Position for the best USA have to offer. Hang on and Apply For The Fully Funded YLAI USA Leadership Opportunity 2025/2026.
Applications are now being accepted for the Young Leadership Association of the Americas (YLAI) Fellowship Program 2026, which presents a fantastic opportunity for up-and-coming businesspeople and social innovators from Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. This esteemed fellowship, which is fully sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, gives participants access to a strong network of American business and civic leaders, practical professional experience, and individualized mentoring.
YLAI 2026 can be your ticket to the next level of managerial and international influence if you’re a young changemaker looking to expand your business and increase your impact.
Make an application today
Apply For The Fully Funded YLAI USA Leadership Opportunity 2025/2026
Emerging innovators from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada can apply for full funding through the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Internship Program 2026. Through job placements and an extensive leadership course in the US, this program seeks to improve participants’ entrepreneurial endeavors and leadership abilities.Overview of the Program
Employment Placement During a four-week professional placement, YLAI Fellows work with American companies that are related to their industry. Fellows work with their host organizations during this time to create an Entrepreneurial Leadership Action Plan (E-LAP), which they then carry out when they return home. Curriculum for Entrepreneurial Leadership The curriculum was created by Arizona State University and IREX and consists of both in-person and online courses. This program helps fellows identify and accomplish their entrepreneurial goals by fusing technical instruction in entrepreneurship with leadership development. Orientation and Final Discussion To adjust to the program and establish connections with peers and advisors, fellows first attend a welcome meeting in the United States. The program culminates with a forum in Washington, D.C., where fellows interact with government officials, business executives, and other stakeholders from the United States. Engagement After the Fellowship Following the fellowship, recipients continue to work with partners in the United States and have access to networking opportunities, mentorship, and professional development opportunities. Fellows can also host American partners in their native countries as part of the Outbound Exchange Program. Funding Assistance All program-related expenses are paid for by the US government, including:- Support for J-1 visas (notice that families are not supported)
- Domestic travel within the United States as needed, as well as round-trip transportation from the participant’s hometown to the United States
- Mentoring along with access to the YLAI Business Leadership Curriculum
- Attendance at the Closing Forum and Opening Orientation
- Vocational placement with a host firm for four weeks
- Plan for limited accident and illness benefits
- Program-related housing and food stipend
Qualifications
Candidates need to fulfill the following prerequisites:- be between the ages of 25 and 35 on January 1, 2026.
- One must reside in and be a citizen of one of the following participating nations: Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Maarten, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic,
- be qualified to obtain a J-1 visa to the United States
- has a proven track record of expanding their own company for a minimum of two years.
- Not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States
- not work for the US government
- Be able to read, write, and speak English fluently without the use of generative AI
Criteria for Selection
The selection committee assesses candidates according to:- Proven expertise and understanding in entrepreneurship
- dedication to volunteerism, mentoring, or community or volunteer work in their own nation
- Matching the program’s goals with one’s own personal and professional ambitions
- Exhibited initiative, leadership, and tenacity
- Proficiency in written English communication without the use of generative AI
