Creating Opportunities through Market Development in Sports and Digital Skills

Description

1) Objective

The U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan announces an open competition to implement a youth leadership camp in summer 2026, exclusively targeting FLEX program alternates, highly qualified exchange program applicants not selected as finalists due to limited spaces. The camp will provide up to 50 FLEX alternates with an intensive entrepreneurship and job skills-building experience, focusing on U.S. best practices, American excellence, and leadership development. Themes will include U.S. entrepreneurship case studies, business project design, public speaking in English, and financial literacy. U.S. speakers will be invited as trainers, and FLEX alumni will serve as mentors.

In recognition of Freedom250 – the 2026 commemoration of the United States’ founding – this program will deepen participants’ understanding of American values of innovation, entrepreneurship, and opportunity, equipping them with career skills to champion U.S.-Kazakhstan economic cooperation and partnerships with American businesses as they emerge as future leaders. The most active participants will have the opportunity to implement local entrepreneurship projects after the camp. Proposals that leverage U.S. Department of State resources such as RELO, American Spaces, Makerspaces, and EducationUSA will be given preference. The camp will extend the impact of FLEX to wider audiences in Kazakhstan and develop a new cadre of future leaders to support long-term U.S.-Kazakhstan cooperation.

2) Eligibility

The following organizations are eligible to apply: Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations, Public and private educational institutions, Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions.

3) Location

Actions must take place in Kazakhstan.

4) Budget

Total funding is $80,000. Grants range from $40,000-$80,000.

5) Application

Applications must be submitted by 17 April 2026.