U.S. Department of State, Bureau of ECA announces 2020 Jóvenes en Acción (Youth in Action) Program
Deadline: 21 January 2020
The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), has announced an open competition for the FY 2020 Jóvenes en Acción (Youth in Action), an exchange program for Mexican high school students.
This program will be funded as a joint initiative between the U.S. Department of State, the Mexican government, and the private sector. U.S. Embassy Mexico City and the Mexican Secretariat of Public Education will recruit, screen, and select the participants.
ECA funding will support U.S.-based activities for approximately 25 participants to take place during summer 2020. U.S. Embassy Mexico City anticipates additional funding to increase the total number of participants to approximately 75 students; proposals should indicate the applicant’s ability to host approximately 75 students and manage funding from multiple sources. The Department reserves the right to reduce, revise, or increase proposal project configurations, budgets, and participant numbers in accordance with the needs of the program and the availability of funds.
Goals
The program goals are to:
- Promote mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of Mexico
- Prepare youth leaders to become responsible citizens and contributing members of their communities
- Develop a cadre of students who are actively engaged in addressing issues of concern in their schools and communities upon their return home and are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become citizen activists
Objectives
The program objectives are for participants to:
- Demonstrate a better understanding of the elements of a participatory democracy as practiced in the United States
- Demonstrate critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills
- Demonstrate skill at developing project ideas and planning a course of action to bring the projects to fruition
Themes
The primary program themes are:
- Civic Education (Citizen Participation, Grassroots Democracy, Rule of Law, AntiBullying, Respect for Human Rights, and other mission priorities)
- Community Service
- Youth Leadership Development
Award Information
- Floor of Award Range: $200,000 pending the availability of funds
- Ceiling of Award Range: $600,000 pending the availability of fund
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible Applicants: Applications may be submitted by U.S. public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3).
- Cost Sharing or Matching Funds: There is no minimum or maximum percentage required for this competition. However, the Bureau encourages applicants to provide maximum levels of cost sharing and funding in support of its programs.
Other Eligibility Requirements
- Bureau grant guidelines require that organizations with less than four years of experience in conducting international exchanges be limited to $130,000 in Bureau funding. ECA anticipates making one award, in an amount $200,000 for the FY 2020 base year to support program and administrative costs required to implement this exchange program. Therefore, organizations with less than four years of experience in conducting international exchanges are ineligible to apply under this competition.
- Technical Eligibility: All proposals must comply with the requirements stated in the NOFO, POGI (if applicable), and the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI); noncompliance will result in your proposal being declared technically ineligible and given no further consideration in the review process:
- Eligible applicants may not submit more than one proposal in this competition. If more than one proposal is received from the same applicant, all submissions will be declared technically ineligible and will receive no further consideration in the review process. Please note: Applicant organizations are defined by their legal name, and EIN number as stated on their completed SF-424 and additional supporting documentation outlined in the Proposal Submission Instructions (PSI) document.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=322660