The U.S. Mission is seeking applications from dynamic sports professionals to participate in the April 7-May 9, 2019 Dignity for All Through Sports program.
The Dignity for All Through Sports program is part of the U.S. Department of State’s 2019 “Sport for Community: Global Sports Mentoring Program (S4C: GSMP).” The S4C: GSMP promotes access and opportunity for people with disabilities through sport. S4C is a month-long, immersive mentorship that matches international emerging leaders working in disability/adapted sports with leading professionals from America’s top organizations in this field. Participants create action plans to expand or initiate programs designed to increase sports opportunities for people with disabilities at home and abroad. S4C supports the U.S. foreign policy goal of promoting human rights and removing barriers to create a world in which people with disabilities enjoy dignity and inclusion.
This program gives provides emerging leaders in disability sports with opportunities to:
- Develop management and business skills that enhance their effectiveness professionally;
- Gain exposure to U.S. sport management, media, and non-profit environments;
- Establish lasting relationships with a global network of leaders in the sport sector;
- Share personal backgrounds and expertise with Americans and other delegates;
- Observe ongoing efforts in the United States to remove barriers, integrate disability sports, and expand opportunities for persons with disabilities to engage in sport; and
- Develop an action plan for a project that will contribute to long-term positive change.
PARTICIPANTS – Participants must be:
- Adults ages 25 to 40 who demonstrate the drive and potential to directly improve access to sport for people with disabilities in their home country and beyond;
- Involved in disability/adapted sport sectors including: Parasport; Special Olympics; deaf sport; coaching; Ministries of Sport; sport for development NGO’s, sport marketing, sport journalism, or sport management;
- Able to converse fluently in English (fluency in American Sign Language is required for deaf participants);
- On a leadership trajectory within their respective organizations;
- Citizens of the nominating country (preference will be given to candidates who have not traveled to the United States previously);
- Firmly committed to the program with a willingness to take part in a fully immersive and mentorship as well as interested in developing new partnerships;
- Confident, mature, self-motivated and driven towards exceptional success;
- Committed to sharing knowledge and acting as a change agent in home communities;
- Willing to participate in social media in support of the program during and after the exchange;
Interested and qualified applicants should email the following information to kampalaexchanges@state.gov by December 7, 2018.
- Current resume (CV) (as attachment);
- Basic biographical information;
- Details about the sport-related work in which the nominee is engaged, the sector of his/her organization (e.g. private, public, NGO), his/her role within the organization, and contributions in disability sport;
- Statement of Purpose: Information on what you hope to learn from the mentoring experience and what your action plan may be if selected; highlight how they will increase the number of people with disabilities involved in sports;
- Description of the nominee’s skills and personal interests; and
- Two letters of recommendation from external entities.
