Applicants for the 2012-13 Bird Fellowship will choose from three predetermined project destinations: Bali (Indonesia), Malaysia, or Panama. One person will be chosen as the Fellow for the year. The selection committee has no preference among the three destinations; they will select the person who seems the best candidate and a good fit for the destination the candidate has selected. (Note that only English is required for the projects in Bali and Malaysia, but that those interested in working in Panama must also speak Spanish.)
In completing your application for the fellowship, please specify the destination to which you are applying. See background information on each:
- Bali, working through Conway alum Gove DePuy ’02 on any of a range of projects. (See previous fellowship as an example.)
- Malaysia, working with the Environmental Education Alliance of South East Asia to establish guidelines for local schools and businesses to follow in “greening” (along the lines of permaculture and natural play spaces) their workplaces, specifically, outdoor play and recreational areas.
- Panama, working with the Azuero Earth Project on food supply streams and food security or community planning on the Azuero Peninsula.
1. Eligibility.
This year, applications for the Fellowship will be accepted from anyone who received (or will receive) a diploma from Conway between 2007 and 2012.
2. Stipend.
The David Bird Fellow will receive a $5,000 stipend to help fund transportation, housing, food, and project support (this may include materials and in-country personnel). Some of the funds may be used for making payments on student loans or other expenses the Fellow would be required to make during her/his tenure as the Bird Fellow. The Fellow will receive $3,500 at the start of the Fellowship and $1,500 after completion (i.e., once all the fellowship requirements have been met). Note: the Internal Revenue Service considers scholarship/fellowship funding as taxable.
3. Insurance.
The Fellow must have complete private health insurance to cover her/his travel to and stay in Bali, preferably with medical evacuation. (The U.S. Department of State offers medical information for Americans abroad here. The agency’s travel Web site includes a detailed list of travel health insurance and medical evacuation firms. Supplemental health insurance for travel abroad, including medical evacuation, can run as low as several dollars a day.)
4. Application Fee.
An application fee of $30 is required. Checks made payable to the Conway School must be received by April 15, 2012.
5. Letters of Reference.
Two letters of reference from people who know of your suitability for this project are required and must be submitted by the application date. Ask those writing these letters to go to this website to submit. If your letters of reference are not submitted online by the application due date your application will not be considered. Portfolios are not required and will not be considered by the review committee.
6. Schedule.
- JANUARY, 2012 Program announced
- APRIL 15, 2012 All applications due (online) by midnight. Check for $30 application fee must be received by the Conway School.
- JUNE 1, 2012 Fellowship recipient and an alternate announced
- JUNE 30, 2012 Fellowship presented at the Conway graduation
- 2012-13 Fellow collaborates with project sponsor to determine residence time of 4-6 weeks.
7. Selection committee.
Applications will be reviewed by a group that includes Conway trustees, alums, and others with international experience and/or residence in other countries.
8. Alternate Fellow.
An alternate will be selected (and announced) in case the initial person selected can’t accept the Fellowship.
9. The project work.
The Fellow will select a destination at the time of the application, but can work out the specifics of her/his project with the project host after being selected.
10. Follow-up.
The Fellow must make a public presentation of her/his work at Conway, write and illustrate a summary (2,000-3,000 word) article for Conway’s con’text magazine, conduct a seminar at the school, transfer a web-based collection of high-resolution project photos (e.g., with Google Picasa) to the school, and participate in an exit interview with Conway staff.
11. Online application.
Please let us know in advance if you intend to apply, have questions, or would like updates. Send an email to: BirdFellowship@csld.edu. Click here to fill out the application form online. Completed applications must be submitted online by 11:59 pm on the due date. Application fees must be received by the Conway School by the same date.