Upcoming Delegations
IVLP-Renewable Energy as an Economic Driver
This project examines how sustainable energy development fosters global political stability and prosperity. Meetings, site visits, and activities will highlight how developing and innovating clean energy technologies leads to economic prosperity, energy matrix modernization, and environmental sustainability. Discussions will focus on how renewable energy resources diversify sources of energy supply and allow for greater energy independence, thus increasing geopolitical stability and reducing the potential for malign influence. This program will explore U.S. policies; public-private partnership programs at the federal, state, and city levels; incubators and innovation hubs that support renewable energy and grid infrastructure sectors; and how energy innovation can strengthen local and regional economies.
IVLP-Higher Education Partnerships
This program builds on and reinforces the efforts of the Department of State's NEA Higher Education Initiative, which aims to strengthen connections between U.S. and Middle East and North African (MENA) universities. Meetings, site visits, and activities will focus on the accreditation process, expansion of Fulbright program opportunities, recruitment strategies for American students to attend MENA institutions, potential university partnerships, intellectual freedom, and critical thinking. Participants will also examine how higher education institutions in the U.S. offer degrees that facilitate economic prosperity, encourage innovation, and collaborate with the private sector to develop the workforce.
IVLP-Understanding the U.S. Approach to Combatting Digital Sex Crimes
This program will explore legislation, technological tools, and social interventions that the United States uses to effectively combat digital sex crimes. Participants will discuss practical skills and best practices for increasing public awareness of such crimes and for promoting greater respect for victims’ rights, including the prevention of widespread distribution of non-consensual pornography and online sexual abuse that are enabled by digital technology. Participants will also learn how offenders in the United States are prosecuted.
IVLP-Climate Change Impact on Egypt's Water Scarcity
This project will help accelerating climate adaptation in Africa and support efforts to work in collaboration with other nations and experts to address the impact of climate change, its nexus with adaptation, and water scarcity. This program will explore the legal, political, and regulatory environment that facilitates water negotiations in the United States. Meetings will include technical experts that work on transboundary water resource management, adaptation, and climate change, as well as policymakers and civil society organizations that work on transboundary water management negotiations and its environmental and economic impacts. This project will illustrate the value of transboundary cooperation to prevent water scarcity that affects the environment and economies.
IVLP-Inclusivity in Sports in the U.S.
This project will examine the effects that inclusion of women and girls and people with disabilities in sports have in academic and civic life. Participants will consider strategies for inclusion and empowerment of diverse youth, particularly girls and youth with disabilities through sport; and learn the best practices for positive engagement of women and girls and people with disabilities in sport. Meetings with accessibility-driven organizations will demonstrate the different levels of sport that exist in the U.S. (school-based, community based, recreation leagues, semi-pro, professional) and how they contribute to healthy communities.
IVLP-Combating Trafficking in Persons
This program will examine best practices in combating trafficking in persons, focusing on both forced labor and commercial sex trafficking. Participants will examine U.S. legislation, visa regulations, and enforcement actions against and prosecution of traffickers; initiatives to identify, protect, assist, and provide services for trafficking victims; and local, national, and international cooperative efforts to combat trafficking in persons. Participants will discuss strategies to end trafficking, both domestically and internationally, with local, state, and federal government agencies, law enforcement officials, educators, NGO leaders, faith-based organizations, and advocacy groups.
IVLP-Empowering the LGBTQI+ Community in Pakistan
This program explores the strategies of human and civil rights practitioners who advocate for the rights of marginalized communities and demonstrate how they present their concerns to government and social influencers. It addresses approaches to defending the rights of members of the LGBTQI+ community and other vulnerable populations. Participants will explore creative approaches to celebrate diversity, promote inclusive public attitudes, address sensitive issues by working across institutional lines, and expand collaborative networks. Participants will also learn how civil society, the private sector, and the media can empower gender-nonconforming people to overcome common barriers that perpetuate gender-based violence, discrimination, and harassment. The group will learn how vulnerable communities developed diverse coalitions among civil society, governments, and media to promote transgender rights, gender equality, and tolerance.
IVLP- Young Leaders RISE - Renew, Inspire, Serve, and Empower
Each summer, the VCWA welcomes a cohort of Iraqi high school students to Vermont as part of a two-week exchange called the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP).
IYLEP participants stay with local host families as they explore themes of leadership development, civic rights and responsibilities, respect for diversity, community engagement, and social entrepreneurship.
The participants work to develop skills in leadership and civic engagement among participants enabling them to be active change-makers in their communities, foster respect for diversity and a stronger understanding between people of different ethnic, religious, and national backgrounds and build mutual understanding between people of Iraq and the U.S.
IVLP - Combating Trafficking in Persons
This program examines best practices to combat trafficking in persons, focusing on both slave labor and sex trafficking. Participants will examine U.S. legislation, visa regulations, and enforcement against and prosecution of traffickers; initiatives to identify, protect, assist, and provide services for trafficking victims; efforts to raise awareness through the media; and local, national, and international cooperative efforts to combat trafficking in persons. Participants will discuss strategies to end trafficking, both domestically and internationally, with local, state, and federal government agencies, law enforcement officials, educators, NGO leaders, faith-based organizations, and advocacy groups.
Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program - Homestays Needed
Each summer, the VCWA welcomes a cohort of Iraqi high school students to Vermont as part of a two-week exchange called the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP).
IYLEP participants stay with local host families as they explore themes of leadership development, civic rights and responsibilities, respect for diversity, community engagement, and social entrepreneurship.
The participants work to develop skills in leadership and civic engagement among participants enabling them to be active change-makers in their communities, foster respect for diversity and a stronger understanding between people of different ethnic, religious, and national backgrounds and build mutual understanding between people of Iraq and the U.S.
Open World - Cybersecurity: Latvia - Homestays Needed
The VCWA will be hosting a delegation of visitors from Latvia for a program focusing on Cybersecurity. The visit is sponsored by the Open World Leadership Center, an arm of the US Congress, which works to introduce rising leaders of emerging countries to the importance of legislative functions in creating and sustaining democracies.
This group will be meeting with various stakeholders throughout Vermont July 15 - 19 to learn more about Cybersecurity practices in the US.
Seeking Host Families
Interested in hosting a visitor from this delegation? Email Jennifer@vcwa.org or fill out the interest form here.
Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program - Homestays Needed
Each summer, the VCWA welcomes a cohort of Iraqi high school students to Vermont as part of a two-week exchange called the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP).
IYLEP participants stay with local host families as they explore themes of leadership development, civic rights and responsibilities, respect for diversity, community engagement, and social entrepreneurship.
The participants work to develop skills in leadership and civic engagement among participants enabling them to be active change-makers in their communities, foster respect for diversity and a stronger understanding between people of different ethnic, religious, and national backgrounds and build mutual understanding between people of Iraq and the U.S.
20 Host families are needed in central Vermont from July 17th - July 30th.
We are seeking families in Orange, Washington, and Addison counties to host participating Arabic-speaking high school students during the two-week period they are visiting Vermont. The VCWA arranges programming during the weekdays (9:00am - 5:00pm), while you share your home with the visitors in the evening and on the weekend. Hosting is a wonderful opportunity to connect with international visitors and experience a new culture without leaving the comfort of your own home! Questions? See FAQs here.
Interested in hosting a high schooler from this delegation? Email Jennifer@vcwa.org or fill out the interest form here.
Pan Africa Youth Leadership Program - Homestays Needed! July 19-Aug 2
The Pan Africa Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP) believes in the potential for great & lasting impact when leadership development programs target young emerging leaders. PAYLP brings together high school students for practical leadership and technical skills training centered around an action-planning curriculum & capstone.
This dynamic youth leadership program engages participants from over 38 countries in Africa for a two-week U.S.-based cultural exchange and civic engagement training program.
Seeking Host Families
We are seeking families to host participating French-speaking high school students during the two-week period they are visiting Vermont. The VCWA arranges programming during the weekdays (9:00am - 5:00pm), while you share your home with the visitors in the evening and on the weekend. Hosting is a wonderful opportunity to connect with international visitors and experience a new culture without leaving the comfort of your own home! Questions? See FAQs here.
Interested in hosting a high schooler from this delegation? Email Jennifer@vcwa.org or fill out the interest form here.
IVLP-Best Practices in Government Communication and Using Information Technology to Serve Citizens
This project will expose three participants from the Ministry of Communications in Paraguay to best practices in government communication. This program will examine public communication strategies, including the use of technology, to provide government services more efficiently. The project will highlight practices that increase transparency and citizen oversight of government activities while increasing the geographic reach of government services in outlying areas that tend to be marginalized from accessing the benefits of governance.
Pan-Africa Youth Leadership Program - Homestays Needed! April 10-24
The Pan Africa Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP) believes in the potential for great & lasting impact when leadership development programs target young emerging leaders. PAYLP brings together high school students for practical leadership and technical skills training centered around an action-planning curriculum & capstone.
This dynamic youth leadership program engages participants from over 38 countries in Africa for a two-week U.S.-based cultural exchange and civic engagement training program.
Seeking Host Families
We are seeking families to host participating English-speaking high school students during the two-week period they are visiting Vermont. The VCWA arranges programming during the weekdays, while you share your home with the visitors in the evening and on the weekend. Hosting is a wonderful opportunity to connect with international visitors and experience a new culture without leaving the comfort of your own home! Participants will stay with host families from April 10-24.
Urgent need for hosts April 17th - April 24th.
Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative
Since its launch in 2015, the U.S. Department of State’s Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program empower emerging entrepreneurs from the Western Hemisphere to enable the full economic potential of the region’s citizens.
YLAI promotes U.S. business models, increases trade, encourages job creation, and builds lasting and sustainable networks of young entrepreneurs and business and social leaders across Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, and the United States.
IVLP - US Foreign Policy - Global Challenges I
This project provides opportunities to explore U.S. economic, political, and security goals and exposes participants to the complex U.S. foreign policy decision-making process. Meetings focus on U.S.-European relations and cooperation regarding the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East; post-COVID politics and economies; fighting disinformation online; climate change; Afghanistan; protecting and promoting marginalized communities; countering violent extremism; the U.S. strategic course in Asia and the Pacific; responding to China's influence in Europe; stability and democratization in Southeast Europe; nuclear nonproliferation; energy security; and immigration.
IVLP - Cybersecurity and IT Curriculum Developement
This project explores how U.S. universities and technical schools design curricula for IT and cybersecurity degree and certification programs. In meetings with their academic and government counterparts, participants will discuss ways to align course design with the needs of employers and adapt to a continuously evolving IT labor market. Participants will also examine the role of career development centers in helping students learn job skills and find internships and employment opportunities. Visits to innovative laboratories and training centers will showcase best practices in providing students with real-world experience in administering and maintaining the security of computer networks.
IVLP - Protecting Human Rights and Preserving Democratic Governance
The human rights situation in Guinea-Bissau worsened after a February 1 attack on the presidency in which the president, prime minister, and members of his cabinet were allegedly held hostage by armed assailants for five hours. Since then, additional acts of violent intimidation ensued, the worst being a shooting in May of the leader of a small opposition party in Parliament. If repeated incidents occur, it would be a more serious form of intimidation that would portend a significant regression in respect for democratic norms and human rights in the short term as the country approaches legislative elections in 2023. Post objective for this virtual IVLP is to bring together approximately 20 representatives of civil society organizations working in human rights sector. Our goal is to create a tight-knit cohort of leaders who believe passionately in human rights and support the development of a free and democratic society, and who feel better prepared by this IVLP program to identify and formulate an effective response to violations against human rights. Their activism and grassroots organizing will serve as a counterweight to stop government-inspired efforts to restrict citizens’ political rights. These efforts include using force, including the police or military, to intimidate perceived opponents, and, additionally, exerting pressure against prosecutors and judges to not pursue judicial remedies to guarantee rights afforded under the country’s laws and constitution.
IVLP - Social Entrepreneurship in the United States
This program will introduce participants active in entrepreneurship and community-building initiatives to American experts in social entrepreneurship and explore ways to improve opportunities in the Caucasus region through public and private sector support, improving access to economic opportunity for rural and disadvantaged communities, women’s economic empowerment, and establishing entrepreneurial networks and innovation ecosystems.
IVLP - Combatting Propaganda and Censorship
This project explores the impact of propaganda and censorship. Participants will assess strategies designed to encourage better public awareness of disinformation and will explore the role of government agencies, NGOs, academia, and social media in the fight against deceptive information. The project will introduce participants to independent media and pro-democracy thought leaders who will provide information and resources on the use of technologies and approaches that can disseminate information in restrictive environments. Participants will examine how the U.S. protects democratic values through countering propaganda campaigns and censorship.
IVLP - U.S. Foreign Policy - Global Challenges II
This project provides opportunities to explore U.S. economic, political, and security goals and exposes participants to the complex U.S. foreign policy decision-making process. Meetings focus on U.S.-European relations and cooperation regarding the war in Ukraine; post-COVID politics and economies; fighting disinformation online; climate change; Afghanistan; protecting and promoting marginalized communities; countering violent extremism; the U.S. strategic course in Asia and the Pacific; responding to China's influence in Europe; stability and democratization in Southeast Europe; nuclear nonproliferation; energy security; and immigration.
U.S.-Jordan Leadership Exchange Program
The U.S.-Jordan Leadership Exchange Program (UJLEP) supports a new generation of collaborative, innovative, and values-driven Jordanian leaders who drive success and growth in their economy and civil society, while strengthening ties between the United States and Jordan.
Selected fellows with demonstrated high potential in eight key economic and social development disciplines will participate in leadership training in Jordan, travel to the US for a tailored practicum and cultural experience with the VCWA, and engage in follow on projects in their home communities in Jordan.
This cohort will be in Vermont September 15th - October 15th and the VCWA will put them in a homestay for one week during their four-week stay.
10 host families will be needed from September 15th - 22th. Interested in hosting a visitor from this delegation? Email marya@vcwa.org or fill out the interest form here.
IVLP - Transparency and Accountability in Government
This project examines how transparency and accountability in government ensure public trust in the integrity and fairness of elected officials, public servants, and the institutions of government. In addition to highlighting mechanisms for transparency in government in the United States, the project addresses the roles of civil society and the media as watchdogs and catalysts for the creation and maintenance of transparent and accountable government. The project will incorporate case studies that illustrate whistle blower protections and current and ongoing transparency investigations.
IVLP - Role of Women in Political Parties and Governance: Vietnam
This project will build on policy priorities identified in past Party-to-Party exchanges, which will encourage maximum CPV participation. Further, women represent an ever-growing percentage of government employees and party officials. Despite this, they still face significant challenges in rising to Vietnam's most senior position. This project is an important opportunity to exchange views and lessons learned with this group of rising women in Vietnam's Party. This project will be amplified through complementary exchanges facilitated by the U.S. Speaker Program and the Congressional Office for International Leadership (COIL). This approach will broaden U.S. Government engagement with the CPV and oversight of the program while offering cost savings over the previous approach of subcontracting programming to IRI/NDI.
Youth Ambassadors: Caribbean - Homestays Needed!
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.
The VCWA will be hosting a Youth Ambassadors Program focussing on entrepreneurship and the environment. 18 high schoolers will be joining us from The Caribbean.
Participants will engage in workshops, community service activities, team-building exercises, meetings with community leaders, and homestays with American families. Upon their return home, the students apply what they have learned to implement projects that serve the needs of their communities.
18 Host families are needed from August 25th - 30th.
We are seeking families to host participating English-speaking high school students or adult mentors. The VCWA arranges programming during the weekdays (9:00am - 5:00pm), while you share your home with the visitors in the evening and on the weekend. Hosting is a wonderful opportunity to connect with international visitors and experience a new culture without leaving the comfort of your own home!
Interested in hosting a high schooler from this delegation? Email marya@vcwa.org or fill out the interest form here.
Youth Ambassadors: Haiti Virtual - Virtual Homestays Needed! (French Speaking)
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.
The VCWA will be hosting a Youth Ambassadors Program focusing on entrepreneurship and the environment. 13 high schoolers will be joining us virtually from Haiti.
Participants will engage in virtual workshops, community service activities, team-building exercises, meetings with community leaders, and homestays with American families. Upon the closure of this program, the students apply what they have learned to implement projects that serve the needs of their communities.
10 Virtual Host families are need from August 7th - 10th
We are seeking families to host participating French-speaking high school students or adult mentors. Hosts will participate in one hour a day Home Hospitality Activities during the four days of the program. Hosting is a wonderful opportunity to connect with international visitors and experience a new culture without leaving the comfort of your own home!
Interested in hosting a high schooler from this delegation? Email marya@vcwa.org or fill out the interest form here.
Iraqi Young Leadership Exchange Program - Homestays Needed!
Each summer, the VCWA welcomes a cohort of Iraqi high school students to Vermont as part of a two-week exchange called the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP).
IYLEP participants stay with local host families as they explore themes of leadership development, civic rights and responsibilities, respect for diversity, community engagement, and social entrepreneurship.
The participants work to develop skills in leadership and civic engagement among participants enabling them to be active change-makers in their communities, foster respect for diversity and a stronger understanding between people of different ethnic, religious, and national backgrounds and build mutual understanding between people of Iraq and the U.S.
14 Host families in or near St. Johnsbury, VT are needed from July 28th - August 10th.
We are seeking families to host participating English-speaking high school students during the two-week period they are visiting Vermont. The VCWA arranges programming during the weekdays (9:00am - 5:00pm), while you share your home with the visitors in the evening and on the weekend. Hosting is a wonderful opportunity to connect with international visitors and experience a new culture without leaving the comfort of your own home! Questions? See FAQs here.
Interested in hosting a high schooler from this delegation? Email marya@vcwa.org or fill out the interest form here.
Pan-Africa Youth Leadership Program - Homestays Needed!
The Pan Africa Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP) believes in the potential for great & lasting impact when leadership development programs target young emerging leaders. PAYLP brings together high school students for practical leadership and technical skills training centered around an action-planning curriculum & capstone.
This dynamic youth leadership program engages participants from over 38 countries in Africa for a two-week U.S.-based cultural exchange and civic engagement training program.
25 Host families are needed from July 19th - 25th.
We are seeking families to host participating French-speaking high school students during a portion of the two-week period they are visiting Vermont. The VCWA arranges programming during the weekdays (9:00am - 5:00pm), while you share your home with the visitors in the evening and on the weekend. Hosting is a wonderful opportunity to connect with international visitors and experience a new culture without leaving the comfort of your own home! Questions? See FAQs here.
Interested in hosting a high schooler from this delegation? Email marya@vcwa.org or fill out the interest form here.
Iraqi Young Leadership Exchange Program
Each summer, the VCWA welcomes a cohort of Iraqi high school students to Vermont as part of a two-week exchange called the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP).
IYLEP participants stay with local host families as they explore themes of leadership development, civic rights and responsibilities, respect for diversity, community engagement, and social entrepreneurship.
The participants work to develop skills in leadership and civic engagement among participants enabling them to be active change-makers in their communities, foster respect for diversity and a stronger understanding between people of different ethnic, religious, and national backgrounds and build mutual understanding between people of Iraq and the U.S.
14 Host families in or near Northfield, VT are needed from July 11th - July 23rd.
We are seeking families to host participating English-speaking high school students during the two-week period they are visiting Vermont. The VCWA arranges programming during the weekdays (9:00am - 5:00pm), while you share your home with the visitors in the evening and on the weekend. Hosting is a wonderful opportunity to connect with international visitors and experience a new culture without leaving the comfort of your own home! Questions? See FAQs here.
Interested in hosting a high schooler from this delegation? Email marya@vcwa.org or fill out the interest form here.
IVLP - NGO Management: Belarus
This project highlights the role of the non-profit sector in U.S. society and the ways that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) promote an educated, engaged civil society as a cornerstone of democracy. The project supports the Department’s strategic goal of strengthening democratic institutions. Through meetings with representatives of non-profit organizations, professional associations, federal agencies, foundations, and public service organizations, participants will examine the role of NGO management in the United States in such fields as health, education, human rights, the environment, at-risk youth, and the arts. Participants will explore innovative non-profit management strategies, including strategic planning, use of social media and new technologies, fundraising, board development, and the effective use of volunteers. They will also explore the prevalence of public-private partnerships. Ideal candidates include NGO managers, community leaders, activists, and academics. Government officials with responsibility for developing the NGO sector are also eligible.
IVLP- Interagency Cybersecurity: Vietnam
This project will connect Vietnamese officials to experts in the United States who understand the importance of cybersecurity across sectors, from finance to transportations systems and other critical infrastructure. Participants will come from operational and policy departments in Vietnamese government agencies, academic institutions, and private industry. Prospective meetings include Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Idaho National Laboratory, and universities.
Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI)
Since its launch in 2015, the U.S. Department of State’s Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program empowers emerging entrepreneurs from the Western Hemisphere to enable the full economic potential of the region’s citizens.
YLAI promotes U.S. business models, increases trade, encourages job creation, and builds lasting and sustainable networks of young entrepreneurs and business and social leaders across Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, and the United States.
Professional Fellows Program: North Africa - Homestays Needed!
Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the Professional Fellows Program (PFP) is a global exchange program designed to promote mutual understanding, enhance leadership and professional skills, as well as build lasting, sustainable partnerships between mid-level emerging leaders from foreign countries and the United States. PFP fellows are placed in intensive 4-week fellowships in non-profit organizations, private sector businesses, and government offices across the United States for an individually tailored professional development experience. Inbound PFP Fellows build a broad network with U.S. counterparts and other fellows as they develop a deeper understanding of U.S. society.
Four Host families are needed between May 10-15
Interested in hosting a visitor from this delegation? Email martha@vcwa.org or fill out the interest form here.
Youth Ambassadors: Belize, El Salvador, Honduras - Homestays Needed!
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.
The VCWA will be hosting a Youth Ambassadors Program focussing on entrepreneurship and the environment. 30 high schoolers will be joining us from Belize, El Salvador, and Honduras.
Participants will engage in workshops, community service activities, team-building exercises, meetings with community leaders, and homestays with American families. Upon their return home, the students apply what they have learned to implement projects that serve the needs of their communities.
30 Host families are needed from May 10th - 20th.
We are seeking families to host participating English-speaking high school students or adult mentors. The VCWA arranges programming during the weekdays (9:00am - 5:00pm), while you share your home with the visitors in the evening and on the weekend. Hosting is a wonderful opportunity to connect with international visitors and experience a new culture without leaving the comfort of your own home! Questions? See FAQs here.
Interested in hosting a high schooler from this delegation? Email marya@vcwa.org or fill out the interest form here.
IVLP - Designing and Implementing Professional Development Programs for K-12 Teachers
This project aims to build the capacity of educational leaders from six states in India to provide effective professional development opportunities for K-12 English teachers. Participants will observe how diverse U.S. school districts plan and administer effective in-service teacher training or teacher mentoring programs. Participants will thus be better-positioned to guide, advise, and bring about substantive changes in designing, implementing, and advising on in-service teacher professional development systems at the state level.
IVLP - Local Broadcasting and Journalism: Multi-Regional
This project examines the history, structure, and function of broadcasting in the United States and the challenges and opportunities posed by social media. It will address the influence of radio, television, cable, and new technologies in a pluralistic, decentralized, and democratic society. The project also explores how organizations, institutions, and individuals are working to fact-check to ensure accuracy in news reporting.
Participants will explore the role of the media, including social media, to support democratic institutions and promote community development. The project will also highlight the American philosophical and legal commitments to freedom of expression. As a part of IVLP's "Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists" series, this project includes a graduate or professional-level academic workshop focused on broadcast media.
Pan-Africa Youth Leadership Program - Homestays Needed!
The Pan Africa Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP) believes in the potential for great & lasting impact when leadership development programs target young emerging leaders. PAYLP brings together high school students for practical leadership and technical skills training centered around an action-planning curriculum & capstone.
This dynamic youth leadership program engages participants from over 38 countries in Africa for a two-week U.S.-based cultural exchange and civic engagement training program.
Seeking Host Families
We are seeking families to host participating English-speaking high school students during a portion of the two-week period they are visiting Vermont. The VCWA arranges programming during the weekdays, while you share your home with the visitors in the evening and on the weekend. Hosting is a wonderful opportunity to connect with international visitors and experience a new culture without leaving the comfort of your own home! Participants will stay with host families from April 13th-17th and/or April 20th-24th.
Please email elizabeth@vcwa.org or fill out the interest form here.
IVLP - Promoting Cybersecurity: Multi-Regional
This project illustrates the importance of cybersecurity to U.S. economic and national security, highlighting how laws and policies on cybersecurity are made and why they require constant updates to keep up with technological evolution.
Participants will explore initiatives aimed at increasing cybersecurity coordination among governmental agencies, the private sector, and academia. They will examine the roles and best practices of each sector in preventing and recovering from cyber-attacks, educating the public, and ensuring that civil liberties are not jeopardized in the process.
Open World Transplantation and the ICU: Ukraine
The VCWA will be hosting a delegation of visitors from Ukraine for a program focusing on Organ Transplantation. The visit is sponsored by the Open World Leadership Center, an arm of the US Congress, which works to introduce rising leaders of emerging countries to the importance of legislative functions in creating and sustaining democracies.
This group will be meeting with various stakeholders throughout Vermont March 13th-16th to learn more about organ donation and transplantation in the US.
Six Host families are needed.
Interested in hosting a visitor from this delegation? Email marya@vcwa.org or fill out the interest form here.
IVLP Climate Crisis - Working Together for Future Generations: European Multi-Regional
This global initiative highlights the U.S. commitment to addressing the climate crisis by bringing participants from around the world to share best practices on how to tackle the global climate crisis. Participants will explore U.S. government programs, non-government strategies, and private-sector investments, programs, and initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, halt and reverse deforestation, pivot to clean energy, and support human and natural populations vulnerable to extreme weather disruptions and longer-term physical changes.
Through meetings, site visits, and other activities participants will observe innovations in energy and transportation systems, discuss strategies for better land and ocean stewardship, explore models for risk management and disaster resilient infrastructure, and assess the role of government actions and the private sector to encourage sustainable livelihoods. Participants also will discuss priority areas for international cooperation and practical actions to raise awareness of climate change challenges and promote public engagement in environmental conservation.
Four Home Hospitality Hosts Needed
Interested in hosting a dinner for 4-5 visitors in this delegation? Email marya@vcwa.org or fill out the interest form here.
Pan African Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP)Alumni All-Stars
To bring together the top PAYLP alumni from across all cohorts (2013-2022) and countries, the Pan Africa Youth Leadership Program is offering a one-time All-Stars alumni program. This program is designed to provide talented, hard-working, and highly motivated African PAYLP Alumni an opportunity to spend three weeks in the United States for an intensive leadership training and development program between February and March of 2023.
The VCWA will be welcoming 15 visitors from:
Benin
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Cote D’Ivoire
Gabon
Madagascar
Mauritania.
Women in STEAM Entrepreneurship: Morocco
Female STEAM entrepreneurs will explore models of technology commercialization in the United States and ways to successfully transfer scientific discoveries and technical breakthroughs to market. Participants will examine legal and regulatory frameworks as well as management and marketing strategies used to assess and develop innovations in diverse sectors such as sustainable development, green architecture, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing. They will observe initiatives and collaboration among universities, businesses, industries, and government agencies promoting STEAM entrepreneurship.