Empower Partnerships, International Exchange Program, MIUSA – USA

The Empower Partnerships project is a prestigious, two-way international exchange program for organizations working on or interested in working on disability-related issues and inclusion as articulated in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This project aims to create sustainable organizational partnerships between U.S. and international organizations, expanding the capacity of each organization to promote disability inclusive communities, and to advance disability rights. MIUSA will select and match organizations from the U.S. and 20 other countries, and will provide ongoing technical assistance, opportunities for international exchange, small grant support to implement collaborative projects, and foster long-term, mutually beneficial relationships.

The objectives of the Empower Partnerships project are to:

    Remove barriers to community opportunities and resources;

    Support the ability of individuals and organizations to serve as leading disability advocates and promote policies and programs benefiting people with disabilities;
    Promote civil society by enabling individuals and organizations working with people with disabilities to share best practices and facilitate cross-sector cooperation through two-way professional exchanges;
    Ensure that people with diverse disabilities and their families and communities benefit from the transformational power of international exchanges; and,
    Build or expand sustainable networks of individuals and organizations serving people with disabilities.


Professional Fellows Reciprocal Exchanges
Twenty partner teams will be selected by MIUSA and each will include three organizations: one U.S. organization and two organizations from another country. Non-U.S. organizations will include one focused on disability inclusion such as a Disabled People’s Organization (DPO) and one non-disability-specific institution for which disability inclusion is a priority. The 20 international partner teams will share knowledge and expertise through reciprocal exchange programs to maximize outcomes of collaborative projects and ongoing partnerships.

International Partner Organizations
Each international partner organization will send one representative to the U.S. to participate in a three-week professional fellowship exchange in May of 2013 that includes a 7-day experiential program in Eugene, Oregon, U.S.A., a 10-day visit to U.S. partner organizations for project development and action planning, and a 3-day forum in Washington, D.C.

Collaborating organizations must apply together as a team, and must meet the below criteria:

    Include one Disabled People’s Organizations (DPO) or other advocacy organization, advocating for the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities, and one non-disability-specific business, non-governmental organization, government agency, educational institution, service provider, or other entity that seeks to increase inclusion and achievement of the rights of people with disabilities.
    Be able to send two representatives, one from each organization, to participate in a three-week professional exchange in three U.S. cities in May of 2013. Representatives must be fluent in English or American Sign Language (ASL). Individuals with disabilities and/or women are strongly encouraged.
    Plan to implement a collaborative project designed to promote disability inclusive communities and disability rights.
    Be committed to host at least one representative from the U.S. partner organization for a 7 – 14 day reciprocal Professional Fellowship Exchange and field visit in fall 2013.
    Be committed to maintain sustainable relationships between partner organizations beyond the project period and produce lasting changes toward inclusive communities.

Come from one of the 73 participating countries, including:

    Africa: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda
    East Asia and Pacific: Australia, Burma, China, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand, Vanuatu, and Vietnam
    Europe: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Croatia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Moldova, Norway, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey, and Ukraine
    Near East and North Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Libya, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, and Yemen
    South and Central Asia: Bangladesh, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
    Western Hemisphere: Argentina, Brazil, Chile , Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, and Nicaragua

U.S. Partner Organizations
Twenty U.S. organizations will each partner with a team of two overseas partner organizations from one country to form a collaborative Empower Partnerships team. Based on the needs and interests of overseas partners, MIUSA will select and match U.S. organizations with an overseas partner team. U.S. organizations will host overseas partners for a 10-day partnership development visit, attend a 3-day forum in Washington, D.C., and send at least one representative to overseas partner countries for a 7 – 14 day field visit for ongoing collaboration and technical support.

U.S. organizations must meet the criteria below:

    Be an innovative organization committed to inclusion and rights of people with disabilities, and/or that has made services and programs accessible and inclusive of children, youth, adults, and elders with diverse disabilities.
    Be able to host an international partner team for a 10-day partnership development visit in May of 2013, providing opportunities for exchange of experience, shared learning, relationship building, and joint planning.
    Be able to attend a 3-day forum in Washington, D.C. in May of 2013.
    Be able to send at least one representative on a 7 – 14 day field visit to the overseas partner country in fall of 2013 for ongoing collaboration and support. Note: financial support from U.S. organizations for collaborative projects is not a requirement.
    Plan to implement a collaborative project designed to promote disability inclusive communities and disability rights.
    Be committed to maintain sustainable relationships between partner organizations beyond the project period and produce lasting changes toward inclusive communities.

APPLY NOW!
Application documents available in alternative formats upon request.

    Read the full project details document BEFORE applying.
    Questions about this project or the application should be directed to apply@miusa.org. For inquiries by telephone contact Jamie Rivas, Program Coordinator, at +1-541-343-1284 ext. 13.
    Download and complete the application for international or U.S. applicants
    Deadline to apply is January 7th, 2013. Early applications highly encouraged!
    Submit your application to apply@miusa.org. Please allow up to five business days to receive an email confirming that your application has been received.

Do I have to pay for my travel, lodging, and meals during the exchange program?
All international and domestic travel, lodging, and meals during the exchange program will be paid for by the Empower Partnerships project.

Do I have to pay for a travel visa?
You do NOT have to pay for a visa. Visas for U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs are free of charge and do not require visa fees.

Will medical insurance be provided?
All program participants, U.S. and non-U.S., will receive limited health care benefits for the duration of their time abroad including travel dates. This benefit is provided by the U.S. Department of State.

The Empower Partnerships project is sponsored by the Office of Citizen Exchanges, Professional Exchanges Division, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.

For more information, please visit official website: www.miusa.org