The Kyrgyz Climate & Circular Economy Fellowship is a seven-month, part-time fellowship designed to train 50 Kyrgyz university students to develop them as climate and circular economy leaders. 10 U.S. university students will join the program as teaching assistants.
The program is sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic. It is implemented by 10 Billion Strong, in partnership with the Unison Group.
Shape a Sustainable Future for Kyrgyzstan!
Program Model & Objectives
The program features a mix of in-person and virtual sessions designed to help participants learn about key environmental challenges in the Kyrgyz Republic and Central Asia and take action to address them through team projects. The program will focus on how circular economy innovations can be used to create impactful solutions that protect the environment and promote economic growth.
The program objectives include:
Objective #1: Train Kyrgyz university students through the Green Leaders Academy on environmental literacy, leadership, and civic engagement.
Objective #2: Enable participants to apply circular economy principles to local environmental challenges, such as waste management and climate adaptation.
Objective #3: Support participants in developing and implementing projects that engage community members, raising awareness about issues like air pollution, water quality, and recycling.
Objective #4: Promote cross-cultural collaboration between U.S. and Kyrgyz students through joint project activities, fostering mutual understanding and knowledge sharing.
Objective #5: Showcase the participants’ projects and community impacts at a public summit, engaging a broader community and encouraging future environmental leadership.
Program Timeline
January: Kick-off event in Bishkek.
January-March: 15 module (approx. 30 hours) online Green Leaders Academy completed at your own pace. Live engagement with U.S. and Kyrgyz students in small groups.
March-April: Circular economy and climate leadership accelerator which features live online training workshops.
April-May: Group projects to advance environmental impact using circular economy skills.
June or July: Wrap-up event and symposium in Bishkek to share program impact.
Program Eligibility
- Current university student in the Kyrgyz Republic (program participant) or U.S. (teaching assistant).
- Ability to communicate in English (Kyrgyz program participants).
- Demonstrated interest in the circular economy and climate change action.
- Demonstrated interest in environmental issues.
- Ability to commit to the program from January until July, 2025.
Program Funders and partners
