Overview

The Hope Fellowship Program, funded by USAID, is the preeminent leadership development initiative in the Balkans, promoting best practices and principles of leaders, learners and creators. Graduate fellows will be at the forefront of creating and securing democratic institutions, economic development and ethnically integrated societies.

Brief History of Hope Fellowships Third Phase

The National Albanian American Council launched the third phase of the Hope Fellowship Program in October 2006. The program focuses on promoting women leaders in the public and private sectors, however men will be a part of the program to garner support for women’s leadership development, and youth ages 18-30 will also participate in the program as a special focus group to help develop the next generation of institutional and organizational leaders. Ultimately, NAAC’s aim is to contribute to the development of the Balkans by offering concrete support in the form of educational opportunities and tools to foster democratic participation. In-country programs in each country will offer training in five curricula: leadership and communications, advocacy, youth, anti-corruption, and management and operations to this aim. In addition, further activities including group initiatives, regional dialogues and opportunities for participation in a Washington, DC study tour will emphasize and encourage leadership growth and contribute to our program goals, which are to:

Strengthen institutional partnerships with civil society by increasing public participation in governmental processes.

Strengthen in-country human capital, increase inter-ethnic cooperation, and increase regional stability and cross-border cooperation by sharing best practices on leadership and communications, advocacy, youth, anti-corruption, and management issues.