Program dates in Vermont: July 10-24, 2011. Read the FAQ and see below for application materials

Student Application
Student Letter of Reference
Adult Application
Adult Letter of Reference

Central European Youth Leadership Exchange Program FAQ’s
For All:

• What are the goals of this program?
1. To foster mutual understanding and respect among high school students and educators from Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary and the U.S.
2. To introduce young Europeans and Americans to each other’s countries, focusing on how citizens help strengthen democratic institutions and civil society
3. To develop a cadre of 60 community activists who will share their knowledge and skills with peers through positive action and implement community initiatives in their home cities.
• When will the program take place?
1. In Vermont, we will host fourteen (14) students and two (2) adult participants from July 10-24, 2011
2. Four (4) Vermont students and one (1) adult participant will travel to Serbia and Hungary from August 7-21, 2011

For Potential student travelers to Serbia/Hungary:

• Who is eligible to travel?
  Students must:
  
  1. Be at least 16 years old and not more than 18 years old at the time of the exchange (born between July 1, 1993 and July 1, 1995).
  2. Have a high school graduation year of 2012 or later or one year following the completion of the program
  3. Have permission from either a parent or legal guardian to participate in the four-week program, to begin in July 2011.
  4. Have U.S. citizenship and submit a complete application, including photograph and letters of recommendation before the application deadline of February 15, 2011.
     1. Students will obviously need to have a passport well before the July departure dates if they do not already possess one.
• How much money does it cost to travel?
  1. Almost nothing!  This program is funded by the United States Department of State, in conjunction with its private partners, will pay for:
     1. International travel to/from the U.S. to Serbia and Hungary
     2. Orientations
     3. Program and Visa fees
     4. Site visits and seminars
     5. Transportation during program
     6. Lodging and meals
     7. Some cultural activities
     8. Educational materials
     9. Accident and sickness insurance
     10. Modest amount of pocket money
  2. Students will be responsible for paying for:
     1. Their passports (if necessary)
     2. Any costs associated with mailing applications to Washington, D.C.
     3. Spending money for souvenirs
• Do I need to host a European student in order to be eligible to travel?
  1. No—however, it would certainly help!  All students who wish to travel should plan on being actively involved in the Vermont program during July—especially if your family is not hosting a European student(s).
  2. Besides, the kinds of students who will be selected are the kind that would want to be involved in this program!
• Who chooses the students?
  1. Ultimately, the final decision regarding the traveling students will be made at the national level by Meridian International Center and the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).  However, the VCWA will be conducting interviews and will have significant input in recommending students and adult participants.
• What kind of activities will be included in this program?
  1. Team-building activities, leadership training, interacting with Vermont students participating in programs such as Boys’ State, HOBY, Governor’s Institute of Vermont, etc…
  2. We will also be having a lot of fun during the beautiful VT summer!  We’ll be planning hikes, trips to the beach, bicycle trips, attending and participating in sporting events.  Of course, we’ll also be taking our visitors around Vermont for cultural outings and sight-seeing at places like the ECHO Center Lake Aquarium & Science Center/Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Shelburne Farms, and others.
• Sounds great!  How do I apply?
  1. Visit the VCWA website and download the application and reference forms
     1. Note that students must complete an application as well as a recommendation form, which must be completed by a teacher.
     2. Applications are due on February 15, 2011
     3. For additional questions, call or email the VCWA or Meridian International Center directly at youthleaders@meridian.org

For Adult Participants:

• Are you looking for adult participants in Vermont?
  1. YES!  The VCWA will be hiring 1-2 adult participants to help administer the program while in Vermont.  This position pays $100/day for salary and $50/day to cover Meals and Incidentals.
  2. Adult participants will be expected to be with the students throughout the program and familiar with the planning process.
  3. If interested, you should contact VCWA directly via phone or e-mail.
• What about traveling to Serbia & Hungary?
  1. We’ll also be looking for one adult participant who will travel to Europe with this group.  Again, it is not necessary to be the Vermont participant to travel, however; in addition to the application process, potential traveling adults should plan to participate in the Vermont program.
• How do I apply for the Serbia and Hungary portion?
  1. By downloading the forms from the VCWA website—there is an application and a letter of reference which must both be submitted to youthleaders@meridian.org by February 15, 2011

For Potential Hosts:

• Who are the students who will be traveling to Vermont in July?

• The students represent some of the best and brightest from Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia and range in ages from 16-18 years old.
• More detailed information on the students will be available in the spring, when we will make the final matches with travelers and hosts.

• What do I need to host?

• Room in your house for two weeks from July 10-24.  Students can share bedrooms (assuming they are the same sex) with other children living in the house, but must have their own beds.
• Ability to provide breakfast and some dinners for your European student(s).  We understand that feeding a teenager for two weeks can be a huge (and expensive!) undertaking, so we’ll be working to make evening and dinner plans on many of the nights.

• Will I be paid for hosting?

• While we understand that it’s not free to host these students, we can’t offer any financial reimbursement.  However, we’ll be planning creatively to alleviate many of the possible dinners.  If families are eager to host but have significant financial obstacles, we are happy to work with you as much as possible.

• What if I have kids of my own?

• All the better!  The connections made with Vermont students are the emphasis of the trip!  We hope that if you’re hosting a European student(s) and have children of your own, that they’ll participate in the program and maybe even apply to travel themselves!

• Anything else?

• Yes—all of our potential host families will need to have a background check for security purposes.  The program will cover any of these fees and the process will simply involve submitting names and social security numbers of the head of the households.

• Is that it?

• Pretty much—aside from making sure that you’ve got the space, we’d like to meet you and visit your home at least once before the program starts so that we can discuss the program and answer specific questions related to your own circumstances.