American Iraqi Youth Leadership Exchange Program
(Note to US Partipas: THIS IS NOT A TRIP TO IRAQ)

The Cleveland Council on World Affairs and World Learning invites American High School students from Boston, Massachusetts; Cleveland; San Diego, California; and Seattle, Washington to apply to participate in the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program with accompanying Iraqi teenagers.  This is a highly competitive selection and we encourage you to apply.

This three-week program, which begins at the SIT Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, VT will offer four high school students from four U.S. communities the opportunity to participate in a 7-day camp program with approximately 23 Iraqi teenagers and 2 adult Iraqi chaperones focusing on the themes of civic education, global issues and youth activism. Students will develop skills for peacemaking and leadership through experiential and outdoor activities. In addition, participants will explore Iraqi culture and language through peer language and culture discussions and workshops, community activism and the role of youth in American and Iraqi society. The U.S. participants will then return home to their home community and participate in all IYLEP related program activities with the Iraqi participants for the remainder two weeks when they come to visit their cities (August 1-13, 2010).

The Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program, a four week youth leadership exchange based in the U.S. for Iraqi and American teenagers ages 15-18 and Iraqi adults chaperones. The program aims to develop a cadre of young adults and adult youth mentors in Iraq and the United States who have a strong sense of civic responsibility, a commitment to community development, an awareness of current & global issues, strong interpersonal leadership skills, willingness to foster relationships among youth from different ethnic, religious, and national groups in Iraq, and to promote mutual understanding, respect and collaboration between the United States and Iraq. Students will begin their program in Brattleboro, VT at the SIT Graduate Institute, spend two weeks with host families across the U.S and conclude the final program segment, a civic education week in Washington, DC (Iraqi participants only), which will allow the students to use Washington as an experiential classroom, integrating what they have learned in the previous month with the sights and experiences within the nation’s capitol. Iraqi Adult Chaperones will accompany students for the entire four-week program and participate in all activities with American and Iraqi students. Both American and Iraqi participants will be required to implement follow-on activities upon their return home that will help the participants stay in touch with each other and reflect on their experiences and integrate that learning into their day-to-day lives at home. An important goal of the program is that the student leaders, now empowered, will train other student leaders through student led community oriented service projects.

The goals of the program are:

1) enable the participants to understand civic participation and the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democracy;

2) develop leadership skills among high school students and adult leaders appropriate to their needs;

3) foster understanding and build relationships across ethnic, religious, and national groups; and

4) promote mutual understanding between the people of Iraq and the United States.

 What is covered?

There is no application fee for applicants.

The United States Government, in conjunction with its private partners, will pay for domestic transportation to and from the program, orientations, program and administration fees, site visits and seminars, lodging and meals, some cultural activities, educational materials, and a modest amount of pocket money. Participants will stay in dormitories in Vermont.

 The program does not cover 1) domestic transportation to and from U.S. airports 2) health or accident insurance 3) any required immunizations 4) expenses involving tips, laundry, telephone calls, postage, gifts, and beverages not customary to part of the meals 5) any expenses related to the application process (copying, mailing, photographs, etc.).

Who is eligible to apply?

Student applicants must…..

be at least 15 years old and not more than 18 years old at the time of the exchange (birth years between June 30, 1992-June 30,1995);

 have a high school graduation year of 2010 or later;

have permission from either a parent or legal guardian to participate in the four-week program, approximately to begin in July of 2010; and

 Interviews will be conducted by the Cleveland Council on World Affairs and Program Officers in Washington DC. 

 TO APPLY: Please click here to download the full application.  Deadline is March 1 (applications arriving before the deadline are encouraged).