Princeton in Africa

National deadline:  November 18, 2012, 11:59 EST - receipt of all application materials

Eligibility requirements: 
•    Graduating seniors, young alumni
•    U.S. citizens and international students

Award summary and conditions:  Princeton in Africa (PiAf) is a nonprofit organization that offers yearlong fellowship opportunities with a variety of organizations working across the African continent. PiAf Fellows work in service-oriented positions in many different fields, including humanitarian aid, public health, conservation, education and social enterprise. Since its launch in 1999, PiAf has placed nearly 300 Fellows in 34 countries around the continent. Graduating seniors and young alumni from any nonprofit U.S. college or university are eligible to apply. Princeton in Africa develops young leaders committed to Africa’s advancement. Depending on the organizations where they are placed, Fellows will begin work between June and September 2013 and will complete their fellowships between June and September 2014.  The Princeton in Africa experience is an investment on the part of each fellow, each partner organization, and PiAf. Fellows should expect to cover:

• Round-trip air travel to/from their post.
• Some pre-departure medical expenses. (While a Fellow should be able to cover many of the medical costs associated with immunization and malaria prevention directly from the stipend received from PiAf/partner organization, as everyone’s health needs are different, there may be some instances where a fellow will need to pay some expenses out of pocket.)
• Sundries and recreational travel.

Note: PiAf is committed to ensuring that all applicants are able to participate in the fellowship program without regard to need. Students with demonstrated financial need should speak directly with PiAf. We will work with applicants to ensure that financial considerations do not prevent any applicant selected for a fellowship from participating.

PiAf and partner organization cover:
•    On-the-ground expenses including housing and living stipend.
•    Group medical and evacuation insurance.
•    Pre-departure orientation for all Fellows.

Application process:  online submission of all application materials and hard copy official transcript (mailed in a sealed envelope), unless the school has a system for submitting electronic copies of official transcripts.

Application rerquirements:
•  Completed online application form
•  Resume/CV
•  An uploaded color photo in .PDF format and the file size limit for uploads to the application form is 256KB.photo
•  One letter of reference from a professor, employer, or former employer who knows you well. (If the person writing your letter of recommendation provides you with a recommendation letter for your Princeton in Africa fellowship application, you may upload it to the form.  If your recommender prefers to email the letter directly to PiAf, s/he may email it to piafapp@princeton.edu.)
•  Current transcript from each undergraduate/graduate university attended.*
•  Application fee of $50. Please make checks payable to "Princeton in Africa."
*Note:  An official, sealed transcript may be mailed to the following address:  

Princeton in Africa—Application
194 Nassau Street, Suite 219
Princeton, NJ 08542

Mailed materials need to arrive to the PiAf office by Saturday, November 17, 2012.

Faculty Representative:  Keith Raether

Selection process:  Princeton in Africa expects to offer approximately 40-50 fellowships in about 15 countries next year. You may indicate preferences for region, country, and/or position type on your application form. But please note that a certain degree of flexibility may enhance the likelihood of your placement—and Princeton in Africa cannot guarantee that a candidate’s top choices will be met.

Applicants invited for an interview must be available for one of the sessions held in January 2013. Interview will be scheduled in December.

Candidates who receive a fellowship placement must attend PiAf's pre-departure orientation program held in mid-May on Princeton's campus.

Announcement dates:
March-April 2013: Applicants notified of status
May 2013: Placements finalized
Mid-May 2013: Orientation
June-September 2013: Fellowships begin

Contact information:  http://www.princetoninafrica.org/about