Young Connectors of the Future Programme (YCF)
​by The Swedish Institute

Location
YCF Module 1 - Sweden
YCF Module 2 - Location not confirmed
Duration
YCF Module 1 - August 29, 2016 - September 16, 2016
YCF Module 2 - December 11-17, 2016 or February 2017 (preliminary dates)
Background
The Swedish Institute’s Young Connectors of the Future Programme (YCF) is an intercultural leadership programme that aims to lay a foundation for dialogue and knowledge sharing among young leaders from South Asia.

YCF is designed to provide the participants with new skills, broadened networks and innovative tools to strengthen their work to drive social change in their respective contexts. The programme invites leaders aged between 22 and 32 from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka who represent different sectors of society and are visionaries in positions to make a difference. The participants are actively working for democracy and human rights within the spheres of society, culture, politics, entrepreneurship and media.
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The programme is a unique opportunity for young leaders in the region to gather and share ideas and perspectives on common challenges. During and after YCF participants will be part of an active network that aims to boost creativity and to support their personal and professional development, while also laying the platform for a more connected future.
Course Structure
YCF integrates the following areas:
  • Leadership training: Personal development and group dynamics from an intercultural perspective, encouraging creative initiatives as well as co-operation. The leadership training is carried out through lectures, workshops, reflection sessions and a variety of work tasks and collaboration.
  • Social media: Training in innovative technologies as tools for shaping public opinion and for building networks that promote knowledge sharing and openness. The social media training is carried out through workshops, practical assignments and group projects.
  • Knowledge exchange and inspiration: New perspec­tives on how to drive development and change processes in the field of transparency, democracy and human rights. The knowledge exchange is facilitated through interactive workshops with fellow participants and with speakers and inspirers working actively in these areas.
  • Practical experience: Practical assignments and projects run throughout the programme in combination with study visits to relevant Swedish institutions and civil society organisations that work in the sphere of culture, society and politics.
The programme is made up of three and half week of intensive work divided into two modules.

Module 1:
This module offers experience-based intercultural leadership training and personal as well as group development. It also involves advanced hands-on training with the use of social media tools.
Exchange of experiences and creative strategies in the work for social change takes place through seminars and workshops with facilitators working actively in these fields.
Practical group assignments and project work run throughout the module in combination with tailor-made study visits to relevant Swedish organisa­tions and institutions.

Module 2: 
Module 2 offers an opportunity to maintain, build and expand the participants’ network. All participants will meet again in Sweden or another location to continue the exchange and follow up the development of their work.
The module will also include workshops and seminars with speakers and build on the sharing of the participants’ own experiences and knowledge.
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Please note that the Young Connectors of Future programme is an intensive programme and all selected participants will have to commit to participate in all activities in both module 1 and 2.
Prerequisites
To apply to the programme you have to:
  • Be an engaged leader within the spheres of society, culture, politics or media (for example project managers, youth leaders, entrepreneurs, journalists, bloggers, youth politicians, cultural workers, civil servants, lawyers and pedagogues).
  • Work actively for democracy and human rights.
  • Be between 22-32 years old (born 1994 – 1984).
  • Have a good working knowledge of both written and spoken English.
  • Be a citizen of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka​
Compensation
  • All costs related to accommodation, food and transport during the YCF programme are covered by the Swedish Institute. The Swedish Institute will also arrange and pay for the participants’ air travel to and from Sweden and to the location of the second module of the programme.
  • During the programme in Sweden all participants will be insured against acute illness and accident through the Swedish State Group Insurance and personal insurance by The Swedish Legal, Financial and Administrative Service Agency (Kammarkollegiet). If the second module is held in Sweden the same arrangement as for module 1 will apply. If the follow up module is held in another country participants will need to arrange and cover their own insurance costs.
  • The Swedish Institute will contact all concerned embassies in order to facilitate the visa application process. When applying for a visa the Swedish Institute will provide the participants with a letter of invitation and an insurance certificate, and will also cover the application cost.
Details to Apply
A complete application consists of:
  • A completed YCF Application Form 2016 in English, including your contact details and the contact details of two reference persons.
  • An updated CV in English.
  • A letter of recommendation in English (no more than 500 words) from a person that knows your work in the areas of democracy and human rights e.g. a professor, an employer or colleague. The letter should specifically motivate your participation in the programme with reference to the YCF criteria.*
  • A photo (not compulsory).
If you have any questions regarding the application form, please send an email to [email protected].
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*Please note that the reference persons should know your work in the areas of democracy and human rights. They will need the contact details of the references (name, job title, telephone number and e-mail).They may contact the reference persons of the applicants who are selected for an interview. Note that they only need a letter of recommendation from one of the reference persons. The letter of recommendation should not exceed 500 words. They only accept references who speak English.
Due to the large number of applications that they receive, they are unfortunately not able to send personal replies to all applicants. Hence, if you have not heard from them by 11 May 2016, you have not been accepted to the Young Connectors of the Future programme. However, you are more than welcome to apply again for next year’s programme.
Application Deadline
Applications are closed.
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