Throughout 2011, 43 professionals from the United States and Colombia will participate in fellowships, harnessing the power of citizen diplomacy and linking it to long-term engagement around climate change issues that affect multiple communities. Fellows will join forces with an extensive network of Partners’ volunteers, Partners’ exchange alumni, collaborating institutions, and a network that boasts more than 45 years of people to people engagement across cultures and regions.

 Participants and host organizations in the Climate Change Program will:

• Build sustainable relationships with professionals and organizations in diverse communities around the issue of climate change.
• Have the opportunity to share their professional expertise and to build new skills through their fellowship.
• Strengthen the capacity of their communities to more effectively mitigate climate change impacts.

 Fellowship Classes

Partners’ program will foster integration, mutual understanding, and continuity through four fellowship classes: two classes of 10-11 Colombian Fellows will travel to the U.S. coordinated with two classes of 11 U.S. Fellows traveling to Colombia. Each class of Fellows will be recruited and selected to represent a rich mix of local, regional and national leaders along with representatives from the fields of disaster preparedness and communications. Fellows from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities will be selected based on their interest and involvement in climate change mitigation and their ability to effectively lead and engage home organizations and communities in substantive follow-on projects and awareness activities. 

During their fellowships, participants will be hosted by organizations and institutions in their host communities. They will work closely with colleagues on projects related to climate change and build their professional capacity through site visits, volunteer projects, and on-the-job training. Fellows will have the opportunity to apply for grants following their fellowship to implement small projects that work with their communities to mitigate the effects of climate change or raise awareness of climate change issues.

Some examples of fellowship opportunities in the U.S. and Colombia are:

• Work with new programs initiated by the local government that encourage civic participation to help reduce the effects of climate change, as well as University and community-based initiatives that highlight the importance of inter-hemispheric cooperation and exchange on climate change issues.
• Examine climate change policy at the national level with government institutions, as well as engage in practical, hands-on activities covering a wide range of areas, such as regulatory systems, renewable energy, and pollution prevention.    
• Work alongside action networks who are implementing community-based programs designed to help people mitigate the effects of climate change on coastal towns.

Communication Fellowship with Clemson University Radio Productions

Each Fellowship Class will have a at least one Communications Fellow who will work directly with Clemson University Radio Productions (CURP) in South Carolina to develop a communications plan between the United States and Colombia for widespread distribution of climate change programming and resource information to the general public in both countries. CURP is a reputable institution that will provide the Fellow with access to world class technology and professionals who have experience disseminating complex scientific research to every day people with real world applications.

Want to be a Climate Change Fellow…. Apply Here!  

 Interested in hosting a fellow please contact Katalina Mayorga at kmayorga@partners.net.