The programme offers young professionals and volunteering individuals from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Russia and Germanythe opportunity to gain professional experience abroad and to act as multipliers in their home countries. I In addition to further professional development and specialist training, the programme participants also gain an insight into the social and political structures of the host country. They make important contacts which they can use when they return to their home country for future collaboration. Interns returning home can offer a valuable contribution to their respective organisations thanks to the international experience they have gained. This exchange thus sustainably strengthens the formation of networks between Germany and the partner countries and encourages cross-border dialogue and cooperation.

CrossCulture Internships for the countries of the Eastern Partnership and Russia are offered in the following work areas:

• human rights, migration & refugees
• political education & youth participation
• knowledge society, intercultural dialogue, mediation & reconciliation
• culture & art
• media

The target groups are young professionals and volunteers from various areas of civil society and multipliers in organisations and media.

Requirements for taking part in the CrossCulture Internships programme include:

• A good command of English and a permanent involvement in an organisation or institution in one’s own country.Knowledge of the German language is an additional qualification, not a requirement.
• Applicants should be aged between 23 to 45 years. Currently enrolled university students will not be considered for selection.
• Furthermore the applicants must be in good health. Their physical as well as mental working capacity must be sufficient for the requirements of a longer stay abroad and the essential work requirements of the internship.

Benefits

The interns' travel and subsistence expenses are covered by the programme funds. This includes a monthly grant of 550 Euro, travel costs to Germany and urban local traffic, as well as visa fees, health insurance and accommodation. The latter is either a private room in a shared flat (according to gender), a private room in a host family or a small furnished apartment. Accommodation includes cost for electricity, water and heating; whereas telephone and internet facilities are not included.

Selection Procedure

The filled in and signed application forms along with a passport picture are to be submitted via e-mail to the German diplomatic mission of the applicant’s home country. 

The staff of the German diplomatic missions abroad will screen all applications and invite some applicants to an interview. Hereafter the embassies’ and consulates’ selection of applications is forwarded to the ifa in Stuttgart, Germany. The final selection of CrossCulture Internships participants is made in cooperation with the German Federal Foreign Office.

The nomination of the participants will be announced in March. Letters of refusal will be sent without further explanations in April. No one has a legal right to be selected for the CrossCulture Internships programme.