Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Programs
2013 Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program will be announced in fall 2012.
The Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP) provides Iraqi high school and undergraduate students with a unique educational exchange experience during the summer. The IYLEP undergraduate and high school programs together have provided invaluable leadership and educational opportunities for approximately 800 students since its creation in 2007. An investment in global understanding and peace, these programs have created a cadre of future leaders of Iraq, young people who will inspire and have an impact on others.
The Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program for undergraduate students, funded by the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and administered by World Learning and FHI360, provides six weeks of fully-funded leadership training and classroom instruction to talented and dedicated students from Iraq. The institutes, hosted at four universities throughout the United States, focus on one of the relevant thematic topics: Environment and Social Awareness, Public Health and Community Development, Public Policy, and Social Media. Each institute consists of classroom instruction, field trips, site visits, community service, leadership training, conflict resolution, and cultural exchanges.
The Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program for high school students, funded by the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Youth Programs Division, and administered by World Learning and Meridian International Center, is a four-week youth leadership exchange based in the United States for Iraqi and American teenagers ages 15-18 and several Iraqi adults. The program aims to develop a cadre of young adults in Iraq and the United States who have a strong sense of civic responsibility, a commitment to community development, an awareness of current and global issues, strong interpersonal leadership skills, and a willingness to foster relationships among youth from different backgrounds.
There is no cost to apply to IYLEP. The U.S. Department of State will fully fund students’ academic study, travel, health insurance, housing, and provide a modest living allowance while in the United States.