It’s graduation season for Kosovo’s Transformational Leadership Program (TLP) scholars, who are returning home after earning Master’s degrees in universities across the United States.On June 16^th, USAID through the Transformational Leadership Program -Citizen Corps program held an orientation to volunteering and a welcome home reception for the 70 outstanding recent graduates of U.S. Master’s degree programs.  Returning graduates will now embark on 400 hours of volunteer or public service, which they’ll complete within two years of their return to Kosovo.  Ambassador Delawie spoke at the welcome home reception, and urged the graduates to use their newfound skills to give back to their communities and their country.  In his remarks, he noted that “TLP isn’t just an investment in your education.  It’s an investment in each one of you as future leaders in Kosovo, leaders who will innovate and be change agents, and build a stronger, more transparent, more prosperous Kosovo.  And that’s really why we sent you on this journey, for the extraordinary potential we saw in each and every one of you.” 

To manage and coordinate the TLP volunteer services, USAID established the four-year TLP-Citizens Corps (TLP-CC) program in May of 2016.  To date, 185 Kosovars have received scholarships for Master’s programs in the U.S. through the scholarships component of the Transformational Leadership Program, and 129 participants have graduated. The graduates are volunteering in the public sector, with private companies (IT services, business consulting, finance/accounting and marketing services) and with NGOs focused on women in business, civic participation, democratization and governance, youth, and education.