The Washington Leadership Program Accepting Applications for 2021 Summer Internship
The Washington Leadership Program (WLP) is accepting applications from South Asian undergraduate college students for the 2021 summer internship program, which will be held from June 12 to August 6, 2021.
The annual leadership development program for young South Asian Americans is dedicated to building the next generation of leaders from within the community. The WLP cultivates the next generation of leaders by placing them in Congressional offices or government agencies for eight-week summer internships and a structured leadership-training curriculum. Students gain a firsthand view of the policy-making and legislative process in the nation’s capital.
Interns receive a $2,000 stipend and participate in professional development workshops, network with South Asian policy leaders, and complete a collaborative capstone project with their cohort in addition to their summer internship.
Interns receive a $2,000 stipend and participate in professional development workshops, network with South Asian policy leaders, and complete a collaborative capstone project with their cohort in addition to their summer internship.
All students regardless of academic focus or professional goals are encouraged to apply. Selection to the WLP is highly competitive but not limited to students pursuing majors in social sciences. The backgrounds of past participants have ranged from pre-med to business and engineering. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.
Applications are available online. The deadline for submitting applications is January 10, 2021 at 11:59pm PT.
WLP will be hosting an information session on January 6 at 6pm ET to answer questions about the program and application process. Those interested can register at thewlp.com/apply-to-wlp. You can also follow WLP on Instagram and Twitter @TheWLP and www.facebook.com/TheWLP for additional insights into the application process.
The program was founded in August 2008 in memory of publisher and philanthropist Gopal Raju, founder of both India Abroad and the Indo-Asian News Service. Raju sponsored a program in 1995 that placed more than 170 students in congressional internships over 15 years.
WLP alumni have interned for notable elected officials, as well as for government agencies like the Department of Labor and Department of Commerce. Alumni have gone on to win scholarships like the Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright, and Truman, as well as acceptances into top-notch medical, law, public policy, and other graduate programs. Several alumni went on to become state elected officials, presidential appointees, and senior advisors to government officials.
For more information, visit WLP’s website.