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The Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) Program 2027 is fully funded by the U.S. Department of State. It covers J-1 visa support, round-trip travel to the United States, an allowance for housing, meals and living costs, and accident and sickness health benefits, for a six-week leadership exchange in the USA.
The 2027 programme is for emerging community leaders aged 22 to 27 who are citizens of ten European countries: Czechia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and Ukraine.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Host country | United States |
| Sponsor | U.S. Department of State, implemented by IREX |
| Duration | 6 weeks, including a 4-week professional placement, in 2027 |
| Funding | Fully funded: J-1 visa support, round-trip travel, living allowance, health benefits |
| Who can apply | Ages 22 to 27, citizens of Czechia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, UK or Ukraine |
| Application fee | None mentioned |
| Deadline | 18 November 2026, 11:59 PM US Eastern Time |
What is the Community Engagement Exchange Program?
CEE is a U.S. government exchange programme implemented by IREX, an international development organisation. It supports young leaders who work on free expression, open inquiry, constructive dialogue and civic participation in their communities.
Fellows spend six weeks in the United States, including a four-week professional placement with a U.S. host organisation. They learn from American community leaders and institutions, build professional networks, and then design and run an “Actions, Words” community project back home.
What you get
- J-1 visa support
- Round-trip travel from your home city to the United States
- An allowance for housing, meals and other living expenses in the U.S.
- Accident and sickness health benefits
- A four-week placement with a U.S. host organisation
- Leadership, communication and project design training
Eligible countries for 2027
Czechia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and Ukraine. The list of countries changes from year to year. If yours is not on it this time, we post exchange programmes open to every nationality every week.
Who can apply
- Aged 22 to 27 on the application closing date
- A citizen of one of the ten eligible countries
- At least two years of professional, volunteer, academic or community experience on free speech, open inquiry, public dialogue or community problem-solving
- Living and working in your home country when you apply
- Proficient in spoken and written English
- Available for the full six-week exchange in 2027 and committed to running a project at home afterwards
U.S. citizens and permanent residents, people studying or working abroad at the time of application, and people who applied for U.S. permanent residency in the last three years are not eligible.
Is there an age limit?
Yes. You must be between 22 and 27 on the application closing date.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?
Not to apply. Semifinalists who do not already have a valid qualifying TOEFL score will take an English proficiency assessment.
Is there an application fee?
No application fee is mentioned.
Required documents
You apply through IREX’s online application. Keep these ready:
- Your passport or national ID details
- Details of your work, volunteering or community projects in the last two years or more
- Your answers on the community issue you want to work on
- Your idea for a community project at home
How to write your application
CEE looks for a clear commitment to free expression and civic dialogue in your own community.
- Describe a real community issue you have worked on and what you did.
- Show how you bring people with different views together.
- Explain what kind of U.S. host organisation would help you most and why.
- Outline the project you would run at home after the exchange.
How to apply, step by step
- Open the official IREX page using the button at the end of this post.
- Check that your country and age meet the 2027 rules.
- Read the FAQ document on the IREX page.
- Fill in the online application.
- Submit before 18 November 2026, 11:59 PM US Eastern Time.
Questions can go to apply.CEE@irex.org.
Selection process
Selection is merit-based. Strong applicants become semifinalists, and semifinalists without a valid TOEFL score take an English assessment before final selection.
Deadline
18 November 2026, 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time).
The exchange takes place in the United States in 2027.
Have a question?
Drop your question in the comments and we will do our best to help. If you run a community project, tell us what it is, it helps the next reader.
Related reading
- CrossCulture Programme Fellowship 2027 in Germany (Fully Funded)
- Harvard Aspire Leaders Program 2026 (100% Free, Online)
- Acumen UK Fellowship 2027
- Hansen Leadership Institute 2027 in the USA (Fully Funded)
- Yale World Fellows Program 2027 in the USA (Fully Funded Leadership Fellowship)
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