Embassy of the United States

Resources

Exchange Programs

The Cultural Section promotes mutual understanding and broadens dialogue between Americans and their institutions, and their Cameroonian counterparts through thematic, educational and cultural exchange programs.

The Fulbright Program enables Cameroonians to obtain advanced degrees and/or conduct research in the United States; at the same time, American scholars are awarded grants to study or conduct research in Cameroon. Annually, an average of ten Cameroonians Fulbrigthers study in United states, with grants averaging from $ 25,000 - 35,000 per person; an average of five American Fulbrigthers come to Cameroon each year.

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program enables mid-level professionals from Cameroon to go to U.S. for a year of academic study and professional internships. Three to five Cameroonians Humphrey Fellows go to the United States annually, with grants averaging $35,000 each.

The International Visitor Program sends Cameroonians to the U.S. for three-to-four week visits to meet and confer with professional counterparts and to experience first hand the United States and its institutions. Each year an average of twelve Cameroonians visit the U.S. through the International Visitor Program, with average grants of $10,000 each.

The Citizen Exchange Program develops international exchange grant projects with American non-profit institutions, including voluntary community organizations, professional associations, and universities. In Cameroon, there are usually two to three long-term programs per year. This year, there is a program with the National Council of State Legislatures, which is providing staff training to the Cameroonian National Assembly and a program with the Mississipi Consortium of Colleges to establish linkages with the University of Dschang.

Other exchange programs such as the Study of the U.S. Program, National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institutes for Secondary and University Educators, and CIVITAS International send Cameroonians on exchange programs to the U.S. and to coonferences in other countries. On average, six Cameroonians grantees visit the U.S. each year for programs ranging in length from one week to two months.

The Educational Advising Center assists Cameroonians who wish to apply to universities in the U.S. for undergraduate and graduate study. The office provides direct counselling to several thousand Cameroonian students annually.

The Artistic Ambassador Program sends gifted young American musicians to perform to Cameroon and to work with Cameroonian musicians and music students. The program generally sends one to two groups to Cameroon annually.

The U.S. Speaker Program sends Americans representing government, business, academia, media and community organizations for short-term speaking programs in Cameroon. Averages of six to eight speakers come to Cameroon each year. Recent topics have included HIV/AID, the press, rule of law, corruption and AGOA.

Thematic programs: The Cultural Section regularly hosts seminars, conferences and roundtables on numerous themes. An average of 50 such programs is hosted every year.

Book Distribution: During Speaker Programs as well as Cultural Affairs section-generated programs, publications and pamphlets of the Bureau of International Information Program are distributed to participants. More than 10.000 booklets, pamphlets, and brochures are distributed annually.

The publications of the State Department's Book Program which provides French translations of American books are also distributed to Cameroon officials and target institutions. Several thousand French-language books are donated annually.