The WI Program is a leadership development program founded in 1995 that is based in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Great Britain. It involves 30 third-level students who participate in a six-month program with leadership curriculum, 30 hours of public service projects in both Washington D.C. and their home country, and an eight-week professional internship in areas like government, business, and media. The program aims to develop students' leadership skills through service, collaboration, and engagement with social and political issues.

2. Who Are We?
• Founded in 1995
• Roots in Northern Peace Process
• Leadership Development and Service
• 30 Third-Level Students*

3. e l i g i b i l i t y
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Availability for all Program Events:
• Orientation Weekend
• Summer Dates
• Re-Entry and Graduation Program
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Are you a full-time university student or a student of higher education, at a school
that is based in Ireland, Northern Ireland or Great Britain?
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Are you over 18 as of June 1st 2014?
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Do you have a valid passport or can you obtain a valid passport?
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Do you meet the US J1 Visa requirements?

4. Key Elements
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Leadership through Service – the six month Program.
Leadership Curriculum
Professional Internships – the eight-week Program.
New Opportunities.
Host Families.

5. Leadership through Service
• 30 hours Public Service Project
• Example – local education projects, community
initiatives, advocacy groups
• Public Service in D.C.
• Example – Life Pieces to Masterpieces (education
project), Homeless Services
• Public Service Project
• 2013 WIP Academy
Key Elements

6. • Dealing with
difference
• Offering
compelling
vision for
future
• Critically
engaging
with social
issues and
potential
solutions
• Developing
Action Plan
for engaging
in community
Connecting
• Learning to
manage
Adaptive
Change
• Building
understandin
g of history
and politics
of Ireland, NI
& US
• Improving
effective, aut
hentic
communicati
on
• Finding
common
ground
• Building
professional
relationships
Collaborating
• Identifying
values and
personal
mission
• Recognizin
g adaptive
challenges
Civic Engagement
• Developing
reflective
practices
and selfawareness
Adaptive Change
Personal Transformation
Leadership Curriculum
• Understandin
g others
perspectives,
needs and
interests
• Improving
skills and
learning
processes for
working
together
• Modeling
effective
collaboration

7. Leadership Curriculum
• Personal Development Plans
• Each student works with their Management Team
Mentor to outline the areas they need to develop.
• Friday Leadership Days
• Leaders from Business, Politics, Media and Civil
Society are interviewed by students on how they
have developed as leaders
• WI Papers
• Students debate policy issues and present their ideas
to policy makers in Ireland & Northern Ireland

10. Internships
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Key Elements
Senate and Congressional offices on Capitol Hill.
Law - Library of Congress, State Attorney’s Office
Business – SmartBrief, NYSE, Intuit
Government departments – Department of Education,
Environmental Protection Agency.
Northern Ireland Bureau, Irish Embassy
Unions – AFL-CIO, Bricklayers, LiUNA
Finance - World Bank
Media – RTE, Slate.com, The Hill

11. New
Opportunities
Key Elements

16. Who Are We Looking For?
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Demonstrated a commitment to leadership.
Commitment to service.
Experience of working collaboratively in a team.
Respect for diversity
Passionate about the future and its possibilities.
Dedication to personal and professional excellence.
Goal and results driven.
Interested in cross-border dialogue.

17. Application Process
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www.wiprogram.org
Application form
Closing date: 1st December 2013
Notification of Interviews: January 2014
Interview: Late January 2014
Orientation Weekend: April 2014
Summer Dates: June – early August 2014
Re-Entry and Graduation Program: Late August 2014
Costs involved (STG£600 or Euro equivalent which includes
flights, visa, admin costs, and travel insurance)