Scholarship Program

The USAID “Scholarships for Education and Economic Development” (SEED) Program is administered by Georgetown University’s Center for Intercultural Education and Development. SEED scholarships provide training to youth and community leaders from economically disadvantaged and historically underserved populations, including women and ethnic/indigenous groups. The scholarships incorporate technical training, leadership skills enhancement, and English as a Second Language (ESL). Participants learn firsthand about the fundamentals of civil society, volunteerism, a free market economy, and democratic participation as practiced in the United States.. Countries currently participating in the program are the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua.

SEED Program activities aim to:

	Build human capital in key sectors to support USAID’s regional economic and social development efforts.
	Create a cadre of change agents and future leaders with an understanding, experience and appreciation of democratic processes and U.S. values, especially free market economics.
	Provide participants with skills/knowledge to actively and responsibly participate in democratic societies.
	Strengthen local capacity in a wide range of technical fields that are critically needed to increase competitiveness and free trade opportunities.
	Support U.S. public diplomacy efforts by creating future leaders who have been immersed in American culture and have an understanding and appreciation for the United States.

Partner Academic Institutions Selected to Host Cycle 2009 SEED Scholars