About Membership

Keen interest and involvement in international affairs, diversity, and commitment to our fellowship and educational programs are the key objectives sought by the Institute of Current World Affairs in members. Candidates must be nominated for membership by a current Institute member.

We encourage members to attend events and annual meetings, and to participate in a sustained conversation on global issues and international affairs with the broader ICWA family. We expect members to care about, become involved in and support our activities, the core of which is the fellowship program. The fellowships provide unique opportunities to young internationalists to acquire deep knowledge of foreign countries and cultures. Members only receive the monthly newsletters produced by our fellows around the world. Members are encouraged to recommend promising fellowship candidates, to suggest areas of interest for future fellowship topics, and also to communicate directly with fellows in the field. At the same time, members must respect the educational character of our program and understand that newsletters are not intended for general publication during the time of a fellowship. We welcome our members’ financial contributions, which have provided critical support for the fellowships over the years. To learn more about our program, please visit our website at www.icwa.org

Members will be assessed a $40 annual fee to help defray the cost of managing membership programs.

Membership process

  • Candidates for membership must be nominated in writing by a current ICWA member.
  • Membership invitation material is sent to the candidate and confirmation to the nominator.
  • Candidates must return a letter of acceptance, a résumé, and a completed nominee information form.

Recommendations

Members should write in support of candidates whom they believe will be active and contributing members of the ICWA family.

Nominating Letters

Letters nominating a candidate for consideration by the Membership Committee should be no more than 100 words in length. Please address the following criteria, which is central to the committee’s consideration of membership candidates:

  • Areas of expertise
  • Experience, interest, and current involvement in international affairs or in other areas affecting international affairs
  • Potential contributions to the Institute’s work
  • Desire and ability to participate in ICWA activities

Response

Applicants will hear from the Membership Committee, generally within one month.

 

From the Archive


High from inhaling glue fumes, Toni, 15, screams and spreads his arms in the rain in Coelhos, 1999

"Their lives play out on the sidewalks. There’s Josenildo, 16, tall, skinny, on glue and in the streets because his family refuses to tolerate his homosexuality. His buddy Murilo, also 16 but a foot smaller than Josenildo, spends nights in his grandfather’s house and his days with glue-addicted friends. His skin has the telltale ashen look of glue addiction. I have gotten to know Murilo’s younger brother, Tota, 14; Abrahao, 10; Clevsom, 10; Careca, 14; Toni, 15; Disha, 13; and the other street children of Coelhos.” [read newsletter]


—Tyrone Turner

Brazil

ICWA Fellow (1998-2000)