Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

CITIZEN EXCHANGES –
YOUTH PROGRAMS DIVISION
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Youth Leadership Programs

Youth Leadership participants brainstorm about leadership qualities.

Youth Leadership Programs foster greater understanding and respect between the youth of the United States and other countries and also help to develop a sense of civic responsibility among teenagers and young adults. All projects include activities related to civic education, leadership development, and community service. They also address specific themes, ranging from conflict resolution to media literacy and student government.

All Youth Leadership Programs include a competitive participant selection process and comprehensive orientations leading into the exchange. During the exchanges, students and educators participate in:

Participants engage in a learning session via a video conference.

Youth Leadership participants enjoy a cultural visit.

Upon their return home, alumni implement projects that promote the themestheyexplored during the overseas program.

The Youth Programs Divisions is currently sponsoring the participation of approximately 550 international and American high school students and teachers in exchanges under the Youth Leadership Programs umbrella.

The following is a list of current Youth Leadership Programs. The Youth Programs Division issues Request for Grant Proposals (RFGPs), which are published in the Federal Register. Grants are awarded via a competitive solicitation process, which maximizes the quality of the proposals received, ensures cost-effectiveness in program implementation, engages new players in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' programs, and ensures fair and equitable dealings with non governmental institutions and constituents.

Date of Exchange: Summer 2008
Number of Participants: 32
Contact: Matthew O'Rourke (orourkemm@state.gov)

Administering Organization: Magee-Women's Research Institute and Foundation
Website: http://www.mwrif.org/
Date of Exchange: January-February 2008
Number of Participants: 14
Contact: Carolyn Lantz (lantzcs@state.gov)

Administering Organization: Magee-Womens Research Institute and Foundation
Website: http://www.mwrif.org/
Date of Exchange: January-February 2008
Number of Participants: 14
Contact: Carolyn Lantz (lantzcs@state.gov))

Teenagers and educators from Turkey, Germany, and the United States will explore diversity in their societies and learn how citizens in a democracy both express and respect individual beliefs.
Administering Organization: World Learning
Website: http://www.worldlearning.org
Date of Exchange: July-August 2008
Number of Participants: 44
Contact: Carolyn Lantz (lantzcs@state.gov)

Administering Organization: Washington State University
Website: http://www.ip.wsu.edu/ird/
Date of Exchange: March-April 2008
Number of Participants: 12
Contact: Carolyn Lantz (llantzcs@state.gov)

Administering Organization: Legacy International
Website: http://www.legacyintl.org/programs/indonesia_YLP08.html
Date of Exchange: July 2008
Number of Participants: 20
Contact: Amy Schulz (schulzaj@state.gov)

The Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program provides multiple groups of Iraqi high school students with intensive U.S.-based four-week programs.
Administering Organizations: AMIDEAST, Relief International, and World Learning
Websites: http://amideast.org/offices/iraq/programs_services/iylep.htm
http://ri.org/country.php?cid=6
http://www.worldlearning.org
Date of Exchanges: July-August 2007, Summer 2008
Number of Participants: 159
Contact: Astrida Levensteins (levensteinsai@state.gov)

Administering Organization: Critical Mass Leadership Education
Website: www.cyber-reality.com/boldleaders/aboutus.aspx
Date of Exchanges: November-December 2007
Number of Participants: 21
Contact: Carolyn Lantz (lantzcs@state.gov)

Administering Organization: Mississippi Consortium for International Development (MCID)
Website: http://www.mcid.us
Date of Exchange: January-February 2008
Number of Participants: 15
Contact: Amy Schulz (schulzaj@state.gov)

Administering Organization: Partners of the Americas
Website: http://www.partners.net/partners/Default_EN.asp
Date of Exchange: February-March 2008 (Peru) and August-September 2008 (Venezuela)
Number of Participants: 24
Contact: Carolyn Lantz (lantzcs@state.gov)

This program focuses on the advancement of dialogue between Muslim and non-Muslim youth from the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and surrounding provinces.
Administering Organization: Northern Illinois University
Website: http://www.niu.edu/cseas/outreach/PhilAccess/accessfs.htm
Date of Exchange: April-May 2008
Number of Participants: 27
Contact: Carolyn Lantz (lantzcs@state.gov)

Administering Organization: World Learning
Website: http://www.worldlearning.org
Date of Exchanges: November-December 2007
Number of Participants: 21
Contact: Carolyn Lantz (lantzcs@state.gov)

This program consists of three one-month-long exchange projects in the United States. In return visits, 15 U.S. teenagers and trainers travel to Serbia.
Administering Organization: World Learning
Website: http://www.worldlearning.org
Date of Exchanges: April-May, September-October, and October-November, 2007
Number of Participants: 72 Serbians and 15 Americans
Contact: Carolyn Lantz (lantzcs@state.gov)

These U.S.-based, 3 ½ week institutes focus on the exploration of global issues in which Americans, Europeans, and Eurasians share an interest. ECA is sponsoring two institutes in summer 2008, one for teenagers aged 15-17 and the other for teenagers aged 17-19. Each Institute includes 35 European and Eurasian youth and 10 American students.
Administering Organization: Wake Forest University
Website: http://www.bftf.org
Date of Exchanges: June-July 2008
Number of Participants: 90
Contact: Carolyn Lantz (lantzcs@state.gov)

A Youth Leadership participant teaches an American how to play a musical instrument from her country.

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