The Prime Minister’s Global Fellowship Programme (PMGF) is designed to nurture outstanding talent and enterprise among young people. Now in its second year the Fellowship is designed to give young people an introduction to the major new countries of the global economy Brazil, India and China to understand the social, economic and environmental issues posed by rapid global change.
The ‘buzz’ in the reception room on the evening was infectious, during the day the Fellows attended a pre-departure briefing which had given them a taster of what the Fellowship had in store and an opportunity to meet with the Fellows of 2008. I only managed to meet a proportion of Fellows however it was clear that the 100 young people really did represent a multi-cultural Britain. It was evident that the group had been inspired and were enthused as they were eager to talk about their application experience and the trip that awaited them.
Fellows participate in a tailored six week programme which sees them spending two weeks on a cultural learning programme learning about the life and language of their visiting country; two weeks in a school or college teaching English and completing a research project with their host country’s student; and finally spending two weeks with an international company experiencing first hand how the global economy works.
After they return to Britain the Global Fellows are expected to share their experiences and play an active role in encouraging other young people to take in interest in enterprise. All one hundred will meet again in November at a reception with the Prime Minister.
I was pleasantly surprised to hear that the Fellows I’d spoken with had already given some thought about how they planned to share their PMGF experience and had been making contact with local schools and intended to send press releases to local newspapers.
Commenting on the Global Fellowship, Lucy Parker, Chair of the Talent and Enterprise Taskforce said:
“The 100 young people who have been selected have demonstrated outstanding talent and potential. In today’s fast changing world, it is vital that young people in Britain get the chance to understand the global arena they will live and work in. The Fellowship is an innovative programme that gives 18 and 19 year olds from all over England the opportunity to experience close-up, life in the major countries driving the new global economy.”
The programme is funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and managed by the British Council and is supported by major international companies including HSBC, Shell and Virgin.
For further information on the Prime Ministers Global Fellowship visit www.global-fellowship.org