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IREX: Empowering people to learn, lead, and thrive in a changing world.
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10/11/2026

We’re looking forward to Africa Skills Week 2026 in Harare!

IREX will be exhibiting throughout the week, and George Kogolla, Regional Representative, and Marcel Ricou, Senior Technical Adviser, will be there representing our team. Stop by the IREX exhibit to say hello and learn how we’re working with partners to strengthen skills systems, respond to employer needs, and create more pathways to meaningful work.

Be sure to join Marcel for “Scaling High-Quality African TVET and Linking It to Labor Mobility” on Friday, October 16 at 14:00. This timely session will explore how successful, industry-driven training models can be scaled to build sustainable talent pathways that benefit workers, training institutions, employers, and economies. If you’re interested in the future of skills, TVET, and workforce mobility in Africa, we’d be glad to have you in the room.

October 12–16, 2026
Harare International Conference Centre
Harare, Zimbabwe

Come meet George and Marcel at the IREX exhibit throughout the week—and make plans to attend Marcel’s session on Friday. Bring your organization’s skills, TVET, workforce, or labor-mobility questions. We’d welcome the opportunity to hear about your needs and explore how IREX may be able to help.

Can’t join us in Harare? Reach out to [email protected] to start a conversation with our team.

10/10/2026

📢 Applications are now open for 2027 YLAI City Partners!

YLAI is seeking U.S.-based organizations with strong entrepreneurship, business, and innovation networks to connect entrepreneurs from Latin America and the Caribbean with U.S. businesses, industry leaders, and local professional networks.

Learn more and apply now: https://bit.ly/4zayLa5

Join us for a virtual Q&A on October 15 from 3:30–4:30 PM EST to ask questions and learn more about the 2026–2027 City Partner RFA. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/CA2025QA

Applications are due October 29 at midnight ET. 🌎

10/09/2026

The application for the 2027 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program is NOW OPEN for entrepreneurs from across Latin America and the Caribbean. Learn more and submit your application at ylai.state.gov.

Want to receive notifications about the application directly to your inbox? Sign up for the mailing list: mailchi.mp/irex/ylai-applications

10/08/2026

Apply now: the 2027 Mandela Washington Fellowship application is open. The Fellowship connects young African leaders with peers, professional networks, and American experts. Submit your application today: mwfellows.info/apply.

10/07/2026

Just released: What kind of leadership does a polarized world need now?

In IREX’s latest Global Outlook, President & CEO Aleksander Dardeli reflects on the UNGA moment and the leadership qualities that matter most in a time defined by division, uncertainty, and possibility.

His message is clear: hope is not passive. It is a discipline of action.

Read the full Global Outlook piece: https://bit.ly/4rTF3bF

10/05/2026

On World Teachers’ Day, we celebrate educators everywhere who help people build knowledge, confidence, and the courage to shape their own futures.

Teachers do more than share lessons. They open doors, nurture leadership, strengthen communities, and help learners navigate a changing world. Their dedication reflects a belief at the heart of IREX’s work: When people are empowered to learn, they are better prepared to lead and thrive.

To every teacher—and to the mentors, trainers, and education leaders who support them—thank you for standing with learners and expanding what is possible.

10/04/2026

We were excited to join the Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School & Corporate Work Study Program community for the groundbreaking celebration of its first-ever Athletics Center in Takoma Park, Maryland. Our President & CEO, Aleksander Dardeli, attended the ceremony marking this important milestone in Building the Future: Arts, Athletics, and Beyond.

IREX is proud to continue our partnership with DBCR and support its Corporate Work Study Program, which gives every student the opportunity to work one day a week at a professional organization in the DC area. Students gain hands-on experience while earning nearly 60 percent of the cost of their education.

We are proud to welcome DBCR students to IREX. Their participation reflects why internship and work-based learning programs matter: They help young people build the skills, confidence, and experience to succeed in the world of work.

Congratulations to DBCR on this exciting milestone. We are grateful to partner with an organization creating meaningful pathways for young people in our community—and we remain committed to supporting programs like this one.

10/03/2026

Fellowships create more than a shared experience—they help emerging leaders build practical skills, trusted relationships, and networks that continue to grow long after an exchange ends.

Through the Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) Program, fellows learn alongside U.S. organizations while sharing their own knowledge and perspectives. They return home better equipped to lead, collaborate, and develop locally driven solutions, while host organizations gain insights that strengthen their own work.

We see that lasting value in Youth Advocate Programs’ continued collaboration with CEE fellows on projects supporting young people, families, and communities in Jamaica and Central and Eastern Europe.

Congratulations to Nela Cervenkova, Letesha Whyte, and Unige Katay, and to the YAP colleagues and mentors supporting their work. Their leadership reflects the contributions of CEE fellows and alumni around the world who are using enduring skills to strengthen their communities. Together, these exchanges build durable people-to-people ties, deepen America’s international partnerships, and showcase the innovation, openness, and generosity of communities across the United States.

Read how CEE fellows and Youth Advocate Programs are turning exchange experiences into lasting community impact:
https://theneighborhoodadvocate.org/youth-advocate-programs-awarded-act-grants-to-support-and-expand-global-partnerships/

10/02/2026

Calling entrepreneurs from Latin America and the Caribbean! The application for the 2027 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program will open in one week, on October 9. Want to receive notifications about the application directly in your inbox? Sign up to the mailing list: mailchi.mp/irex/ylai-applications

10/01/2026

Bring global talent to the U.S. in 2027. If your organization is considering hosting an international intern or trainee, early planning matters. IREX can help clarify category fit, program requirements, documentation, and the sponsorship process—while supporting both your team and the exchange visitor.

Start the conversation: irex.org/jvisa

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