Community Engagement Exchange Program 2027 in the USA | Fully Funded

Make Scholarships Edge preferred on Google

Applications for the Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) Program 2027 in the USA are now open. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by IREX, this international exchange program is designed for emerging community leaders who want to promote free speech, civic engagement, constructive dialogue, and public participation. The Community Engagement Exchange Program 2027 offers a six-week exchange experience in the United States, including a four-week professional placement with a U.S. host organization. Eligible applicants can apply online before the deadline of November 18, 2026.

The CEE Program 2027 will bring together young leaders from eligible European countries to learn from American institutions, community organizations, and civic leaders. Participants will develop practical skills in leadership, communication, project design, and community-based problem-solving. Through professional placements and cross-cultural exchange, fellows will explore ways to encourage respectful disagreement, strengthen civic participation, and address challenges in their communities. This international exchange program in the USA also helps participants build professional networks with U.S. organizations and other emerging leaders.

The Community Engagement Exchange Program focuses on issues such as freedom of expression, open inquiry, civic education, public discourse, and conflict reduction. Participants will also design and implement an Actions, Words project to apply the knowledge and experience gained during the exchange to a community need in their home country. After completing the U.S.-based program, participants are expected to return home and implement a locally grounded initiative related to civic engagement or free speech.

WhatsApp Channel

Join Now

Community Engagement Exchange Program 2027 Details

Also Check: Global Investigative Journalism Conference 2027 Fellowship in the Netherlands

Financial Benefits of the CEE Program 2027

The Community Engagement Exchange Program in the USA covers most expenses associated with participation. Financial support includes:

• J-1 visa support.
• Round-trip travel from the participant’s home city to the United States.
• An allowance for housing, meals, and other living expenses during the exchange.
• Accident and sickness health benefits.

Participants also receive professional development through leadership training, an individualized placement with a U.S. host organization, and opportunities to build international professional networks.

Also Check: DW Traineeship 2028-2029 in Germany

Community Engagement Exchange Program 2027 Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be between 22 and 27 years old on the application deadline.
• Be a citizen of an eligible country: Czechia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, or Ukraine.
• Have at least two years of relevant professional, volunteer, academic, or community experience.
• Be living and working in their home country when applying, subject to the program’s stated exceptions.
• Demonstrate a commitment to free speech, civic engagement, constructive dialogue, or community problem-solving.
• Have spoken and written English proficiency.
• Be available for the full six-week exchange in the United States in 2027.
• Commit to returning home and implementing a community-based project after the program.

U.S. citizens and permanent residents are not eligible. Additional restrictions apply to applicants participating in academic or research programs abroad, certain former U.S. government exchange participants, and individuals who have applied for U.S. permanent residency within the past three years.

Also Check: Human Rights Essay Award 2027 in the USA

How to Apply for the Community Engagement Exchange Program 2027

Eligible candidates can apply online through the official IREX application portal. Before submitting an application, applicants should review the eligibility requirements and prepare information about their relevant experience and proposed community initiative.

Follow these steps to apply:

1. Visit the official CEE Program application page.
2. Review the eligibility criteria and read the 2027 application FAQs.
3. Complete the online application through the CEE application portal.
4. Explain your relevant experience, commitment to civic engagement, and plans for a community-based project.
5. Submit your application before November 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Semifinalists who do not have a valid qualifying TOEFL score will be required to complete an English-language proficiency assessment.