FY 2023 BridgeUSA Ukraine Journalism Scholarship Program

Background
The Office of Private Sector Exchange (BridgeUSA) of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) announces an open competition for the administration of the BridgeUSA Ukraine Journalism Scholarship Program. BridgeUSA facilitates educational and cultural exchange programs for approximately 300,000 exchange visitors who come to the United States each year to participate in 13 different program categories. Since 2006, over four million exchange visitors have participated in BridgeUSA programs. The purpose of the program is to enable the Government of the United States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries; to strengthen the ties which unite us with other nations by demonstrating the educational and cultural interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the United States and other nations and thus to assist in the development of friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations between the United States and the other countries of the world.

Grant Details
The program will be administered over 36 months from the date the award is made. The award recipient should recruit and select Ukrainian-speaking participants working in media environment that communicates or focuses on Ukrainian-speaking audiences from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, and Ukraine.
Priority should be given to exchange visitors residing in Ukraine, with at least half of selected exchange visitors coming from Ukraine. Scholarships will be used to cover exchange visitors’ program fees, including placement at a U.S.-based host organization, health benefits coverage, visa fees, SEVIS fees, and airfare.

Eligibility Requirements
Accredited U.S. colleges and universities including consortia of accredited U.S. colleges and universities and U.S. public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to provide 10 to 15 Ukrainian exchange visitors with scholarships to participate in journalism and media-related exchanges under the Specialist category of the Exchange Visitor Program.

Period of Performance
The program will be administered over 36 months from the date the award is made.

Grant Value
$100,000 pending availability of funds

Place of Performance
The specific geographic location(s) where activities will take place are Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, and Ukraine.