FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Date:   October 28, 2010

To:     All UF Graduate Students

Cc:     All UF Graduate Coordinators and Staff

From:   UF Graduate School

RE:     APPLY NOW: LELAND INTERNATIONAL HUNGER FELLOWSHIP DEADLINE, JANUARY 7, 2011

The Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellowship, a program of the Congressional Hunger Center (CHC), is now seeking applicants from diverse personal, educational, cultural and experiential backgrounds for its 2011-2013 class of fellows, which will be placed with different agencies and organizations for field and policy work on issues addressing hunger and poverty. The deadline for applications is Friday, January 7, 2011.

Benefits include a monthly stipend, health insurance, professional development funds, travel expenses, housing and relocation allowances, a $5,000 end-of-service award, training, and connection to a dynamic fellowship community and alumni network.

During each two-year fellowship cycle, 15-17 fellows are placed with CHC partner organizations including international and local NGOs, US government development agencies and multi-lateral organizations. 

During the first year, fellows work in developing countries to address hunger and poverty-related issues including agriculture, food security, health and nutrition, and private sector development. Their work in the field may involve researching, implementing and/or evaluating development programs and initiatives.

Fellows spend the second year in a policy environment, usually at the headquarters of the organization they served in the field year. In this way, fellows apply what they learned in the field to help inform the development of sound organizational and governmental food security policies. The field and policy assignments are developed by the host organization and are designed to be complementary. In addition to their work experiences, fellows take part in CHC-sponsored annual training sessions and a series of professional development days aimed at further developing their skills and expertise.

Applicants will be selected on the basis of:

Demonstrated leadership qualities and abilities
Commitment to social justice
Graduate degree or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline
One-year of work or volunteer experience in a developing country
Strong interpersonal and communication skills across cultural contexts
Flexibility
Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment
Critical thinking skills and a high degree of self-motivation
US citizenship or permanent residency status

For more information on how to apply for this prestigious program, please go online to http://www.lelandapplication.org/info, e-mail [log in to unmask] or telephone 202-547-7022, extension 18.