Youth Exchanges
The Vermont Council on World Affairs has been investing in future leaders around the world since 1952.
Each year the VCWA hosts a number of youth exchange programs that bring together high school students and adult mentors from countries across the world to promote cultural exchange, increase leadership skills, and prepare youth to make a difference in their communities.
A number of these programs require homestays with Vermont families. Interested in hosting a visitor? Click below:
Iraqi Young Leaders 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.
Youth Ambassadors
Youth Ambassadors from Argentina and Chile
Latin American Youth Ambassadors
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.
Exchanges are primarily from Latin America and the Caribbean to the United States, but also include delegations from the United States to select countries.
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.
Our Latin American Youth Ambassador program was hosted in partnership with Georgetown University’s Center for Intercultural Education and Development (CIED)
Pan-African Youth Leadership Program
The Pan-African Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP) brings together students from over 38 countries across Africa with adult mentors for a three week U.S.-based training and cultural exchange.
The program strengthens the students’ understanding of civic rights and responsibilities, respect for diversity, and the importance of community engagement.
Also included in the PAYLP design is a series of workshops on social entrepreneurship and two weeks of living with American host families.
Youth participants to young leaders.
“Words cannot express how grateful I am for the experience I had here in Vermont. I am grateful and thankful for everything this program did for me because it is a lifelong experience.”
— Participant from Namibia
“I’m glad we got to visit Vermont, I learned a lot from my trip when it comes to pushing myself to work even harder and I think I’m more grateful for the experience now that I’m back to Baghdad. Thank you for the experience.”
— Participant from Iraq
“I learned as a leader I need to compromise, accommodate, and be a role model to others. Due to this program, I made different friends from both Africa and the US. It was a good experience that I will never forget in my lifetime”
— Participant from Tanzania
Get Involved Today.
Interested in hosting, volunteering, or connecting with a youth exchange delegation?
Reach out to marya@vcwa.org.