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Short news & tipsCrossCulture Internships Call for Applications January 2013 The CrossCulture Internships Programme is an exchange and dialogue programme of the Institut f?r Auslandsbeziehungen/ifa (Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations). The programme is implemented in partnership with the German Federal Foreign Office. Since 2005 it offers young professionals and committed volunteers the opportunity to expand their professional and political competence as well as to gather international experience through a stay in another cultural context. The CrossCulture Programme transfers our commitment to intercultural dialogue into action. Aims of the Funding Programme CrossCulture Internships give young people from Germany and Islamic countries the chance to gather varied experiences abroad within their fields of professional activity and to share those experiences in their home countries. Besides the objectives of vocational and specialist qualification, the participants also gain an overview of the cultural, social and political structures in the host country. They establish new personal and professional contacts for future co-operation and familiarise themselves with cultural characteristics and behavioural patterns of the host country. Thus, the programme offers a forum for open dialogue and mutual learning for all those involved. The integration of the interns into their respective home organisations ensures that the intercultural and professional experience gained abroad is incorporated into their activities. The intercultural exchange fosters on-going dialogue of people and institutions. Also, it boosts the formation of networks between organisations in Germany and Islamic countries in a sustained manner and stimulates transnational co-operation. Focus Areas and Target Groups CrossCulture Internships are mainly offered in the following: Knowledge society & education Legal dialogue, justice & human rights International politics & political education Environment Economy & development cooperation Media Arts & culture The target groups are young professionals and committed individuals in different areas of civil society as well as multipliers in media and other relevant organisations. Organisation of the Internship The internship is scheduled individually according to applicants profile and the capacity of hosting organisations. The internship is offered from a minimum of six weeks to a maximum of three months. For each intern a suitable host organisation is identified by CrossCulture team at ifa, based on suggestions of the candidates and adapted to the specific profile of the respective participant. The internships can be complemented by accompanying activities matching the profile of the intern, e.g. individual meetings, conferences or seminars. Application The announcement of the internships is carried out by ifa with the assistance of the German diplomatic missions. The deadline for submission of your application documents is 15 February 2013 (date of receipt at the German diplomatic mission in your home country). More information on the application procedure is available at www.ifa.de/crossculture. Requirements Requirements for taking part in the programme include a good command of English or German and a permanent employment or volunteer involvement in an organisation or institution in one?s own country. Applicants should not exceed the age limit of 20 to 45 years. Currently enrolled university students will not be considered for selection. Furthermore the applicants must be in good health. Their physical as well as mental working capacity must be sufficient for the requirements of a longer stay abroad and the essential work requirements of the internship. Benefits The interns’ travel and subsistence expenses are covered by the project funds. This includes a monthly grant of Euro 550, travel costs to Germany, urban public transport at destination as well as visa fees, health insurance and accommodation. The latter is either a private room in a shared flat (according to gender), a private room in a host family or a small furnished apartment. Accommodation includes cost for electricity, water and heating; whereas telephone and internet facilities are not included. Selection Procedure The filled in and signed application along with a passport picture is to be submitted to the German embassy or consulate of the applicant?s home country not later than 15 February 2013 (preferably by e-mail). Only complete applications will be processed! The staff of the respective German diplomatic missions will screen all applications and invite some applicants to an interview. Hereafter the embassies? and consulates? selection of applications according to a set of criteria of the programme is forwarded to the CrossCulture team at ifa in Germany. The final selection of CrossCulture participants is effected in cooperation with the German Federal Foreign Office. The nomination of the participants will be announced in April 2013. Letters of refusal will be sent without further explanations between April and May 2013. No one has a legal right to be selected for the CrossCulture Internships programme. For further information please contact: crossculture@ifa.de Institut f?r Auslandsbeziehungen e.V. (ifa) Charlottenplatz 17, D-70173 Stuttgart www.ifa.de/en/foerderprogramme/crossculture |
