Deadline: January 12, 2018
World Learning invites applications for the Youth Ambassadors Exchange Program 2018. The Youth Ambassadors Program brings together high school students and adult mentors from countries across the Americas to promote mutual understanding, increase leadership skills, and prepare youth to make a difference in their communities. World Learning is a global NGO empowering people and strengthening institutions through education, sustainable development, and exchange programs.
Exchange subthemes include human rights, multiculturalism, social justice, and social transformation. Participants will engage in workshops, meetings with community leaders, community service activities, interactive trainings, cultural presentations, visits to high schools, local cultural activities, homestays with U.S. American families, civic education programming, and more. These three-week programs are sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State.
Program goals:
- To develop a cadre of young adults who have a strong sense of civic responsibility, a commitment to community development, an awareness of current & global issues, and strong interpersonal leadership skills;
- To foster relationships among youth from different ethnic, religious, and national groups; and
- To promote mutual understanding, respect and collaboration between the United States and our South American counterparts.
Cost and Benefits
The U.S. Government will pay for international transportation to and from the United States, orientations, program and visa fees and administration, site visits and seminars, lodging and meals, some cultural activities, educational materials, and accident and sickness insurance while abroad. Participants will stay with volunteer host families and in youth conference centers.
Participants are responsible for expenses related to the application process (copying, mailing, photographs, etc.), passport fees, vaccination fees (if applicable) and spending money for souvenirs and other items in the United States
Eligibility
- The youth participants will:
- Be high school students between 15 and 18 years old (at the start of the exchange);
- Have at least one semester of school remaining after program participation;
- Be citizens of the country they are representing on the exchange;
- The adult mentor participants will:
- Be teachers or community leaders who work with youth;
- Be citizens of the country they are representing on the exchange;
- Participating Countries: Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.
- Exchanges to the United States: There are different language requirements for U.S. based exchanges. Look at the program application for specific language requirements.
- Exchanges for U.S. Participants: Exchange activities in Argentina/Chile, the Dominican Republic, Paraguay/Uruguay and Ecuador are conducted in Spanish. Interested applicants should have studied Spanish for at least two years in school, or have intermediate level Spanish proficiency. The Brazil program does not have a language requirement. However, any ability in Portuguese or Spanish would be considered useful in being successful in the Brazil program.
- World Learning encourages all qualified individuals to apply, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability status.
Evaluation Criteria
Students will be evaluated on the following factors:
- a demonstrated interest in and commitment to volunteer and civic activities;
- ability to work cooperatively in diverse groups and tolerate the opinions of others;
- leadership potential;
- good social and communication skills;
- good academic performance;
- an energetic, positive attitude; and
- ability to implement projects that benefit the applicant’s school and/or community.
Adult applicants will be evaluated on the following factors:
- a demonstrated interest in and commitment to service in their local regions;
- demonstrated history of supporting youth activities;
- strong record in teaching and/or youth programs;
- demonstrated leadership ability;
- ability to work cooperatively in diverse groups of students and peers and tolerate the opinions of others; and
- commitment to working with youth after the project to help them implement projects.
Application
- View the frequently asked questions.
- Program application deadlines vary by country. See open programs.
Please visit this webpage to begin your application online. Having questions? [email protected].
For more information, visit Youth Ambassadors Exchange Program.
