Panama Entrepreneurs!!!!!

A foundation in the United States, YLAI, is offering a once in a lifetime opportunity specifically for Latin American business people between the ages of 25 and 35 who have been in business for at least 2 years.

Can you/Will you/Have you always dreamed of…..

Spending a free 4 weeks in the US gaining valuable professional development skills with Business professionals working jointly on an action plan that you can implement upon your return to Panama

• Attend a closing conference in Washington, DC networking with top US government officials as well as global public, private and nonprofit leaders.
• Have access to online and in person trainings to expand your leadership, entrepreneurial, and management skills and knowledge through the YLAI Entrepreneurship Institute
• After completion, continue collaboration with US Partners, have access to ongoing professional development opportunities, mentorships, networking, and othr activities exclusively for YLAI Fellows
• Be eligible for Innovative Small Grants for your startup or scaling activities, Travel Grants to attend other conferences, and a chance to welcome a new Fellowship Host to Panama to share your newfound expertise and help expand his/her understanding

You would go to the US and gain knowledge from professionals in your field and then have access to fabulous resources and support thereafter.

Cost to apply: Zero, $0, Nada!!!

ALL YLAI PROFESSIONAL FELLOWS PROGRAM EXPENSES ARE COVERED BY THE US GOVERNMENT AND INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:

Entrepreneurs Using English In Panama

• J-1 visa support
• Round trip travel from Panama to the US and required program travel
• YLAI courses
• Program opening in a US hub and Closing Forum in Washington DC
• FOUR WEEK Professional development experience
• Accident and sickness medical coverage
• Housing and meals throughout the program.

Eligibility

• Between the ages of 25 and 35 by September 15, 2018
• A Resident and citizen of Panama or other Latin American countries but legally working in Panama
• Have or are Eligible to receive a US J-1 visa
• Have a demonstrated track record of successfully growing their own business or social venture for at least 2 years
• Not a US citizen or permanent resident of the US
• Not a US government employee
• Proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English

The U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center reserve the right to verify all of the information included in the application. In the event that there is a discrepancy, or information is found to be false, the application will immediately be declared invalid and the applicant ineligible.

Applications not meeting the above technical eligibility requirements will not be forwarded to the selection committee. If you do not meet the technical eligibility requirements for this program, we invite you to visit exchanges.state.gov for information on other U.S. Department of State exchange opportunities.

Criteria for Selection

Applications are due to Panama Quality Education no later than 11:59pm, Wednesday, February 28. 2018. On Thursday, March 1, 2018 they will be submitted for review and your peers in Panama will vote for their ideal candidate (so be sure to tell all your friends!) The winner will be announced and forwarded to YLAI for their selection by the deadline of March 4.

A selection panel from YLAI will reviews all eligible applications. Semifinalists will be contacted to schedule an interview in May. All applicants will be notified of their status in July 2018.

The YLAI Professional Fellows Program candidate selection committee will use the following criteria to evaluate applications and interviews:

• Demonstrated professional entrepreneurial experience and knowledge.
• Commitment to community or public service, mentorship, or volunteerism in your home country and to applying entrepreneurial and leadership skills, experience and knowledge to benefit your community and country.
• Demonstrated understanding of how your personal and professional goals align with program objectives.
• Demonstrated leadership, commitment to your organization’s or business’s success, positive attitude, initiative, and perseverance.

Application Information

The purpose of the application is to collect basic information and to better understand applicants’ qualifications for the YLAI Professional Fellows Program. Questions will include candidates’ professional background, experience with their own business or social ventures, and English language proficiency. The application will applicants’ work history and business or organization plans.

Required Business Plan (template)

https://ylai.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/03/YLAI-Business-or-Organization-Plan.pdf

Additionally, the application will include the following short essay questions:

• Please write your professional biography. Include a description of your relevant professional and volunteer history, current work, and entrepreneurial pursuits.
• How does your business or organization benefit your community, society, or country? How will your participation in the YLAI Professional Fellows Program enhance your ability to contribute to your community?
• What personal and professional goals do you hope to work toward during this fellowship, and how will participating in the YLAI Professional Fellows Program help you achieve them?
• Tell us about a significant lesson you have learned about leadership during your career. How has this changed the way you lead yourself and others?

We at Panama Quality Education would like to help you reach your goals by assisting in your application and helping to promote your business in the process.

So, please get your video in today as the deadline is right around the corner!

Feel free to contact us via our email at info@panamaqualityeducation.com, Facebook or Instagram or via whatsapp at Janet: 6721 2431 or Erica: 6677 8198. Sorry but due to the deadline with YLAI, we cannot grant extensions.

Disclaimer: Panama Quality Education is not giving away a free trip to New York. YLAI is the organization in charge of choosing who wins the trip. Panama Quality Education is just getting the word out to entrepreneurs in Panama to apply and helping them with their applications and essays.

Photos: By W45lin – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38194450, and King of Hearts / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-3.0 [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons