Professional Fellows (aged 25-40) are chosen through an open competition which highlights their demonstrated commitment to improving their communities through innovative economic development approaches. A particular emphasis is placed on selecting individuals with social entrepreneurial talents geared towards helping their communities emerge from the global COVID-19 pandemic and building resilience to future economic shocks.

Selected Fellows are assigned to customized work-placements in the U.S. that will offer them fresh insights, new analytical perspectives, and practical approaches to address the challenges their communities are facing and identify opportunities for economic empowerment. Supplemental educational and cultural enrichment activities will ensure Fellows acquire substantive leadership skills as well as a deeper appreciation of American society.

Current plans are for the cohorts to be in the United States from April 24-May 26, 2023; October 2-November 3, 2023; and February 5-March 8, 2024. Note: The in-person, U.S.-based program is contingent upon favorable travel conditions. In the event of travel restrictions, or other factors which could adversely impact the health, safety and welfare of program participants and hosts, the program will pivot the in-person, U.S.-based exchange to virtual programming.

Program Details?

Fellowship Work-Placement

All Fellows will spend 3 weeks working at a U.S. host organization, business, or government agency either in Hawai'i or at another location in the U.S. An appropriate placement will be identified collaboratively with the Fellow who is required to provide the East-West Center with their overall learning objectives for the program and goals for their future after returning home from the program. This work-placement is customized for each Fellow and requires a full-time commitment to ensure success and can lead to life-long relationships and enduring professional networks that mutually benefit the Fellow and the Host. Some, examples of previous work-placements from earlier cohorts of Professional Fellows include: 

• Bess Press
• Blue Startups
• Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement
• Downtown Art Center
• The Girls Who Bake Next Door/Cake Works
• Green World Coffee Farm
• Hatch Blue
• Hawai‘i Employers Council
• Hawai‘i Public Health Institute
• Hawai‘i Sea Grant
• Hawaiʻi Small Business Development Center
• Hawai‘i State Office of Planning & Sustainable Development
• Hawai'i Tourism Authority
• Hawai‘i ‘Ulu Cooperative
• INPEACE Center for Entrepreneurship
• Iolani Palace
• Kahala Hotel & Resort
• KTOO Public Radio
• Kualoa Ranch
• Mānoa Heritage Center
• MC&A
• National Foreign Trade Council
• National Technical Institute For The Deaf. Rochester Institute of Technology
• Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association
• Office of Innovation and Commercialization, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
• Outrigger Hotels & Resorts
• Pacific Business Center Program, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
• Purple Mai‘a
• Pu‘u O Hoku Ranch
• Representative Ed Case's Office, DC
• Travel2Change
• Waimea Valley

Educational & Cultural Activities

Upon arrival, Fellows spend several days receiving classroom instruction from industry professionals and leadership specialists as well as going on experiential learning fieldtrips to various significant cultural and historical locations. At the end of the program, the group will converge on Washington, DC to continue their leadership journey, network with representatives from the U.S. Department of State, and spend time enjoying the various museums and other cultural resources in the nation's capital city.

Follow-On Project

During the Fellowship, participants are expected to create and refine a personal action plan to guide their activities upon returning home after the program. This plan is unique to each Fellow and will help guide their learning objectives during the program and the possible outbound exchange (see below).

Outbound Exchange

People who work for U.S. work-placement host organizations have the option of applying to travel to their Fellows home country to continue to work together. This exchange, usually about 2-weeks long, is intended to support the Pacific Island Fellows implement their action plan and magnify the impact of the program by bringing U.S. expertise directly to their communities. It also enriches the experience of the American Fellows as they gain valuable international experience and build long-lasting relationships. 

How To Apply?

Applications no longer being accepted.

Who Can Apply? [Eligibility requirements]

Individuals who are:

• 25-40 years old
• Currently employed (including self-employment) in a position relevant to economic empowerment within Pacific and indigenous communities, with at least two years of demonstrated work experience.
• BOTH a citizen of, and currently residing in, one of the eligible countries (see below)
• An English language speaker with proficiency in spoken and written English to effectively function in an American workplace
• Eligible to obtain a J-1 Visa and spend five weeks in the United States for the Fellowship
• Committed to returning to their home country after the program

Note: People living with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

Eligible Countries

• Australia
• Cook Islands
• Federated States of Micronesia
• Fiji
• French Polynesia
• Kiribati
• Marshall Islands
• Nauru
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• Niue
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands 
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu
• Wallis & Futuna

Do you want to host a Fellow?

The East-West Center is looking for organizations who want to benefit from this unique opportunity to host a Pacific Islands Professional Fellows for a 3-week work placement. If you are interested in receiving more information about hosting a Fellow, please Contact Us.

A Special Professional Fellows Program Opportunity for Young Economic Empowerment Leaders

THEME: Post-Pandemic Equitable and Sustainable Economic Recovery

The East-West Center's Professional Development Program, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and Young Pacific Leaders (Facebook page), is conducting a Special Professional Fellows Program Opportunity for Young Economic Empowerment Leaders from the Pacific Islands. Starting in early 2023, this program will bring three cohorts of young professionals from the Pacific Islands to the United States for intensive five-week programs that build significant new capacity and facilitate enduring professional bonds between industry leaders in the United States and the Pacific Islands. 

Professional Fellows (aged 25-40) are chosen through an open competition which highlights their demonstrated commitment to improving their communities through innovative economic development approaches. A particular emphasis is placed on selecting individuals with social entrepreneurial talents geared towards helping their communities emerge from the global COVID-19 pandemic and building resilience to future economic shocks.

Selected Fellows are assigned to customized work-placements in the U.S. that will offer them fresh insights, new analytical perspectives, and practical approaches to address the challenges their communities are facing and identify opportunities for economic empowerment. Supplemental educational and cultural enrichment activities will ensure Fellows acquire substantive leadership skills as well as a deeper appreciation of American society.

Current plans are for the cohorts to be in the United States from April 24-May 26, 2023; October 2-November 3, 2023; and February 5-March 8, 2024. Note: The in-person, U.S.-based program is contingent upon favorable travel conditions. In the event of travel restrictions, or other factors which could adversely impact the health, safety and welfare of program participants and hosts, the program will pivot the in-person, U.S.-based exchange to virtual programming.

Program Details?

Fellowship Work-Placement

All Fellows will spend 3 weeks working at a U.S. host organization, business, or government agency either in Hawai'i or at another location in the U.S. An appropriate placement will be identified collaboratively with the Fellow who is required to provide the East-West Center with their overall learning objectives for the program and goals for their future after returning home from the program. This work-placement is customized for each Fellow and requires a full-time commitment to ensure success and can lead to life-long relationships and enduring professional networks that mutually benefit the Fellow and the Host. Some, examples of previous work-placements from earlier cohorts of Professional Fellows include: 

• Bess Press
• Blue Startups
• Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement
• Downtown Art Center
• The Girls Who Bake Next Door/Cake Works
• Green World Coffee Farm
• Hatch Blue
• Hawai‘i Employers Council
• Hawai‘i Public Health Institute
• Hawai‘i Sea Grant
• Hawaiʻi Small Business Development Center
• Hawai‘i State Office of Planning & Sustainable Development
• Hawai'i Tourism Authority
• Hawai‘i ‘Ulu Cooperative
• INPEACE Center for Entrepreneurship
• Iolani Palace
• Kahala Hotel & Resort
• KTOO Public Radio
• Kualoa Ranch
• Mānoa Heritage Center
• MC&A
• National Foreign Trade Council
• National Technical Institute For The Deaf. Rochester Institute of Technology
• Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association
• Office of Innovation and Commercialization, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
• Outrigger Hotels & Resorts
• Pacific Business Center Program, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
• Purple Mai‘a
• Pu‘u O Hoku Ranch
• Representative Ed Case's Office, DC
• Travel2Change
• Waimea Valley

Educational & Cultural Activities

Upon arrival, Fellows spend several days receiving classroom instruction from industry professionals and leadership specialists as well as going on experiential learning fieldtrips to various significant cultural and historical locations. At the end of the program, the group will converge on Washington, DC to continue their leadership journey, network with representatives from the U.S. Department of State, and spend time enjoying the various museums and other cultural resources in the nation's capital city.

Follow-On Project

During the Fellowship, participants are expected to create and refine a personal action plan to guide their activities upon returning home after the program. This plan is unique to each Fellow and will help guide their learning objectives during the program and the possible outbound exchange (see below).

Outbound Exchange

People who work for U.S. work-placement host organizations have the option of applying to travel to their Fellows home country to continue to work together. This exchange, usually about 2-weeks long, is intended to support the Pacific Island Fellows implement their action plan and magnify the impact of the program by bringing U.S. expertise directly to their communities. It also enriches the experience of the American Fellows as they gain valuable international experience and build long-lasting relationships. 

How To Apply?

Applications no longer being accepted.

Who Can Apply? [Eligibility requirements]

Individuals who are:

• 25-40 years old
• Currently employed (including self-employment) in a position relevant to economic empowerment within Pacific and indigenous communities, with at least two years of demonstrated work experience.
• BOTH a citizen of, and currently residing in, one of the eligible countries (see below)
• An English language speaker with proficiency in spoken and written English to effectively function in an American workplace
• Eligible to obtain a J-1 Visa and spend five weeks in the United States for the Fellowship
• Committed to returning to their home country after the program

Note: People living with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

Eligible Countries

• Australia
• Cook Islands
• Federated States of Micronesia
• Fiji
• French Polynesia
• Kiribati
• Marshall Islands
• Nauru
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• Niue
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands 
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu
• Wallis & Futuna

Do you want to host a Fellow?

The East-West Center is looking for organizations who want to benefit from this unique opportunity to host a Pacific Islands Professional Fellows for a 3-week work placement. If you are interested in receiving more information about hosting a Fellow, please Contact Us.

For more information about hosting a Fellows click hereDownload