FAQs
How strict are the age limitations?
We can be flexible about the age limit, if there are not enough suitable applicants for an internship. In this case applicants can be at most two years older or younger than the age limit. The age-limit concerns the date of the application not the date of the possible departure.
Can I also apply if I have already graduated? Can I also apply, if I am still doing vocational training? Can unemployed people apply?
These conditions vary according member organisation. Please, check it at their respective website or ask the GLEN national co-ordinator (member organisations)!
Can I also apply if my profession or field of study is not listed in the description of the internship?
The listed fields of study and occupations are to be considered as a guideline. It is of importance that you have the knowledge and skills required for working at the internship placement. If your profession/field of study is not listed in the description, please, describe shortly how you have acquired the skills necessary for the internship.
Which level of language skills is required?
English and French are the main languages of communication within GLEN. English or French, depending on the country of the internship that you will take part it, is therefore a precondition that cannot be compromised. During the internship in the Global South you will have to be able to communicate in a working environment either in English or French or in another language specified in the internship description. Please, ask yourself if your language skills are sufficient. They are crucial for the success of your internship in the Global South.
In case you don’t have the required language skills at the date of your application please describe shortly how you are planning to acquire these skills until your possible departure.
In which language do I have to apply?
Your whole application should be filled out in English when applying for internships in Asia, South-East Europe and English or Portuguese-speaking Africa. For applications for internships in French speaking Africa the language is French. A committee of representatives from the partner organisations selects the GLEN participants. The working language during the seminars will be English (for the internships in French-speaking Africa – French).
How should I submit the application?
The procedure varies according to the member organisation which you are applying to. Please, check on their respective websites (member organisations).
If I am not from one of the 10 GLEN countries, is there a possibility for me to apply?
Unfortunately not, unless you are permanently living in one of these 10 countries. An exception is Switzerland. The Swiss Development Agency DEZA supports the participation of young Swiss people in GLEN as participants of the German sending organisation ASA Program. So actually there are 11 GLEN countries.
Is it possible to miss a training & preparation seminar?
The seminars are a crucial part of the training cycle. Missing part of a training and preparation seminar is not possible. When applying, please make sure that you can participate fully in all of the seminars and other parts of the Cycle. Missing out on any of them might result in the cancellation of your participation in the rest of the Cycle.
When is the internship in the Global South taking place?
The time frame for the internship is between July and October 2011. In many cases the time frame is limited by the host organisation (see internship description). If there are no other statements in the description of the internship, the participants and the host organisation will agree on a date together. The participants of one internship should plan to make their internship at the same time.
Can I get the contact details of the organisation in the host country beforehand?
The addresses of the host organisations will only be given to the accepted participants because the internships are possible only after an intensive preparation during the seminars.
Do I have to pay for GLEN?
The participants will receive a scholarship partly covering the travel to the host countries and the living expenses during 3 months in the Global South. The support for the travel costs to the host country will be a fixed amount equivalent to a cheap (early booked) ticket. The scholarship varies between ca. 750 € and 1200 € for the whole period of 3 months. The respective scholarships are calculated according to the average living expenses in the respective host country. This amount of money covers the main expenses when living on a low but decent level of living standard. It depends on each participant’s initiative (purchasing cheap tickets) and choices (standard of living in the Global South) whether and how much personal resources must be added. (For participants from France different conditions may apply – please get in touch with the GLEN member organisations in your home country.)
The costs of the training & preparation seminars are covered by GLEN. The travel costs for the seminars have to be paid ahead by participants, but will be partly refunded. Nevertheless the exact procedures vary according to donors and home countries of the participants.
Some GLEN member organisations may charge their GLEN participants a small fee for administrative costs. Information about this is provided together with the application criteria of each GLEN member organisation.
