Last Call For Applications: The grant season is coming to close! FLEX Alumni are eligible to apply for GYSD Matching Grants, and FLEX Alumni Travel and Project Grants. Do not miss this ideal opportunity to turn your ideas into action!   Learn more about the application process and grants programs below.


View on Instagram
 Like us on Facebook
 Follow us on Twitter View our profile on LinkedIn Find us on Pinterest
 View our videos on YouTube
 
January 2018 Vol 2, Issue 2
ANNOUNCEMENTS
More jobs and  op portunities  at 
www.bradleyherald(dot)org/opportunities/other/
( The FLEX Alumni Website)
Last Call: 2018 Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) Matching Grants Program
The GYSD application is live and available for FLEX alumni from participating countries. Groups of FLEX alumni are invited to apply for matching  funds of up to $500  to implement local community service projects as part of the Global Youth Service Day initiative on the weekend of April 20-22, 2018.  Apply here. 
Deadline: February 1, 2018
Announcing the 2018-2019 FLEX Alumni Grant Application Season
American Councils for International Education is pleased to announce the 2018-2019 FLEX Alumni Grants program. This opportunity assists FLEX alumni in developing project initiatives through funding by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). Watch  this short video  to learn more about the grants available and your eligibility to apply.  Apply here.
Deadline: 01 March, 2018.


ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS
Interview with Notable Alumnus- Hikmat Aliyev Class of '94 
Hikmat Aliyev '94 from Baku, Azerbaijan is an alumnus of the first cohort of the FLEX program.  He professional endeavors have led him to a career in banking, where he is known for improving the banking regulatory environment and enhancing the transparency of the national financial systems in Azerbaijan.  Read about Hikmat in his full interview  here .


FLEXFlashback Featuring Senior FLEX Alumni!
In honor of the 25 th  Anniversary of FLEX (#FLEX25), the program is launching a campaign called #FLEXFlashback, to highlight memories and alumni from the first few cohorts of the program. This month, #FLEXFlashback  highlights Shalva Tevdoradze '05 from Georgia. Each month, we will take you on a journey into lives of notable FLEX Alumni around the world. Our first stop? The Ministry of Defense in Georgia! Watch Shalva's interview  here . 
Do you have recommendations about who we should visit next?  Share your ideas and your story  here .
Oleksandr Krushch '13 and the Academy of the Future  
Elected Officials 
After completing the FLEX program, alumnus Oleksandr Kushch '13 from Kharkiv, Ukraine)  founded an NGO  and through it organized the Academy of Future Elected Officials project to encourage civic participation among youth.  What is the project about? What does the academy teach? Find out by reading the full news story in 
FLEX Talks in Armenia!
Seven alumni who attended the 2017 South Caucasus FLEX Ability Workshop gave TEDx-style "FLEX Talks" at the U.S. Embassy in Armenia on November 22. Members of the audience included over forty Armenian FLEX alumni and U.S. Embassy and USAID staff. What were the talks about? Find out by reading the whole story at  this link .
FLEX Alumni in Montenegro Continue Their Secret Santa Tradition
Celebrating the holidays American-style, FLEX Alumni in Montenegro continued their tradition of holding a Secret Santa exchange - enjoying the gifts and quality time together.   "This tradition allows alumni to truly get to know each other and create long-lasting ties, motivating them to come to all future FLEX alumni events!" Read more about the event  here.
FLEX Alumni Talk About Their GV Experience!
The Global Village for Future Leaders of Business and Industry is a five-week intensive program on the Lehigh University campus that will take place on June 24 - July 29, 2018. A limited number of partial and full scholarships are available to FLEX alumni to attend the Global Village. The deadline to apply is February 15, 2018. Don't miss your chance to apply for this outstanding program. 
Watch this video  to learn more from FLEX alumni who participated! The application is available here.
FLEX Alumni in Ukraine Start NGO to Promote Volunteering For Everyone!
After one year in the U.S., Anna Bondarenko '12 and Mariia Donets '15 from Odessa started actively promoting volunteerism in their hometown. In 2017, the pair founded the Ukrainian Volunteer Service, a non-profit organization aimed to increase the number of citizen-volunteers in Ukraine. To find out more about the amazing work and vision their organization stands for, read the full story on the FLEX Alumni Website using  this link .
Wrapping up #FLEXHolidays
To end the year, FLEX Alumni social media channels wrapped up the year in packaging of lovely reflections on how they celebrated the holidays. Check out highlights from #FLEXHolidays  here.
Islambek '15 is in need of your help! 
Consider donating to support Islambek Ashyraliev '15, from Taras, Kyrgyzstan who has c hronic kidney disease and is need of a transplant. Support the cause by donating or spreading the word about his cause via  this fundraiser .
 Access Knowledge. Access the World.