2012 Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Summer Institute

The U.S. Embassy in Helsinki is pleased to invite applications for the 2012 Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Summer Institute for upper secondary school students. There will be one institute in the summer of 2012 with approximately 55 students: up to 45 European students plus 10 Americans.  Activities will include discussions of global issues of common interest, leadership and media training, collaborative project development, community service, educational travel, and plans for follow-on activities.  Specific information on dates and location of the 4-week program will be provided later.

Program Background

Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows institute intends to foster relationships among the younger generations of Europeans and Americans to promote awareness of shared values in light of the global challenges of the 21st Century.  The initiative is named after the legendary American statesman and diplomat Benjamin Franklin in honor of the inspiration his own life and career provides to those who are working to strengthen transatlantic cooperation. 

Institute Description

The Summer Institute will enable teenagers ages 16-18 to participate in an intensive, four-week exchange program in the United States that focuses on the global issues that European and American youth face on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.  Students will participate in a variety of activities such as training sessions, workshops, community-based programs, study tours, and cultural events. Participants will work together to prepare a joint project that presents and promotes the stated goals and objectives of the Institute.

Before and during the Institute, students will gather information on young adults' views about one or two areas of common or global interest, such as sustainable development, inter-ethnic cooperation, or human rights.  The program will also provide the participants with a new perspective on mass media and how they learn about each other and the communities they live in, as well as the broader media culture.  This will include training on the critical reading of print, broadcast, and electronic media and the ability to judge the content and accuracy for themselves.  Training will focus on communication and presentation skills, problem solving, and team building.  Community service activities, social and cultural activities, and home stays with American families will deepen the participants' experience of U.S. society during their exchange.

Funding/Travel

The program is funded by the U.S. Government and will provide a full scholarship for participants, which covers visa, travel, lodging, educational materials, ground transportation expenses and travel insurance.
 
Candidate Qualifications

• 16-18 years of age as of July 1, 2012
• Highly proficient in English
• Committed to enrolling in high school or university in Finland in fall 2012
• Demonstrates strong leadership potential and interest in transatlantic relations
• Indicates a serious interest in learning about the United States
• Sustained high level of academic achievement, as indicated by academic grades, awards, and teacher recommendations
• Demonstrates a commitment to community and extracurricular activities
• Have had little or no prior U.S. study or travel experience in the United States
• Mature, responsible, independent, confident, open-minded, tolerant, and inquisitive
• Willing and able to fully participate in an intensive summer program, community service, and active educational travel program
• Comfortable with campus life, shared living accommodations, travel and interaction with a multinational, coed group of participants from across Europe and the U.S., and comfortable with engaging various Americans in the broader community. 
• Able to adjust to different cultural and social practices.

Application Requirements and Procedure

The selection process will be conducted by U.S. Embassy officials and is merit based. After completing the application, the best qualified candidates will be interviewed by U.S. Embassy staff.

To apply for the program, you will need:

• Completed application form (PDF, 28 kB)
• Completed application form (DOC, 30 kB)
• A letter of recommendation in English (optional)

Applicants must be citizens of Finland.

Deadline for applications: February 26, 2012. Please send the application form and the supporting documents electronically to the Embassy of the United States, Cultural and Exchanges Assistant Mirka McIntire, e-mail: USHelsinkiExchanges@state.gov

Information about the program can be found at the Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Initiative website: http://www.bftf.org/.