increased. Their online presence has also contributed to more opportunities, such as the Sao Paulo Art Fair and Belo Horizonte Art Show. With the income earned, these artists have been able to invest in their community, supporting families who are more vulnerable due to the pandemic.
    • Fostering Strong Democracies
      Projects promote strong democracies that emphasize liberty, equity, and justice by providing civic and governance education. Projects should emphasize citizen rights and autonomy. Projects may include informational campaigns, workshops, curricula development, or events to teach the roles and responsibilities of governments and citizens. They may also include ways to be safely involved in fostering strong democracies that offer essential public services through such as through campaigning, volunteering, engaging with political leaders, and more. Projects that support specific political parties or candidates cannot be funded.
      • Example: Podcasting for Democratic Development (Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund grant, not Education and Culture) worked with ten civil society organizations to put them through an intensive training and collaboration program to enable them to produce high-quality podcasts. The goal was for these podcasts will reach people throughout Mongolia, as well as its diaspora community. They also created legacy materials so that the podcast training is available for groups beyond our initial ten focus organizations. They were particularly focused on targeting youth to build civic engagement and awareness.

    • Inclusion of Underserved Communities
      Projects highlight and/or seek to improve the inclusion of Indigenous persons, African Descendants, women and girls, LGBTQI+ persons, and other underserved communities through art and community engagement. Initiatives may involve building mentorship programs to promote social change, engaging community members in active self-expression as a means of community engagement, and/or amplifying the voices and issues of underrepresented communities.
      • Example: The Raíces Learning Circle (El Salvador/US/Canada) project was a beautifully enriching exchange between Indigenous elders in El Salvador and folks from the Salvadoran diaspora living in the U.S. and Canada. The core component of this project was a series of eight virtual classes, each led by three Indigenous elders and one youth in their community, and attended by a group of 30-40 students. Each class began with content about the Náhuat culture and spirituality then covered basics of the Náhuat language. The success of this project was reflected in the deep connections made between the Salvadoran diaspora and our Indigenous elders. The students expressed that the experience allowed them to develop a stronger cultural identity and the elders shared that they felt valued and supported by the group, which was a transformative experience because they have been subjected to so much erasure and repression throughout their lives.

    • Media Literacy/Countering Disinformation
      Projects advance democratic ideals that promote media literacy education to keep citizens informed and reinforce the importance of a free press.  Projects may include initiatives to support digital and media literacy education, strengthen critical thinking skills, boost effective communication skills, providing a voice for underrepresented audiences, introduce tools and techniques for identifying mis- and disinformation, or develop the skills necessary for creating accurate and reliable media content.  
      • Example: The Well Versed Program (CDAF grant, not Education and Culture sub-award) provided music education and equipment to artists in Abuja, Nigeria to grow their knowledge in media literacy through songwriting AND bring their art to life. The educational component consisted of intensive classes led by experienced and talented artists. The courses focused on elements from writing and producing songs, to using current events to create more potent lyrics, to the ability to identify and understand bonafide news. The equipment component consists of a complete music recording kit delivered to partners at Accountability Lab. The US Embassy in Abuja helped coordinate multiple exciting events with us at Accountability Lab to draw attention to the program. They produced 3 incredible music videos and songs based around current events, and artists continue to access the recording gear to make new music.

    • Protecting the Environment
      Projects support environmental growth and resiliency for communities impacted by natural disasters.  Projects should empower participants on environmental mitigation and conservation practices, especially in communities with the greatest susceptibility to climate change, rather than solely build infrastructure. Projects may promote sustainable development through mentorship, the sharing of multi-community expertise, or other capacity building training.  
      • Example: Young EcoLeaders of the Brazilian rainforest  provided field-based environmental education for school children for youth and community empowerment (Implementing Organization: Amigos de Iracambi Inc.).

     

    Application Resources:

    Proposal Portal: 

    Direct Link: https://webportalapp.com/sp/poa_education_and_culture_program

    The Education and Culture program is supported by funding from the U.S. Department of State and implemented by Partners of the Americas in partnership with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

  • Travel Grants

    Just one trip, the right people, and great ideas can spark enduring partnerships between communities in the Americas.

     

    Travel is powerful: It shatters prejudices and opens individuals up to new cultures, ideas, and ways of thinking. Travel is often a means to connect the right people and ideas necessary to enact social change. This program is funded by the U.S. Department of State with implementation support by Partners of the Americas.

    Each year, we award professional travel grants through our Education and Culture program to members of Partners of the Americas. The grants fund international travel for qualified members to visit other Partners of the Americas Chapters and affiliate organizations to work together on areas of mutual interest, supporting public diplomacy. Applicants who have not traveled and Chapters that have not had travelers are encouraged to submit an application! 

    In accordance with the U.S. Department of State priority areas, we fund travel grants activities that closely align with one or more of the following goals through public diplomacy:

    • Civil Society Engagement
    • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)
    • Environmental Protection and Resilience
    • Inclusive Economic Growth and Entrepreneurship
    • Language Learning/Language Teaching
    • Leadership Capacity Building
    • Media Literacy/Countering Disinformation

    Other travel themes (such as art) can be funded, but must be closely tied to 1 or more of the above themes. It is recommended to only pick 1-2 themes. A strong proposal is clear and concise. 


    Sessions and Recordings

    Recordings:

    Informational and Networking with Potential Travel Grant Hosts and Travelers: A Roadmap to Professional Exchange - January 2024 - Watch the recording (30 minutes)  and view the slides

    Goal Setting Strategies for Travel Grants: Roadmap to Professional Exchange - Watch the recording (30 minutes)

    Join member Dawn Wooten and others from across the Western hemisphere for a virtual session to learn about and practice SMARTIE goal setting (Strategic, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound, Inclusive, and Equitable). This interactive experience will empower you to align your professional exchange aspirations with program objectives, fostering impactful connections and enhancing your grant application's success. Join us to master the art of goal setting and unlock unparalleled opportunities for cross-continental collaboration and professional growth.

    Travel Grant Alumni Panel - Watch the recording - from February 16, 2023


    Travel Grant Requirements

    Travel Timeline

    Open application: December 15, 2023 - February 15, 2024

    Review a PDF version of the application here. All applications must be submitted using the form above.

    Travel must be between:

    Travel grants fund trips that include a minimum of 10 days of professional activities between:

      • July 15 - August 15, 2024

    Hosts should be a Partners of the Americas Chapter and/or Organizational Member.

    The exchange should be between the United States and one of the following countries:  

    Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kits and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

    Applicant Eligibility

    ALL Traveler Applicants must...

      • Be a citizen of the country where they reside - it must be a country listed above
      • Travel to a Partners Chapter or Organizational Member
      • Have an account on PartnersConnect
      • Be 18+ at the time that the application is submitted
      • Have a valid passport for 6 months post-travel ​​
      • Submit the online application with all required documents, by the application deadline
      • Have host approval prior to submission
      • Not have received a travel grant in the past 5 years
      • Not have received a U.S.-funded international exchange grant in the past 2 years
      • Not be a Partners of the Americas employee
      • Write a proposal in line with 1+ theme of the program​​. Strong proposals focus on 1-2 themes, not more. 
        • Civil Society Engagement
        • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)
        • Environmental Protection and Resilience
        • Inclusive Economic Growth and Entrepreneurship
        • Language Learning/Language Teaching
        • Leadership Capacity Building
        • Media Literacy/Countering Disinformation

    ONLY Applicants from Latin America and the Caribbean must be...

      • Able to receive a U.S. J-1 Visa 
      • Proficient in spoken and written English at the time of application

    COVID-19 Policy
    All travelers participating in face-to-face activities must comply with all CDC, federal, and state/local regulations on COVID protocols. It should be remembered that the situation is fluid. Travelers should have a contingency plan in the event the exchange pivots to a virtual platform. 

    Travelers must report any positive case to the Partners home office as soon as possible. An at home test or rapid test will suffice. For travelers concerned about obtaining a test, please consult with your host. 

    Language Policy
    Applicants may apply in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. To ensure compliance with J-1 visa requirements for northbound participants from Latin America and the Caribbean, applicants should have the capacity to utilize English. An interview conducted in English will be incorporated as a part of the review process for candidates who present strong proposals. 

    Resources to support you in your English Language development:

    • Advice and sample questions
    • Many Partners members are passionate about English education. You can ask your host or someone in their Chapter to see if they would be able to speak with you on a regular basis for practice. This could be 30 minutes/week. 

    Application Resources


    Alumni Resources

    As a recipient of an Education and Culture Travel Grant, you are an alum of a U.S.-funded exchange program. This allows you access to a variety of resources, available on alumni.state.gov. After your trip, you will be able to access this platform where you can find the following: 

    • Funding Opportunities
    • Research Tools
    • Events
    • Career Center
    • Network of #ExchangeAlumni from around the world. 

    The Education and Culture program is supported by funding from the U.S. Department of State and implemented by Partners of the Americas in partnership with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.