International Programs

Legislative Education and Practice (LEAP) Program Seeking State Hosts

NCSL's International Programs Department has once again paired up with American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS (American Councils), to carry out the third Legislative Education and Practice Follow-on Program (LEAP), sponsored by the U.S. State Department, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The project allows ten Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX) alumni from Georgia, the Russian Federation and Ukraine the opportunity to build upon the solid foundation of American democratic values and ideals established during their exchange year in the U.S. The fellows are FLEX program alumni who have completed their university education and are currently emmplyed in the government or working in related fields. The program targets promising young professionals who are pursuing careers in government or intend to do so. The project will expand the knowledge and interest of youth from the former Soviet Republics in the democratic political process through state-level government fellowships in the U.S. The long-term goal is to enable fellows to share their knowledge with their peers in their respective countries through a follow-on program, in which they will conduct conferences and outreach activities.

This is the third year of the LEAP program. During the past two rounds, LEAP fellows had the opportunity to work in eight states and the District of Columbia. They researched policy issues, attended meetings, helped draft legislation, and served constitutent needs. Fellows reported that their fellowship opened their eyes to the respondibility of government and its role in a democratic society vis-à-vis the citizenry.

The FLEX Program is a U.S. government-sponsored program for secondary school students from the former Soviet Union. The program provides scholarship funding for students to travel to the United States, attend a U.S. high school for a full academic year, and live with a U.S. host family. FLEX was established in 1992 as the centerpiece of the Secondary School Initiative under the FREEDOM Support Act, introduced as legislation to the U.S. Congress by Senator Bill Bradley (D-NJ) and Congressman Jim Leach (R-IA). The program provides young people from the former Soviet states with a cross-cultural living experience in a democratic society. Since the program's founding, more than 15,000 students have been awarded scholarships. Selection to the program is highly competitive, with nearly 600,000 students applying to the program during the past 14 years.

The fellowships in state legislatures will enable alumni participants to expand upon their U.S.-based experiences and provide them with opportunities to develop concrete leadership skills. The program consists of several components. Participants will attend orientation sessions prior to departing Russia. They will then participate in a week-long intensive introduction to the U.S. political process in Washington, D.C. from December 11 - 18, 2007, before commencing fellowship positions with state legislatures, where they will immerse themselves in the daily operations of the state government and explore citizen participation in the political process. The participants are highly encouraged to come up with a feasible project during their fellowship, which would culminate in establishing some kind of a link between the U.S. legislatures and cities/regions in Georgia, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. In addition, the fellows are required to do volunteer work and take a class at a local university or online to further supplement thier experiences. During the program, fellows will be monitored by American Councils and NCSL staff throughout their stay. Upon their return to their countries, fellows will administer projects and conduct workshops in cooperation with the U.S. Embassy and U.S. government contractors working in the regions.

NCSL is looking for state hosts for the next delegation of fellows, who will arrive in December. Please contact Nadia Mouzykina in the NCSL D.C. Office for further information.