USAID Offers U.S. Study Tour for Waste Management and Recycling Professionals

July 31, 2009

Former participants from Serbia on Community Connections trip to the United States

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is offering a three week study tour to the United States for professionals in the field of Waste Management and Recycling. Through this "Community Connections" program, Serbian professionals will stay with American families and meet with their U.S. counterparts to learn all about the economic benefits that recycling can bring to communities and how waste management companies incorporate recycling into their business models. On the study tour "Waste Management and Recycling: Practical Aspects and Social Activism," Serbian professionals will also learn about the importance of creating public-private partnerships in the sphere of waste management and recycling.

Participants will be exposed to new ways to approach the business community to become their partners in tackling environmental problems. They will also have a chance to learn about local neighborhood initiatives, supermarkets and other sites where recycling happens; recycling facilities, NGOs and other organizations and institutions that are involving in raising environmental awareness including media campaigns; municipal authorities that deal with this issue; and alternative products created from recycled materials.

All expenses in the United States, including international airfare, insurance, professional and cultural programs and room and board are covered (passport fees and travel within Serbia are not included).

The Community Connections program is managed by USAID and implemented by World Learning in collaboration with the Public Affairs Department of the U.S. Embassy. The "Waste Management and Recycling: Practical Aspects and Social Activism" study tour is one of many Community Connections programs designed to promote the exchange of cultural ideas and values between participants, U.S. families, and U.S. local community host organizations .

The deadline for submitting applications is August 24th, 2009.

In order to be eligible for this Community Connections Program, applicants must be employed as a local, municipal, or national government official involved in waste management and recycling activities and policy formulation; employed at a recycling business and/or association that is at least 51% Serbian owned; be an active member of an NGO engaged in environmental awareness and practices dealing with promoting better waste management and recycling; or a journalist with significant and demonstrated positive involvement in developing environmental awareness and practice, and fulfill the general requirements of the program.