The Embassy of the United States of America is pleased to announce the call for applications for the 2023-24 Community Solutions Program (CSP) is now open for young Bruneian leaders.
Fully funded by the U.S. Department of State, the CSP is a year-long professional leadership development programme for people who are working to improve their communities by addressing issues related to the environment, peace and conflict resolution, transparency and accountability, and women and gender.
Government and private sector employees, non-governmental organisation (NGO) employees, and the self-employed are all eligible to apply for this programme.
Community leaders selected for the program will participate in the following activities:
• Four-month fellowship in the United States: Community Solutions fellows are matched with host organisations throughout the United States where they will complete a four-month, hands-on professional experience.
• Community Leadership Institute: Community Solutions fellows participate in the Community Leadership Institute, a leadership training program designed to strengthen their leadership and management skills. The Institute includes face-to-face training, online courses, professional coaching, and networking.
• Community-based initiatives: While in the United States and with the support of their U.S. host organisation, Community Solutions fellows will design and plan a community development initiative or project to carry out after they return home. Once the fellows depart the United States, they put these projects into action in their home communities.
CSP’s four-month professional development experience in the United States includes a 32-hour per week practicum at a U.S. host organisation and a 10-hour per week leadership development course, plus a six-month community action project that leverages the knowledge, skills, and network that fellows developed in the United States.
Over the past 10 years, CSP has supported over 700 fellows who have positively impacted more than 600,000 people in their home communities.
To date, only two Bruneians have participated in the competitive CSP programme; Nurul Adilah Mahmud, an officer at the Health Promotion Centre, Ministry of Health participated in 2019.
The 2022 CSP fellow, Lieutenant Qurratu’aini Qayyimah Al-Zelzy from the Royal Brunei Navy, is currently assisting the Greening Youth Foundation with Urban Agriculture and Environmental Education activities and training at the Urban Conservation Training Institute (UCTI) in Atlanta, Georgia.
“The CSP has provided me with many amazing opportunities to learn, grow and work with diverse teams to address shared problems and ensure a secure future,” said the lieutenant.
Interested individuals may visit for more information on eligibility requirements and application procedures. The deadline for application is 2 November 2022.
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN