OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS

World Learning: U.S. Youth Ambassadors Program

Program Dates: Summer 2019

Application Deadline: Nov 14, 2018

T he U.S. Youth Ambassadors Program is a 3-week leadership exchange abroad for US teens ages 15-17 and adult mentors. The program, sponsored by the US State Department, provides full scholarships for 120   students   and   adult mentors   to take part in one of five (5) exchange programs to countries in South America and the Caribbean. The program aims to develop a cadre of young adults who have a strong sense of civic responsibility, a commitment to their communities, an awareness of current and global issues, and strong interpersonal leadership skills. Participants will focus on program themes of civic education, leadership, and community service through site meetings, experiential learning activities, leadership trainings, civic participation at the community level, mentoring by community, business, and NGO leaders, and volunteering. The single and multi-country exchanges available for 2019 are Argentina & Chile; Brazil; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; and Paraguay.

To learn more, go to the program website here. For application instructions, click here. Any questions? Email youthambassadors@worldlearning.org.

Operation Understanding DC (OUDC)

Program Dates: Jan-Dec 2019

Application Deadline: Nov 19, 2018 

OUDC's mission is to build a generation of African American and Jewish community leaders who promote respect, understanding, and cooperation while working to eradicate racism, anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination. Each fall OUDC selects African American and Jewish juniors from DC area schools to take part in this free one-year (Jan-Dec) leadership program. Students learn about their respective histories and cultures, take part in a 3-week summer travel program to sites of historic interest to African Americans and Jews, and return the following fall for leadership training and to lead diversity seminars. This is a great program for students with leadership potential and an interest in social justice and cross-cultural understanding.
Go to www.oudc.org for more information and to complete the online application. More questions? Email info@oudc.org or call 202-234-6832.  

The Bronfman Fellowship to Israel

Summer Program Dates: July 1-August 7, 2019 plus follow-up in SY2019-20

Application Deadline: November 30, 2018

Each year twenty-six (26) outstanding North American teenagers are selected as Bronfman Fellows. The highlight of the Fellowship is a five week, all-expenses-paid Summer Fellowship in Israel. During the summer program, Fellows encounter the land and people of Israel, study major issues of contemporary Jewish life, meet current influential leaders, and learn about themselves and each other. The Fellowship year continues with monthly virtual experiences and a spring seminar in the US, and ongoing association with the Bronfman Fellows alumni network. Students in the 11th grade (juniors), who self-identify as Jewish, and will be 16 years old or older by July 1, 2019 are eligible to apply.

For much more information and to apply, go to www.bronfman.org.

Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad Program

Program Dates: 2019-20 School Year 

Application Deadline: Dec 4, 2018

The Kennedy-Lugar YES Abroad Program, sponsored by the US State Department, offers American high school students and recent graduates full merit-based scholarships to live and study for one academic year in countries with significant Muslim populations. For SY2019-20, students may live in one of the following countries: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Macedonia, Malaysia, Morocco, the Philippines, Senegal, Thailand, and Turkey. The program includes home stay and high school experiences that are intended to increase mutual understanding between American youth and young people abroad, and to deepen appreciation for religious diversity. Participants also gain valuable immersion in a less commonly taught language. Applicants must be US citizens, 15-18 years of age, and high school students at the time of application.

Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program

Program Dates: 2019-20 School Year

Application Deadline: Dec 11, 2018

The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program offers American high school students the opportunity to live and study abroad in Germany for a full academic year through joint sponsorship by the US Congress and the German Bundestag. This fully funded program includes cultural immersion through living with a host family and attending a German high school; intensive language course upon arrival in Germany; and meetings with US German and US government officials. Eligible students must be US citizens or permanent residents, aged 15-18, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. CIEE administers the selection process and the program for Washington, DC.

For further information and to apply, refer to https://exchanges.state.gov/us/cbyx-hs and www.usagermanyscholarship.org.

High School Diplomats (HSD)

Program Dates: July 24-August 4, 2019

Application Deadline: January 9, 2019

HSD US is a fully funded 10-day summer program at Princeton University that provides 40 American students the opportunity to engage in academic and social pursuits, and forge lifelong friendships with 40 Japanese students of the same age. During the program on the Princeton campus, each American student is paired with a Japanese roommate. Only high school sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply. Those American students who have successfully completed HSD US are eligible to apply for a full scholarship to travel to Japan for a month the following summer.

To learn more and to apply online, go to http://www.highschooldiplomats.com/.

Congress-Bundestag Vocational Youth Exchange Program

Program Dates: 2019-20 School Year

Application Deadline: Jan 15, 2019

This is a fully funded gap year or 13th year abroad for graduating US high school students with a vocational or career education background (the organizers use a very broad definition of vocational/career education). Co-funded by the US Congress and the German Bundestag, and administered by Nacel Open Door, this prestigious program is for mature and motivated high school graduates, 18 or 19 years old by July 1 of the departure year, and US citizens, with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Prior German language study is not required. Participants will engage in two months of intensive German language training, host family placement, training/school attendance, and hands-on experience through an internship with a German company. This is a great opportunity; Germany is known internationally for the excellence of its vocational programs.  

For more information and to apply, click here or contact Sue Franck at sfranck@nacelopendoor.org or 1-800-622-3553 x603.

Experiment Leadership Institute Full Scholarships

Program Dates: Summer 2019

Application Deadline: Jan 16, 2019

The Experiment in International Living (EIL) equips students with essential leadership, language, and problem-solving skills while also cultivating global competency and a complex understanding of the world. EIL offers two Leadership Institute programs in summer 2019: India and Nepal: Community Development and Public Health and South Africa and Mozambique: Peace, Politics, and Human Rights. These fully funded, highly competitive six-week programs are for rising seniors who are 16-18 years of age at the time of the program. The programs consist of a 4-day leadership seminar in DC, four weeks in country (India/Nepal or South Africa/Mozambique), concluding with 4 days of project planning sessions in Brattleboro, Vermont at the School for International training (SIT) campus. A follow-up student project is required. Thirty (30) full scholarships are available. 

For more information and to apply, click here.