U.S. Exchange Program Alumni Address Community Issues in Cities Across the United States
Office of the Spokesperson
The U.S. Department of State is funding 47 public service projects led by U.S. government-sponsored or funded exchange program alumni from 23 states through the Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund (CDAF). This annual grant opportunity supports U.S. alumni efforts to utilize the skills, knowledge, and networks gained through their exchange program experiences to address challenges faced by communities around the world. The 2021 winning projects include those that aim to increase participation in international exchanges at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, build community among underrepresented Hawaiian youth through art, and combat misinformation through a global virtual media literacy campaign.
In July 2021, the Department of State invited alumni from across the United States to apply for up to $10,000 through the CDAF small grants competition. Alumni submitted proposals for public service projects addressing the themes of protecting the environment, promoting media literacy education, fostering alumni network development, bolstering outreach to underserved communities, and building community through arts, sports, language, and technology. Winning projects were selected for their strong sustainability plans, and many will continue past the grant period through volunteer work, other funding sources, and NGO support.
The 2021 CDAF winners will implement their projects over the next six months, and all grant-funded activities will be completed by the end of March 2022. They will also be invited to present about their ongoing projects at a Virtual CDAF Summit on December 16, where they will be joined by winners from the three previous CDAF competitions.
The Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and implemented in partnership with Partners of the Americas. For further information, please contact [email protected]. F
