Lantos/HIA Congressional Fellowship
2011 Application Deadline: September 3, 2010
2011 Program Dates: January 17 – May 20, 2011
Humanity in Action is pleased to invite HIA Fellows and Senior Fellows from the United States and Europe to apply for the 2011 Lantos/HIA Congressional Fellowship in Washington DC.
Each year, Humanity in Action brings together a small group of outstanding students and young professionals from around the world for four-month professional fellowships at the United States Congress.
The Lantos/HIA Congressional Fellows also participate in a weekly seminar series to learn about American political, social, legal, economic, educational, religious, and cultural issues.
Participants are alumni of HIA’s summer fellowship programs for the study of human and minority rights or are students at Hungarian and Israeli universities. Participants are selected through a competitive application process.
The Lantos/HIA Congressional Fellowship is a partnership of Humanity in Action and the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice. The 2011 program runs from January 17 through May 20.
About the Fellowship
The program is named in memory of the late Tom Lantos, former Congressman, Holocaust survivor and human rights champion, and in honor of his wife Annette.
The program resulted from a plan developed with the former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, Richard Swett, to strengthen the ties among emerging European and American human rights leaders and to provide European university students with an inside perspective on the workings of Congress, the American government and society, political parties, minority issues, economic and social developments, and human rights issues.
Since the fellowship's founding in 2001, over 80 outstanding young leaders have been privileged to participate as Lantos/HIA Congressional Fellows. Alumni of this program are now serving in leadership roles in European foreign ministries, prominent NGOs, and civil services. Former Lantos Fellows have also begun their own political careers, with Lantos Fellows recently winning election to City Councils in Amsterdam and Copenhagen, as well as in the European Parliament.
This program is sponsored by the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, under the leadership of Dr. Katrina Swett, and organized in partnership by Humanity in Action and the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice.
Who can apply?
HIA Fellows and Senior Fellows from the United States and Europe are eligible to apply for participation in this program. However, if you are not a US citizen, do not have a US passport or do not currently have a visa that will allow to you to be in the US for the duration of this program, you are only able to apply if you are a current student or recent graduate (if you graduated before January 2010, you are not eligible for the 2011 program). HIA is only authorized to issue J-1 intern visas. Please click here for more information on the J-1 intern visa. Applicants also must have completed their HIA Action Project or demonstrated progress in the planning stages of their project idea.
Application Deadline
Applications for the 2011 program must be received by September 3, 2010, to be considered.
Congressional Partners
The Lantos/HIA Congressional Fellowship is made possible by the outstanding support of our partners in the U.S. Congress.
In 2010, Lantos Fellows worked in the following offices:
• Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18)
• Rep. Donald Manzullo (IL-16)
• Rep. Anthony Weiner (NY-9)
• Rep. Shelley Berkley (NV-1)
• Rep. Tom Perriello (VA-5)
• Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (NM- 3)
• Rep. Donald Payne (NJ-10)
• Rep. Dennis Kucinich (OH-10)
Contact Information
For general inquiries, please contact internships [at] humanityinaction.org.
For media inquiries, please contact Philip Ugelow at p.ugelow [at] humanityinaction.org or at (212) 828-6874, extension 4.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a stipend or scholarship for this program?
Yes. Thanks to the generous support of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, we will provide a scholarship of $2,000 to participating HIA Fellows and Senior Fellows.
Can HIA provide any assistance if I am applying for additional funding?
Yes. HIA is always delighted to write a letter of endorsement supporting your funding requests. Additionally, you may wish to consult our archive of international scholarship opportunities, which is developed and maintained by Senior Fellow volunteers.
What is a reasonable budget for living in Washington, DC?
Based on feedback from past Fellows, we estimate monthly expenses to be about $1,500 a month. These costs can cover modest expenses for: housing, food, transportation within Washington, phone, and social life. Please note that HIA will not be able to provide additional funding for the cost of your airfare to Washington, DC.
I am a Hungarian or Israeli national, but I am not an HIA Fellow or Senior Fellow. Can I apply for this program?
Yes. Please check back at this page for a link to an application form specifically for Hungarian and Israeli applicants.
Can I also apply to the Pat Cox/HIA Fellowship? Am I at a disadvantage if I apply for both opportunities?
Yes, you can apply to the Pat Cox/HIA Fellowship in the European Parliament. We encourage you to apply for all opportunities within HIA. And no, you are not at a disadvantage if you apply to both programs. Just list your preference between the two fellowships in the form above, and we will try to honor your preference if you are selected for both programs.
I'm not a U.S. citizen. How do I obtain a visa?
HIA is authorized to issue the paperwork required to obtain a J-1 intern visa from the U.S. consulate in your home country. You must be a current student or recent graduate (within one year) in order to qualify for this visa. You will need proof that you have medical insurance while in the United States and sufficient funding to cover your expenses. Please click here for more information on the J-1 intern visa.
If I am accepted, at what point will I learn where I am placed?
Placement assignments are often not available until shortly before the program begins. If you are accepted into this program, you must commit to the fellowship without knowing which specific office will be hosting you.
Will HIA help me find housing in Washington?
No, HIA does not have the capacity to find housing for participants. However, there is a large network of HIA Senior Fellows in Washington that may be able to assist you. Former Lantos/HIA Congressional Fellows are also usually very helpful with advice and their contacts.
Who do I contact for more information?
For further questions, please contact Pamela Rykowski at p.rykowski@humanityinaction.org.