Travel is powerful: It shatters prejudices and opens individuals up to new cultures, ideas, and ways of thinking. Travel is often a means to connect the right people and ideas necessary to enact social change. This program is funded by the U.S. Department of State with implementation support by Partners of the Americas.

Each year, we award professional travel grants through our Education and Culture program to members of Partners of the Americas. The grants fund international travel for qualified members to visit other Partners of the Americas Chapters and affiliate organizations to work together on areas of mutual interest, supporting public diplomacy. Applicants who have not traveled and Chapters that have not had travelers are encouraged to submit an application! 

In accordance with the U.S. Department of State priority areas, we fund travel grants activities that closely align with one or more of the following goals through public diplomacy:

• Civil Society Engagement
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)
• Environmental Protection and Resilience
• Inclusive Economic Growth and Entrepreneurship
• Language Learning/Language Teaching
• Leadership Capacity Building
• Media Literacy/Countering Disinformation

Other travel themes (such as art) can be funded, but must be closely tied to 1 or more of the above themes. It is recommended to only pick 1-2 themes. A strong proposal is clear and concise. 

Travel Grant Requirements

Travel Timeline

Open application: December 15, 2023 - February 15, 2024

Review a PDF version of the application here. All applications must be submitted using the form above.

Travel must be between:

Travel grants fund trips that include a minimum of 10 days of professional activities between:

• • July 15 - August 15, 2024
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COVID-19 Policy

All travelers participating in face-to-face activities must comply with all CDC, federal, and state/local regulations on COVID protocols. It should be remembered that the situation is fluid.  Travelers should have a contingency plan in the event the exchange pivots to a virtual platform.

Travelers must report any positive case to the Partners home office as soon as possible. An at home test or rapid test will suffice. For travelers concerned about obtaining a test, please consult with your host.

Language Policy

Applicants may apply in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. To ensure compliance with J-1 visa requirements for northbound participants from Latin America and the Caribbean, applicants should have the capacity to utilize English. An interview conducted in English will be incorporated as a part of the review process for candidates who present strong proposals. 

Host Eligibility

Hosts should be a Partners of the Americas Chapters and/or Organizational Members and the exchange should be between the United States and one of the following countries:  

Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kits and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Applicant Eligibility

ALL Traveler Applicants must...

• Be a citizen of the country where they reside - it must be a country listed above
• Have an account on  PartnersConnect
• Be 18+ at the time that the application is submitted 
• Have a valid passport for 6 months post-travel 
• Submit the online application with all required documents, by the application deadline
• Have host approval prior to submission
• Not have received a travel grant in the past 5 years
• Write a proposal in line with 1+ themes of the program, listed below. Strong proposals focus on 1-2 themes, not more. 

• • Civil Society Engagement
  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)
  • Environmental Protection and Resilience
  • Inclusive Economic Growth and Entrepreneurship
  • Language Learning/Language Teaching
  • Leadership Capacity Building
  • Media Literacy/Countering Disinformation
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  •    
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  • ONLY Applicants from Latin America and the Caribbean must be...

  Able to receive a U.S. J-1 Visa

  Learn more about the J-1 visa process at  travel.state.gov

  Proficient in spoken and written English at the time of application

   

   

   

  More information and application link here.

The Education and Culture program is supported by funding from the U.S. Department of State and implemented by Partners of the Americas in partnership with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.