2015 Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI) for Visionary Nigerian Youths.

Application Deadline: January 9 2015

Open to: The 2015 application is open to all citizens and permanent residents of Nigeria currently residing in Lagos and Port Harcourt.

The Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative, CYFI, is a dynamic youth-based initiative launched in 2011 by the U.S. Consulate General, Lagos. CYFI brings together Nigerian youth of exceptional vision, skills and experience to design and implement projects that have a positive impact on Nigerian society. Former Ambassador to Nigeria, Walter Carrington, was a champion of civil liberties, democracy and closer ties between the U.S. and Nigeria.

Fellows Quality

• Passion
  You are committed to making a significant contribution to your community and country
• Skill & Experience
  You have a unique set of skills and experiences that you can use to make an impact
• Strategic Thinking
  You are excited about the opportunity to launch an innovative CYFI project.
  You know how to design a project that is based on sound research, uses resources creatively, builds or improves on existing systems, and leverages partnerships with complimentary organizations
• Vision
  You know the area of social change in which you would like to work, and you can articulate the positive change that you would like to make

How to Apply:
Decide whether you will apply alone or as a group There is no advantage to applying one way or the other.

Individual applicants will complete both the standard online application form below and the “Hypothetical Scenario Essay.”

The purpose of the Hypothetical Scenario Essay is to judge the individual applicants’ ability to develop an innovative and impactful project plan. Plan of action in a logical, step-by-step manner. Individual applicants will not carry out the projects outlined in this essay; it is only an exercise to measure fellows’ attitude.

Individual applicants who are selected for the fellowship will be grouped into teams based on their interests as expressed in the written application and interview. Individual applicants need not respond to the Group Project Proposal.

Group Application:

Design a project using the criteria and template below that provides an innovative solution to an issue facing your community, state or country.
Budget: N400,000
Additional Resources: U.S. Consulate can introduce you to potential partners who can provide venues, materials, training and other types of support, but it’s up to you to close the deals
Timeline: 1 year (but you can of course continue the project after the year is completed)
Location: Lagos
Team Size: 2-3 members

Tips

• Do something that hasn’t been done before (Hint: lots of great ideas have been launched abroad but have not yet made it to Nigeria. You still get credit for being first if you’re the first do it here!)
• Create a systemic change rather than a localized change (i.e. improve NYSC vs. train 50 NYSCers)
• Think creatively about leveraging the consulate’s contact network (businesses, government officials, journalists, entertainers, academics, civil society leaders, human rights activists, etc.)
• Gets the maximum value out of every last Kobo
• Make your goals measurable
• Follow the directions
• Check for spelling and grammar
• Be realistic about what you can achieve; do not overshoot, and do not undershoot
• ****Clearly spell out how your tasks accomplish your goals. Eliminate tasks that do not accomplish your goals.****
• Show how you will draw on your own unique skills and professional networks to complete the project

Group applicants need not respond to the Hypothetical Scenario.

Timeline:

Apply Now for the Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative