Get Ready for the Most Challenging Six Months of your LIFE !
(Deadline: November 24, 2006 . For more info click here)

GXP gives young people from the Philippines and the UK a unique opportunity to live and work together, develop and share valuable skills, and make practical contributions to disadvantaged communities in both countries faced with challenging situations.

You can be one of the eighteen (18) young Filipino exchange volunteers of the 2007 Global Xchange Programme. You must be:

18 – 25 years of age (must be born between 01 January 1982 – 01 March 1989)
Male or female
Medically fit to undergo an active 6-month volunteer work
Completed at least high school/secondary education
Willing to do fund-raising
Willing to live with a British counterpart in a modest accommodation in a host family setting within a disadvantaged community in the Philippines and in the UK
Flexible, open-minded and with a genuine commitment to learning
Sensitive to the needs of others and can work within a team
Can commit a minimum of 6 months (consecutive) to do 3 months of volunteer work in the Philippines and 3 months in the UK, and time to attend preparatory training
Send the following requirements to the Global Xchange Programme Secretariat (please refer below for GXP downloadable forms):

Application letter
Accomplished application form
At least one personal reference form
At least one professional reference form
Medical clearance
Duly signed parental consent form
IMPORTANT:

Please indicate the code (Code: GXP-FV) in the subject line of your email or outside the envelope for regular mail.
Personal and professional reference forms should be sent in sealed envelopes.
Personal and professional reference forms and duly signed parental consent form must be sent via regular mail.
Please use the reference cover letter to inform your referee about GXP. Please download the reference cover letter below.
Electronic : gxp.fv@vsoint.org

Regular Mail : VSO Bahaginan
Unit 505 Pacific Corporate Center
131 West Avenue
1105 Quezon City

Deadline for submission of application is on November 24, 2006 . Only applications received on or before the closing date will be screened. Short-listed applicants will be invited to attend the assessment day scheduled in early December. Training and fund-raising events start in January 2007. Exchange proper will commence in March 2007.

Do you have photos of programs in action and the people you serve? Pictures illustrating the realities of urban and rural life in developing countries? Snapshots from your personal travels, volunteer service, or work experience? You may have an award-winning photo and a chance to win cash and/or a Canon digital camera!

Entries accepted August 10th - November 10th, 2006. Download Entry Form

Contest Categories*
Family Planning and Reproductive Health
HIV/AIDS
Environment
Agricultural & Economic Development
Democracy & Governance
Humanitarian Assistance
Global Health (open subject)
Human Interest (open subject)

*Participants may submit one photo per category (8 photos maximum). See sample contest photo subjects.

Who Is Eligible?
Applicants must be resident nationals or residents of an eligible IFP country. In addition, successful candidates will:
* Demonstrate superior achievement in their undergraduate studies and hold a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent.
* Have substantial experience in community service or development-related activities.
* Possess leadership potential evidenced by their employment and academic experience.
* Propose to pursue a post-baccalaureate degree that will directly enhance their leadership capacity in a practical, policy, academic, or artistic discipline or field corresponding to one or more of the Foundation's areas of endeavor.
* Present a plan specifying how they will apply their studies to social problems or issues in their own countries. Commit themselves to working on these issues following the fellowship period. IFP selects Fellows on the strength of their clearly-stated intention to serve their communities and countries of origin, and expects that they will honor this obligation.

The Application Process
All applications must be submitted to the appropriate IFP International Partner listed below in the country or region where the applicant resides. IFP International Partners determine application deadlines and selection schedules in their region or country. Applications are reviewed and final selections decided by panels composed of practitioners and scholars from various fields of work and study. The level and duration of awards are determined as part of the selection process. Ford Foundation staff and their family members may not serve on selection panels and are not eligible to apply for IFP awards. Members of selection committees, staff of the organizations managing the program in the various regions, and their family members are also ineligible for IFP awards.

IFP International Partner Offices:
China - Institute of International Education Beijing Office:
http://www.china-ifp.org/

India - United State Educational Foundation in India (USEFI):
http://www.ifpsa.org/

Indonesia - Indonesian International Education Foundation (IIEF):
www.iief.or.id/ifp/ifp.html

Philippines - Philippines Social Science Council (PSSC):
www.pssc.org.ph/programs/ifp

Thailand - Asian Scholarship Foundation (ASF):
www.asianscholarship.org/ifp/ifp.html

Vietnam - Center for Educational Exchange with Vietnam (CEEVN):
www.acls.org/ceevn/ifpguidelines.htm

Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal - Association of African Universities (AAU):
www.aau.org/ifp

Kenya - Forum of African Women Educationalists:
http://www.ifpeastafrica.org/

Uganda - Association for Advancement of Higher Education and Development(AHEAD): http://www.ifpeastafrica.org/

Tanzania - Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF):
http://www.ifpeastafrica.org/

Mozambique - Africa-America Institute (AAI):
http://www.ifpmoz.co.mz/

South Africa - Africa-America Institute (AAI):
http://www.aaisa.org.za/

Egypt and Palestine - America-Mideast Educational and Training Services (AMIDEAST): www.amideast.org/programs_services/exchange_programs/ifp/default.htm

Chile and Peru - International Fellowships Fund for the Andean Region & Southern Cone:
http://www.programabecas.org/

Brazil - Carlos Chagas Foundation (CCF):
wwww.programabolsa.org.br

Guatemala - Center for Research on the Mesoamerica Region (CIRMA): www.cirma.org.gt/becas.htm

Mexico - Center for Research and Higher Studies in Social Science (CIESAS): www.ciesas.edu.mx/bibdf/ciesas-ford/home.html

Russia - Institute of International Education Russia and Eurasia Office
www.iie.ru/IFP

ANNOUNCEMENT: Call for Photo Works for the Visions of Peace Photo Gallery

September is National Peace Consciousness month and the United Nations
celebrates September 21 as the International Day of Peace.

In pursuance of promoting public consciousness on peace possibilities
in the country, the Government of the Republic of the Philippines-
Monitoring Committee (GRP-MC) is coming up with a peace photo gallery,
which will be launched within September/October 2006.

GP-MC is inviting students, professionals, photography enthusiasts and
others to submit photo works exploring themes related to peace.

Works can explore answers to questions such as:

How do we achieve peace in the Philippines?
What is your vision of peace?
Where or with what does peace start?
What will make peace possible in the Philippines?

Photos may vary in size from 4 x 5 to 15 x 17 inches, in black and
white or colored.

Persons whose works have been selected for exhibition in the GRP-MC
peace photo gallery will receive Php 2,000 to 5,000 cash plus
certificate. Those whose works have not been selected will receive a
special prize token and certificate.

PLEASE SUBMIT EARLY.

With your submission, attach a piece of paper that indicates
Your Name
Age
Address
School or Organization (if any)
Contact Numbers (landline, mobile phone, fax, etc.)
The date and place you took the photo
A short description of what the photo wants to tell

Send photos to
Photo Contest
GRP-MC Secretariat
6TH Floor Immaculate Conception Multi-Purpose Building
41 Lantana Street, Cubao 1111
Quezon City, Philippines

Submissions will be accepted until 21 September 2006.

For inquiries, email < jmcgrp.comm@yahoo.com> or < info@grpmc-jmc.org>,
or call (63-2) 725-4621.

The BP Conservation Programme is offering Future Conservationist Awards of up to $12,500 to high potential teams who aim to develop their skills through practical conservation projects. These awards are highly competitive and winners are selected from amongst the highest quality applications. There will be $250,000 worth of funding available for the Future Conservationist Award winning projects in 2006.

Additional funding is also available to previous BPCP award winners through Conservation Follow-up and Conservation Leadership Awards (Conservation Follow-up and Conservation Leadership Awards ).

A representative from each winning team will be invited to an international training event organised by the BPCP to share ideas and develop their skills, knowledge and contacts. Training for the whole team will also be offered locally in relevant and specific technical skills. Additionally, winning teams are able to access expertise from within each of the five partner organisations and past winners. Programme staff are also available to help with the implementation of projects, including guidance required during the planning and team training stages.

The Deadline for 2007 Future Conservationist Awards is 24th November 2006 . Decisions will be made in February 2007.

Criteria
Successful applicants will:
1.) Develop the knowledge, skills and abilities of team members;
2.) Implement a focused, high-priority conservation project combining research and action; 3
.) Contribute to the long-term success of local conservation efforts; and
4.) Contribute to the education and awareness of local stakeholders.

Applications will be accepted from teams initiating projects that meet the eligibility criteria outlined below. These criteria are designed to ensure that projects build the skills of all team members involved, contribute to long-term sustainable conservation achievements, have clear focused research objectives and build vital links between local communities, conservationists, NGO and academic institutions and local governments. Applications are evaluated by BPCP staff and partners, and experts from other external organizations.

Are you Eligible?
To be eligible for a Future Conservationist Award, the proposed project must meet each of the criteria outlined below:

• The project must be at least three months, but no more than one year in length.
• The project must take place in one of the following countries: Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Egypt, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Libya, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Russia, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey or Venezuela.
• The project must address a recognized global biodiversity conservation priority at the species or site level.*
• The project must offer educational benefits to local stakeholders.
• The project must have a minimum of three people on the team.
• The project must be led by a student national of the country where the project takes place. (Co-leadership is acceptable where appropriate; contact the Programme to discuss.)
• 50% or more of the team members must be students.
• 50% or more of the team members must be from the project area.
• The award must cover 50% or more of the project's total budget.
• The project DOES NOT specifically fulfil the requirements for a PhD thesis or master's dissertation.
• The award DOES NOT cover salaries, conference attendance, tuition fees or scholarships for team members.
• The project DOES NOT involve laboratory analyses, gene storage or captive breeding.
• The project is NOT a high school level expedition.
• The project is NOT a pre-organised, pre-existing project organised by an established organisation.
• NONE of the team members are employed by the BirdLife International Secretariat, Conservation International, Fauna & Flora International, the Wildlife Conservation Society or BP.

More information: http://conservation.bp.com/applications/fcawards.asp