DUSHANBE, November 14, 2012, Asia-Plus – The U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe has announced an open competition for the Empower Access Program (EAP)

EAP is reportedly a regionally-focused professional exchange program for individuals and organizations working directly with people with disabilities.  EAP is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.  For Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan and Tajikistan, EAP is administered by American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS.  A total of up to 15 fellows from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan and Tajikistan will travel to the U.S. to undertake a month-long fellowship at a U.S. host organization that will allow participants to explore in-depth issues including: NGO management and capacity building, inclusive practices in the arts, adaptive technology, sports management, inclusive education, inclusive policies and legislation, wellness initiatives, and advocacy. In addition, EAP will enable up to 15 Americans to participate in a reciprocal visit to their Fellows’ host countries.

Program goals: support the ability of individuals and organizations to serve as leading disability advocates; promote policies and programs benefiting people with disabilities; promote a robust civil society by enabling individuals and organizations working with people with disabilities to share best practices and facilitate cross-sector cooperating through two-way professional exchanges; ensure that people with sensory impairments, physical disabilities, cross-disabilities, and their families and communities benefit from the transformational power of international exchanges; build or expand sustainable networks of individuals and organizations serving people with disabilities; establish a common language to develop practical solutions for shared problems and concerns.

To be eligible for EAP, applicants must: be a citizen and current resident of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan or Tajikistan (applicants must be resident in their country of citizenship); have relevant experience in and demonstrated commitment to serving disability populations; have demonstrated leadership and collaborative skills; have a desire and ability to develop and implement a short reciprocal project for a U.S. participant; be proficient in English. If you are selected as a semi-finalist, we will give you an institutional TOEFL exam, unless you have a valid TOEFL score over 500 (paper test) or over 60 (iBT test) or its equivalent (for example, valid IELTS band 6 or higher).

The U.S. Embassy notes the application deadline is Monday, December 10, 2012.  Applications are available on-line at http://lfp.americancouncils.org/?q=content/apply-empower-now. If you would like a paper application, please contact at [email protected] or by phone at 221-21-03,221-17-95.