Student Application

Eligible Organizations

To be eligible for this fellowship, a student's project must be with an international-based non-profit or government organization. Preference is given to smaller organizations with local governance and leadership over international NGOs with satellite offices in a specific country (for example: a European non-profit operating in a South American city). Applicants may affiliate themselves with an existing organization in-country, but fellowships will not pay the costs of joining one of the many varieties of international "service trips" or "service tours" available for purchase.

How to Find an Organization

We encourage students to begin the process of finding an organization in the Fall semester prior to applying for the fellowship or during Winter Break, at the very latest. We have two good resources for helping students find quality organizations to work with:

1. Omprakash: Omprakash is a database of volunteer opportunities at grassroots social impact organizations around the world. The organization was founded by Willy Oppenheim '09, a Bowdoin alum and a founder of the Global Citizens Fellowship. Many Bowdoin Students have found Global Citizens Fellowship opportunities through Omprakash.
2. Past Global Citizens Fellows: Read more about past Global Citizens Fellowship experiences. Be sure to talk with McKeen Center students or staff about these organizations as well since they will have helpful information for you.

A completed application includes the following materials:

1. Personal Information
2. A 1-2 page single-spaced Fellowship Proposal that includes the following:
   
   • A description of the community partner, their location, their work, potential projects the applicant may do during the fellowship, and why the applicant wants to work with this organization and in this location
   • Applicant Experience:
     • Relevant academic experience you have with this issue/community
     • Relevant language or cultural skills related to this project and location
     • Other community service and leadership experience
   • Challenges: Identified language, cultural, or logistical barriers the applicant may face and how they plan to overcome them
   • Fellowship Takeaways:
     • What does the applicant seek to give (and gain) from this experience?
     • How does this project connect to the applicant's academic experience and future plans?
     • How does the applicant plan to bring their experience back to the Bowdoin community?
3. Resume, including two Bowdoin references, one of which must be a faculty member with whom you have had a course. Please note - you should not have to submit full letters of reference. We will reach out to your reference contacts with any questions.
4. Proposed Budget, including all estimated expenses (travel, living arrangements, etc...)  for the project (Example Budget)
5. Confirmed Offer, a PDF letter or email from your community partner confirming that you have a placement with them, should you receive the Global Citizens Fellowship

All application attachments – Fellowship Proposal, resume, proposed budget, and confirmed should be submitted as a single PDF in the order listed above.

Please note that the McKeen Center will conduct a disciplinary standing check with the Dean of Students office for fellowship finalists.

For more information on the Global Citizens Fellowship throughout the year please contact Tom Ancona.