Grants, Awards, and Travel Opportunities for Educators

Community College Grants

World View, in collaboration with UNC’s Center for Global Initiatives, is providing small grants to community college educators to help them ”internationalize” their courses. Our intention is to support the addition of international content to existing courses that have little or no such content. Preference will be given to proposals that develop regularly taught and/or required courses, and courses that affect large numbers of students.

The American Foreign Service Association's National High School Essay Contest

Students are asked to write a 750 to a 1000 word essay on role of the United States Foreign Service and its members in the world today.  They are to analyze and explain how the members of the Foreign Service promote United States national interests by participating in the resolution of today's major international problems. The first-place winner will receive a check for $2,500.00. The first-place winner's school or sponsoring organization will receive a check for $500.00. The Second-place winner will receive a check for $1,250.00. The Third-place winner will receive a check for $750.00. There will be media promotion and press releases to newspapers in the communities of the first three prize winners. Twenty-two finalists will receive a certificate of honorable mention. The contest is open to all (including international) high school and high school level home schooled students whose parents are not members of the United States Foreign Service. For more information please go to the following site: http://mirror.afsa.org/essaycontest/

Doors to Diplomacy Contest

The U.S. Department of State, along with the Global SchoolNet Foundation, is pleased to announce the "Doors to Diplomacy" Award competition. This educational award will recognize the student-created Global SchoolNet Web project that best teaches others about the importance of international affairs and diplomacy. Students work in small teams with teacher-coaches. Each student member of the team who wins the "Doors to Diplomacy" receives a $2,000 scholarship, and the winning coaches' schools each receive a $500 cash award. The State Department also sponsors a trip to Washington, DC, where the winners receive a private tour of the State Department facilities, meet with key officials, and participate in a special award presentation ceremony. Here is the program link: http://www.globalschoolnet.org/GSH/doors/index.html

Earthwatch Education Fellowships

Earthwatch Institute is offering fellowships to fund K-12 educators and administrators to join scientific research expeditions around the world. This year, more than 300 fellows will participate in one- to three- week field research projects, working with diverse teams of volunteers under the direction of renowned scientists. The experience provides a unique career development opportunity for teachers and the chance to bring field science into the classroom. Earthwatch fellowships supply teachers with professional development, applicable skills, new knowledge, and a renewed appreciation for learning. Research projects range in discipline, from archeology to zoology. Applications are presently being accepted on a rolling basis. For an application and more information contact Earthwatch Institute: EducationAwards@earthwatch.org , (800) 776-0188 ext. 118, or http://www.earthwatch.org/education .

French & Francophone Fellowships and Opportunities Abroad (Deadline: On-going)

The French Minister of Foreign Affairs is pleased to announce the following programs that permits students, teachers, and professors in the United States to travel, work and study in France. Click on this link to find announcements for programs: http://www.duke.edu/web/cffs/fellowships.html

Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program

Educators are invited to apply for the Fulbright-Hayes Seminars Abroad Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. This program provides opportunities for educators and administrators with responsibilities for curriculum development in fiedls related to humanities, languages, and area studies. Seminars are designed to provide a broad and introductory cultural orientation to a particular country or countries. The program is geared towards those educators with little or no experience in the host country that demonstrate the need to develop and enhance thiere curriculum through short-term study and travel abroad. Complete information can be found at http://www.ed.gov/programs/iegpssap/sapfacts.html. The website for submitting electronic applications is http://e-Grants.ed.gov

Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Exchange

Fulbright also offers an exchange program for current teachers and administrators. Since 1946, The Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Exchange Program has helped nearly 23,000 teachers and administrators contribute to mutual understanding between the United States and countries around the world. If you are a full-time U.S. teacher or administrator, you may be eligible to apply to the program. For further information, please go to http://www.fulbrightteacherexchange.org/

"Make a Difference" One-Minute Video Contest

Looking for a way to make a difference? Create a one-minute video telling the world how young people are speaking out, taking action and making a difference. Videos will be reviewed by a global panel of media professionals and displayed on the main UNICEF website. The winning video will be the official Voices of Youth public service announcement, receive prizes, and will be made available for broadcast around the world on The International Children's Day of Broadcasting. For criteria and to find out how to submit your video, visit http://www.unicef.org/voy/takeaction/takeaction_3490.html.

Joseph J. Malone Fellowship in Arab and Islamic Studies

American professionals in academic, government, and business are eligible for a one- to two-week study visit in an Arab country.  The Malone Program provides an exceptionally powerful educational experience that includes introductions to host-country government officials, businessmen, academics, and scholars.  Applicants are responsible for their own domestic transportation to and from Washington D.C. and in some cases international travel.  For more information, visit http://www.ncusar.org/programs/malone.html. 

The NEA Foundation

The NEA Foundation's mission is to provide a great public education for all students. They offer numerous grants to help educators achieve this goal. Their Books Across America Library Books Awards Program enables public school libraries to purchase books. Learning and Leadership Grants fund participation in professional development experiences. Student Achievement Grants improve the academic achievement of students in U.S. public schools and public higher education institutions in any subject area(s). Visit their website to learn more about these opportunities and more: http://neafoundation.org/grants.htm

Pay It Forward Minigrants

These grants are designed to fund one-time service-oriented projects that are identified by youth as activities they would like to perform to benefit their school, neighborhood, or greater community and inspire them to realize that they can change the world. Projects must contain a "pay it forward" focus - that is, they must be based on the concept of one person doing a favor for others, who in turn do favors for others, with the results growing exponentially - to be considered in the grant making process. Applications are accepted year-round! Visit the Pay it Forward website to learn more: http://www.payitforwardfoundation.org/educators/mini-grant.html.


The People Speak

The People Speak encourages America's youth to join in national conversations about an array of global topics. Enter one of their conests focused on global debates, climate change, or the effectiveness of the media. Your students could win a trip to a youth leadership summit or a $500 mini-grant. For more information go to http://www.thepeoplespeak.org/contests/

Rotary International Group Study Exchange (Deadline: typically six months before period of travel)

Spend four to six weeks observing your own vocation as practiced abroad.  Young professionals, including K-12 teachers, college instructors, and administrators between the ages of 25 and 40 may apply through their local Rotary club for this unique study abroad opportunity.  A typical tour includes vocational visits, club presentations, social events, cultural and site tours, and time with host families.  The Rotary Foundation covers most participant expenses, including team travel from a common point of departure.  Ideal candidates will be proficient in the major language of the host country.  To learn more, visit http://www.rotary.org/en/ServiceAndFellowship/Fellowship/GroupStudyExchange/Pages/ridefault.aspx. 

Reading First in South Africa

Introduce preschool children to the joy of reading! The World Library Partnership is an international nonprofit organization located in Durham, NC and Pretoria, South Africa. We have two volunteer programs that are perfect for teachers. We hold a 2 week program in the fall in South Africa where you will learn about South African libraries, schools, books, and culture. We also offer a month long program in July/August that includes 3 days of training, placement at a rural school library, homestay, in-country support, debriefing and pre-departure support. (Participants in that program can register for 3 graduate level credit hours from UNC-Chapel Hill.) For more details and the application, please see http://www.worldlibraries.org


Spanish Immersion Program in Costa Rica

This community-based Spanish language and culture program in Atenas, Costa Rica is ideal for academic student and teacher groups from different public school systems and higher education including community colleges and universities.  Their goal is to develop sustainable partnerships with very dedicated study abroad programs and co-create a very customized immersion program that aligns with high educational standards and goals of any school district/academic institution and departments. For more information visit the website: http://www.spanishimmersioncostarica.com/

Teach in Spain

The Spanish Ministry of Education will be sponsoring a Language and Culture Assistant Program in Spain for K-12 educators with teaching experience. This program enables US citizens to train as English Language Assistants in Spain. For more information visit the website: http://www.mec.es/sgci/usa/en/programs/us_assistants/default.shtml

Target Field Trip Grants

The Target Field Trip Grants program provides funds of up to $800 for K-12 field trips. Each school year new grants are issued, and eligible field trips include: art, science, cultural museum visits, and more. Visit http://sites.target.com/site/en/company/page.jsp?contentId=WCMP04-031880 to learn more.

American Councils for International Education Educational Seminars

The Educational Seminars program offers Department of State funded grants for U.S. school teachers and administrators. Exchanges are short term, taking place during the summer, and focus on sharing of best practices and professional development. The Educational Seminar grants include all travel, living and program expenses. For full announcements and an application form please go to http://www.americancouncils.org/ES.


AIPT Programs for Teachers

Bring a world of knowledge to your classrooms! The Association for International Practical Training offers teachers a chance to gain firsthand awareness of different cultures while strengthening their teaching skills and sharing knowledge about their native lands.  They broaden their students' world view and they are better educators when they return to their home countries, infusing their lesson plans with personal examples and insights into diverse teaching and learning styles. AIPT has nearly 60 years of experience offering an array of J-1 visa programs and services for exchange visitors coming to the United States , as well as for Americans seeking opportunities abroad. To learn more, visit the w ebsite :  www.aipt.org