Young Pacific Leaders Professional Fellows Program (YPL PFP)

• Prepare a meaningful and intentional workplan for the Fellow during the four-week fellowship, either in-person or virtually. This work should be relevant to the host organization and fellow’s background, while advancing their professional development.
• Provide Cultural Vistas information regarding expectations for the fellowship and needs in order to ensure a mutually beneficial placement for the fellow.
• Pacific Fellows will have a valid J-1 visa and receive a stipend from Cultural Vistas to cover their living expenses during their fellowships.
• Select an employee “placement host” who will guide the Oceania Fellow during their fellowship (either a supervisor or manager who will connect virtually or by phone at least once before the fellowship begins).
• Frequent and substantial engagement with PFP Fellows for the duration of their fellowship; Fellows will work full-time (32-40 hours per week).
• Encourage opportunities for fellow to engage with host organization’s work culture and local community.
• Provide guidance and support for the fellow’s prospective follow-on project that is to be implemented in their home community or organization.

The fellowship is an unpaid professional development opportunity. Fellows will already have a valid J-1 visa and will receive a stipend from Cultural Vistas to cover their living expenses during the fellowship. Host organizations are expected to supply the fellows with the technical support and equipment needed to actively engage with colleagues and successfully complete their workplan.

Cultural Vistas will work directly with each Pacific Fellow cohort to identify fellowship placements. Each fellowship will be tailored to each Pacific Fellow to ensure alignment with their career goals and professional background. Host organizations will not be able to meet/interview Pacific Fellows directly until after placements are confirmed.  Cultural Vistas will arrange these placements on behalf of the participant and coordinate communication with fellows and hosts. As a result, thorough communication of the available roles and expectations for the fellowships will be necessary to ensure a positive placement experience.

Host organizations can be located anywhere in the United States. Eligible organizations can have a physical, virtual, or hybrid work environment, however it is expected that PFP fellows will have frequent and substantial engagement with colleagues at the host organization. Hosts will also be expected to help the fellow become acquainted and involved in local activities/events in the fellowship location.

The 2026 YPL PFP Program Cohort will participate in the U.S-based fellowships between April 24^th – June 2^nd  2026. 

The application for American Fellows will be provided to host organizations following each Cohort round. Please monitor the YPL Professional Fellows Program website or contact PFPOceania@culturalvistas.org if you have any questions about the application requirements or timeline and we can assist.

Host organizations will be responsible for: 

• Assigning an employee to serve as a primary “Placement Host” who will support the Fellow during the fellowship
• Prepare a meaningful and intentional workplan for the Fellow to contribute to during the four-week fellowship, either in-person or virtually. This work should be relevant to the host organization and fellow’s background, while advancing their professional development.
• Coordinate engagement opportunities for the fellow to interact with fellow employees and the local community where they are hosted
• Provide guidance and support for the fellow’s prospective follow-on project
• Physical and virtual technical support (laptops, any other necessary equipment) in order for fellows to complete their assigned tasks/projects and engage with colleagues at the host organization

Should the program pivot to a virtual format, host organizations will be responsible for communicating with the fellow to ensure they are engaged in the program, whether the work is in a virtual or in-person format.

Host organizations are allowed to host for a single cohort or multiple cohorts, as long as there are candidates in each cohort that match the focus and industry of the organization. The fellowships are meant to be individually tailored professional experiences and the Pacific Fellows will have various backgrounds and professional interests that may not be well suited for each organization. If your organization is interested in hosting multiple fellows, please contact our team and we can confirm what opportunities may be available for consecutive fellowships.

Pacific Fellows have diverse backgrounds with career fields ranging from education to information communication technology to conservation policy. Fellows will be paired with host organizations based on their intended follow-on projects and professional goals. Please review the section regarding Eligibility for Pacific Fellows to learn more about the minimum criteria all applicants must meet in order to be selected as a participant in the program.