Global Leaders Fellowship

US-BRAZIL CONNECT Informational Packet

The application for 2013 is now closed and interviews with finalists are being scheduled.  

Program Overview

Test.We are looking for strong fellowship candidates who have the drive and desire to thrive in the US-Brazil Connect GLOBAL LEADERS FELLOWSHIP.
The Fellowship links U.S. participants and Brazilian technology students in a transformative cross-cultural learning experience. Selected Fellows are outstanding young professionals, recent college graduates, graduate students, or in their final two years of their undergraduate program.
Fellows prepare for and serve in a coaching and facilitation role designed to create a fun English immersion environment for Brazilian students (high school and early college). U.S. Fellows build skills in global leadership, explore Brazil, and create life-changing relationships.

Fellows serve as ambassadors of their communities, have a passion to get to know Brazil, and come from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds.  Fellows receive lodging, meals, local transportation and a stipend in exchange for their program leadership. 

Discover Your Future

It’s not a tour, study abroad, or typical travel to Brazil. It’s a challenging and rewarding fellowship, providing a deep experience in the real world of global leadership. You do not need to speak Portuguese. You must be prepared to work hard, solve problems in unfamiliar surroundings, overcome cross-cultural and language barriers, build relationships, and contribute to building a supportive community.  You will gain:

  • Knowledge and in-depth experience of Brazil:  You learn about Brazil, the world’s 6th largest economy, through study prior to departure, intense interaction, a weekend workshop, and a 4-week immersion in Brazil.
  • Learn and practice global leadership skills in action: You participate in a paid fellowship, serving as a coach, mentor, and facilitator to a group of 12-15 Brazilian students who need practice and exposure to native speakers to improve their English. You receive support and training for your role as a coach. Online tutoring and coaching using Facebook is prior to travel and after you return. Travel to Brazil is for four weeks in July 2013.
  • Immersion, global leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving: You will work and live in Brazil for a 4-week period of intense interaction and learning with Brazilian students. Fellows from our 2012 program report the experience does more than build skills and knowledge about Brazil—it inspires leadership, character development, self-discovery and service.
  • Connections, networks and community: You will build new networks, create relationships and see first-hand how global trends in innovation and technology are reshaping the world.

The application process is designed to identify participants with high potential as authentic leaders, effective agents of change, problem-solvers, and dedicated team builders.

Outstanding Fellows in 2012 came from a wide range of disciplines and career paths, including computer science, literature, visual arts, engineering, education, business, and sociology.

For more information, email Meg Barritt at megbarritt@us-brazil.org

Why Brazil?

Brazil is emerging as a key economic player globally.  Twelve years ago, economists identified four countries that were poised to emerge as major economic forces in the global economy:  Brazil, Russia, India, and China.  At the time, these “BRIC” countries were contributing 16% of the world’s gross domestic product growth.  Since the global crisis of 2008, this figure has soared to 45%.[i]  Today, Brazil is the world’s 6th largest economy. Per-capita income is nearly twice that of China.

Brazil’s rise is expected to continue. The World Cup in 2014 and the 2016 Olympics are estimated to attract investments of roughly $550 billion between 2011 and 2014[ii]. In 2007, oil deposits below a layer of salt in the Atlantic Ocean were confirmed to hold enough oil to turn Brazil into one of the world’s top five crude oil producers.

Most importantly, from 2003 to 2008, over 27 million people in this country of 200 million have moved from poverty into Brazil’s middle class. Due to the increasing purchasing power of a growing middle class, Brazil is projected to become the fifth largest consumer market by 2030 when it will be worth over US$2.5 trillion, ahead of the UK and France. Brazil is already the world’s third largest market for mobile phones, the fifth largest for vehicles and computers, and the eighth largest for higher education.

Given the emerging role of Brazil as an economic power, a cultural leader, and a source of innovation and creativity, it is imperative that young leaders from the United States prepare for meaningful engagement with Brazil. The US-Brazil Connect Global Leaders Fellowship Program provides this specific and substantive experience.

Brazilian Partners

The US-Brazil Connect Global Leaders Fellowship is supported by The Confederation of Industry (CNI). The Confederation is the preeminent Brazilian business association, with over a thousand employer associations in all 26 states of Brazil. Supported by a 2.5% payroll tax, the Confederation operates the SENAI and SESI education and training system which comprise the largest technical training network in Latin America, enrolling over 7 million students annually in 797 schools and technical institutes throughout Brazil.

The CNI is investing in the Fellowship program as a means to support education for Brazilian students, thereby strengthening the Brazilian workforce to meet the demands of a rapidly growing economy. The implementation partners, SENAI and SESI, provide all the necessary coordination and logistical support on the Brazilian side. In addition, their support covers accommodation, food, local travel and a stipend for all US-Brazil Connect Global Fellows.

What do US-Brazil Connect Global Leader Fellows do?

  • Preparation Phase:  March 23-June 28th:
    • Prepare for the Fellowship:  Fellows participate in five Saturday morning workshops (via distance) and an in-person weekend workshop prior to travel to Brazil.  Saturday morning sessions are on March 23, April 13, April 27, and May 25th. The weekend workshop is in Denver June 8th and 9th.
    • Serve as an online tutor and coach to help Brazilian students use their English, working 4 hours/week with 12-15 selected Brazilian students from April 2- June 28th
  • In Brazil:  June 30- July 30th. Fellows will be assigned to either Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerias or Joinville, Santa Catarina.
    Travel to Brazil for a 4-week paid fellowship. Fellows interact with their Brazilian students 4 to 6 hours per day, leading project-based groups, facilitating interaction of small groups, and working as a collaborative team member with other Fellows and team leadership.
  • Housing in a local hotel, food, and local transportation are provided at no cost to Fellows. Fellows also receive a stipend of $550-$650 upon arrival in Brazil.
  • Fellows connect with leaders from literature, the arts, business, and education in Brazil.   Fellows are invited to contribute to blogs and produce photo journals.  They explore the local region on weekend trips.
  • After Travel-  August 1-29th
    Return from Brazil and continue online communication and support of Brazilian students.  Upon your return, we also request that you give back in support of global education through speaking, writing or other service.

If you are accepted, you should be prepared to participate in preparation before the trip.  Once on the ground, the month-long experience in Brazil is intense and challenging.  All participants should expect a full and demanding schedule during their time in Brazil.

What are the benefits and costs for the Global Leaders Fellowship Program ?

 

  • Stipend: US-Brazil Connect Fellows earn a stipend of $550-$650 (depends on exchange rate) towards in-country expenses in Brazil, payable upon arrival in Brazil.
  • Lodging and food provided for the month in Brazil: The program hosts, the Brazilian Confederation of Industry and the school of SESI and SENAI, support fellows by providing local accommodations at a hotel and meals for the 4 weeks in Brazil.
  • Internship credit: Internship credit may be available. Contact Meg Barritt for more details (megbarritt@us-brazil.org)
  • Fellow Contribution:  Thanks to generous support from sponsors and donors, costs to US-Brazil Connect Fellows are generously subsidized.  There are no program fees.  Total travel costs are estimated at $2400 for airfare to Denver for June workshop, airfare to Brazil, insurance, and visa.

Scholarship source for undergraduate and PELL eligible students:
For fellows who are currently undergraduates and PELL recipients: The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and provides scholarships for undergraduate students studying abroad. In 2013, there is a strong emphasis on study in Latin America. To learn more about this opportunity, visit http://www.iie.org/en/Programs/Gilman-Scholarship-Program.
Apply directly to the Gilman Foundation.  Deadline is MARCH 5th

Eligibility Criteria  

  • You are:  a young professional, a recent college graduate, graduate student, or in your final two years of your undergraduate program. You are genuinely interested in learning about Brazil and connecting with Brazilians.
  • You make a commitment to serving as an online tutor, working four hours per week with selected Brazilian technology students over a 16 week period (April-June 28th and August 1-29th) and to travel to Brazil for the month of July.
  • You want to develop skills in global leadership.
  • You are comfortable leading small groups and have experience in leadership.
  • You make a commitment to helping a group of 12-15 Brazilian high school/ early college students improve their English for their studies in technology-related fields.
  • You complete all of the US-Brazil Connect Global Leaders Fellowship preparation requirements. This includes attendance at and participation in the Fellows Preparation sessions, and the two-day Fellows Workshop.
  • You respect cultural diversity, enjoy learning, and want to learn some Portuguese.
  • You are able to work cooperatively in a team and have a positive attitude.
  • You have excellent reading, writing, and speaking skills in English.
  • You must submit a complete application and two references by the deadline in order to be considered.
  • You are willing to accept a placement in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerias, or Joinville, Santa Catarina.  (Selected applicants will be assigned location based on Brazilian partner requirements.)

 

Am I a good fit for this program?

Based on an extremely successful pilot program in 2012, we are looking for candidates who will work on a team to help make the expansion of US-Brazil Connect an extraordinary success.

  • Resourceful: You are flexible, adaptable, and ready to make the most of whatever challenges come your way. When met with unexpected obstacles, you will invariably find a way to forge ahead.  You have a demonstrated ability to see opportunities for change and innovation, and are inventive in pursuing these opportunities even in cases where resources or guidance is scarce.
  • Passionate: You are able to envision a goal or outcome and work toward it with intensity and excitement.
  • Team-oriented: You are able to focus on the goal of the team, collaborate effectively with other team members, and devote the effort necessary to achieve team success. You are willing to help other team members when needed and appropriate.
  • Open: You are willing to share information, perceptions, and feedback openly.
  • Curious: You are receptive to and hungry for new ideas, perspectives, and experiences, and continuously develop new and more refined questions for exploration. Your curiosity is reflected in the way you communicate and in your ongoing quest to learn more about yourself and the world.
  • Idealistic: You believe that a better world is possible and seek to understand what role you can play in contributing to positive change.  You are prepared to challenge cynicism to pursue ambitious goals, and are eager to do your part wherever possible.
  • Principled: You possess clarity of purpose and a steady moral center. You demonstrate an authentic commitment to serve a purpose or goal larger than yourself and a contagious enthusiasm that inspires others to do the same.

Program Dates

Selection Phase:
Informational Webinars:                March 6, 2013 (9am or 4pm MST)
Application Deadline:                      March 11, 2013
Announcement of Fellows:            March 21, 2013
Preparation Phase: March 21- June 30, 2013
Saturday team meetings via conference calls
  • March 23, 2013 (9am-12pmMST)
  • April 13, 2013 (9am-12pmMST)
  • April 27, 2013 (9am-12pmMST)
  • May 25, 2013 (9am-12pmMST)

Weekend Fellows Workshop (Team development, skills building, program planning)

  • June 8 & 9th Weekend workshop in Denver, Colorado.
    (Fellows pay airfare to Denver.  US-Brazil Connect provides shared lodging in homes & meals)

Online coaching/tutoring of Brazilian students using Facebook, Skype (about 4 hours weekly)April 2- June 28th

 In Brazil Phase: June 30-July 30, 2013
Four Week Paid Fellowship in Brazil (Fellows will be assigned to Belo Horizonte or Joinville).

Post Brazil: August 1-29, 2013.  On-line coaching/communication with Brazilian students via Facebook, Skype (4 hours weekly).

Next Steps

If you are selected, your next steps are:

  • Apply for a passport immediately if you don’t already have one
  • Apply for a visa for travel to Brazil
  • Prepare to purchase airfare by March 30th (approximately $1700)
  • Visa and insurance payments due by April 15, 2013 (approximately $400)

 

Thank you for your interest in the US-Brazil Connect Global Leaders Fellowship.

 

Complete Application

[i] Ernst and Young: Private Equity in Brazil. 2010 EY Private Equity in Brazil PDF

[ii] http://www.thedeal.com/newsweekly/2010/brazil-boosts-deloitte.php