2010 Emerging Young Professionals

Frequently Asked Questions

The EYP program aims to teach participants the skills necessary to identify business opportunities and assess the business climate in other countries, to write business plans and calculate risks, and to manage new businesses in order to maximize the likelihood of success.  The three-week program will be hosted by the Rotary Club of Peja, Kosovo and its environs, and will include homestays and a substantive program of workshops, site visits, job shadowing, and cultural, social, and community activities.  Members of the Kosovar delegation to the U.S. will participate in many of these activities. The U.S. State Department is sponsoring this program, and American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS is administering the program.

Fast Facts on Kosovo

Nationality:	Adjective--Kosovo national, Kosovar
Population (July 2009 est.):	1.8 million
Ethnic groups:	88% ethnic Albanians, 7% ethnic Serbs, 5% other (Bosniaks, Gorani, Roma, Ashkali, Egyptians, Turks).
Religion:	The majority ethnic Albanian population, as well as the Bosniak, Gorani, and Turkish communities, and some of the Roma/Ashkalia/Egyptian communities are adherents of Islam. The ethnic Serb population is largely Serb Orthodox. Approximately 3% of ethnic Albanians are Roman Catholic
Languages:	Albanian (official), Serbian (official), Roma, Turkish (official only in municipality of Prizren), Bosniak, English
(from http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/100931.htm)

 

What are the dates of the program?

Kosovar Group:
Travel to Washington, DC: May 14, 2010
Arrival Workshop in DC: May 14-16, 2010
Program in Chicago: May 16-June 7, 2010

Chicago Group:
Pre-Departure Orientation in Washington, and travel to Kosovo: Friday, September 17
Arrival Workshop in Prishtina: September 18-20
Travel to Peja: Monday, September 20
Program in Peja: September 21-October 8

What are my responsibilities if I accept this scholarship and go on the program?

As an EYP Fellow, you will be expected to take part in all program activities before and during the trip itself. Pre-departure activities will include online activities with your Kosovar counterparts in the approximately two months before they arrive in the U.S. It will also include the pre-departure orientation in Washington, DC. After the trip has ended, there will be alumni networking activities available in which you could take part.

Where will the program take place?

The U.S.-based portion of the program will take place in the Chicago metro area. Kosovar participants will be placed in homestays in these areas. All program activities, aside from the arrival workshop, will take place in or around the Chicago area. These activities will be hosted by Rotary Club of Winnetka.

The Kosovo-based portion of the exchange will take place mainly in Peja. The arrival workshop will be held in Prishtina, and most of the workshops, visits, and job shadowing will take place in Peja, though there may be some visits to Prishtina and other cities in Kosovo. The activities will be hosted by Rotary Club of Peja.

Can I get a form of documentation for my employer that indicates that I am going on the program?

Yes. If needed, we can provide a letter from the U.S. Department of State indicating that you are participating in the EYP program. Please contact Sarah Osboe (sosboe@americancouncils.org) if you need this.

What are the costs for the program?

All on-program costs are covered by the EYP program, funded by the U.S. Department of State. This includes domestic travel to Washington, DC, pre-departure orientation, international travel, and travel within Kosovo. While in Kosovo, your food, transportation, and other costs associated with program activities will be taken care of. You will be responsible for any spending money that you would like to have while in Kosovo.

What activities will take place during the program?

During the program itself, participants will take part in workshops focusing on the development of specific business skills, learn about creating business partnerships in developing countries/markets, job shadow Kosovar businesspeople, work on group projects, visit noteworthy places of business and government offices, as well as participate in sightseeing, cultural activities, and homestays. In Chicago, the Kosovar group will visit businesses and public entities in downtown Chicago and the surrounding area, and will also travel to other parts of Illinois to visit multinational company facilities and the state government in the city of Springfield.

Is any preparation required for participation in this program?

If selected as a participant for this program, you would be involved in some activities while the Kosovar group is in Chicago. This would include participating in online pre-program activities in the spring of 2010, and attending some workshops and events while the Kosovars are visiting in May 2010. There would also be some online exchange activities during the time between the Kosovars’ and the Chicagoans’ respective travels.

What will the program follow-up look like?

One of the goals of the program is to create lasting networks and partnerships. To that end, there will be some alumni activities post-program, and the EYP website will facilitate online communication. There may be some alumni grant money available for small projects.

Is Kosovo safe?

Kosovo is a safe country in which to travel. As a program participant, you will be taken care of by program staff, your host family, and program facilitators. Expatriates in Kosovo note that they feel very safe. As with any other country in which you travel, you should exercise due caution and sensibility. However, safety concerns should not prevent you from participating in the program.

If I get sick, what will happen?

American Councils has organizational policies in place in the case that a program participant becomes ill or is injured during the program. You will be covered by the U.S. State Department’s travel insurance at all time while on program. This includes evacuation in the case of medical emergency. For more minor medical issues, there are many good doctors in Kosovo that can provide medical care.

What type of money is used, and what access is available for me?

Euros are the currency of Kosovo. ATM’s are available in many spots throughout the country, which you can use to withdraw money from your U.S. bank. The State Department notes that, “Western Union has offices throughout Kosovo.  While credit cards are accepted in larger stores and in some restaurants, cash in local currency is advised for purchases in small establishments.”

What kind of communication with home can I expect?

Mobile phones are everywhere in Kosovo, and Internet access is widespread, so you will be able to communicate relatively easily with your loved ones in the U.S. You can purchase phone cards online to use from a landline or cell phone in Kosovo, or you can also purchase SIM cards to put in your cell phone (if it is compatible). If you are selected for the program, American Councils program staff in Prishtina will assist you in getting information about your mobile phone options.

What language is spoken in Kosovo?

Albanian and Serbian are the most widely-spoken languages in Kosovo. Most young adults in Kosovo have great facility with English, and at almost any time, you will have someone near you who speaks adequate English. Most stores and restaurants have at least one employee who is conversant in English. All program activities will take place in English.

Do I have to learn Albanian or Serbian?

Learning Albanian or Serbian is not required, although you are certainly welcome to do so.

 

Download a PDF brochure with program details