Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Programs
Program Information:
The Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP) has provided invaluable leadership and educational opportunities for approximately 1000 undergraduate and high school students since its creation in 2007. This program works to support the goals of the U.S.-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement to enhance mutual understanding and strengthen the connections between the people of the United States and Iraq, and has created a cadre of young Iraqi leaders who are inspiring and impacting their communities.
The Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program for undergraduate students 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: Public Policy; Entrepreneurship and Community Development; Information Technology and Media; and Leadership, Law, and Social Justice. Each institute consists of classroom instruction, field trips, site visits, community service, leadership training, conflict resolution training, and cultural exchanges.
For questions about the program please email 2013IYLEP@gmail.com
The Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program for high school students is a four-week youth leadership exchange based in the United States for Iraqi and American teenagers ages 15-17 and Iraqi adult mentors. 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 ethnic, religious, and national groups in Iraq.
For questions about the program please email iylephighschool@gmail.com
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.