Embassy Sections

Regional English Language Office, Budapest

Travel Grant Guidelines for English Language Fellows

Criteria for selection

1. the applicant must be formally presenting a workshop, paper, demonstration or presenting as a panelist on a colloquium.  The applicant's name must be on the program
2. the conference must be in Central and/or Southeastern Europe (Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria, Serbia-Montenegro, Kosovo, Romania, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania).

Preference will be given to

1. ELFs who are co-presenting with their host country colleagues (representatives from their host institutions)
2. ELFs who have not yet been given a travel grant in 2005.
3. Proposals to conferences where there is little or no American participation
4. Proposals that include cost-sharing and cost-saving initiatives (funds are limited and we want to cut as many grants as possible from these funds)

Restrictions

1. Grants can not exceed $1000, inclusive of transportation, hotel, per diem, registration, etc. (per presenter)
2. Grants requesting more than 3 speakers
3. Grants outside the designated region
4. Grants to events sponsored exclusively by third country-based organizations

Application Process

1. Fill in a speaker application to a conference of interest (most can be found here)
2. Inform the RELO that you have applied to be a speaker at that conference
3. Send in speaker confirmation email (or some other indication that your paper, workshop, etc. has been accepted) to the RELO.
4. Send in a request to the RELO for funding (by email).  Include
   a. Your name and name of co-presenters and their contact information
   b. Name of presentation and format
   c. Name, location and date of conference
   d. Budget request- how much and for what? (transport, hotel, registration, etc.)
   e. Cost sharing/savings effort
5. Once accepted, the RELO will write a grant for you (and perhaps your co-presenter's ) participation in the designated conference.  Funds will be sent to the American Embassy and you will have to go there to sign the grant and pick up the funds.

Reporting Requirement:  Following the conference, the grantee must write a highlight of the program.  A short (1-2 page) report must also be filed summarizing the conference/event, its importance, etc.