COUNTRIES: Global
DURATION: 09/01/2011 - 04/30/2024
FUNDER: U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
PARTNER: Amigos de las Americas, Georgetown University, CIED
CONTACT[email protected]

Return to Youth Ambassadors Program main page.

World Learning and our partners at the U.S. Department of State, ECA continue to closely monitor the impact of COVID-19 and will post updates as available. Due to safety considerations, virtual or hybrid programming may be offered as an alternate to an in-person exchange. Impacted programs will be noted on the apply now page.

Alumni of Virtual Youth Ambassadors Programs are eligible to reapply to the Youth Ambassadors Program to experience the traditional three-week U.S. exchange program if all eligibility requirements are still met.

Are you interested in a YA exchange in the U.S.?

The Youth Ambassadors Program aims to develop a cadre of young adults from across countries in the Americas who have a strong sense of civic responsibility, a commitment to their communities, an awareness of current and global issues, and strong interpersonal leadership skills. The program aims to promote mutual understanding, respect, and collaboration between people in the United States and other countries of the Western Hemisphere.

Apply to the Youth Ambassadors Program for an opportunity to travel to the United States from the following countries. Country offerings and exchange dates are subject to change in consultation with the U.S. Department of State.

  • Argentina & Chile – March/April
  • Belize, El Salvador, Honduras & Nicaragua – January/February
  • Bolivia & Peru – October/November
  • Brazil – January
  • Canada – July/August
  • Caribbean: Antigua & Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, Grenada, Guyana, Suriname, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago – August
  • Colombia & Ecuador – September
  • Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Panama & Venezuela – March/April (Spanish)
  • Haiti – July (French)
  • Paraguay & Uruguay – January/February

Eligibility Requirements

All Youth Participants must:

  • Be high school students between 15 and 18 years old (at the start of the exchange);
  • Have at least one semester of school remaining after program participation;
  • Be citizens and residents of the country they are representing on the exchange;
  • Demonstrate leadership aptitude and an interest in community service and in the program theme;
  • Exhibit flexibility, maturity, integrity, good social skills, and open-mindedness;
  • Have the motivation necessary to be active and successful exchange participants; and
  • Have sufficient proficiency in the language of the exchange (English, Spanish, or French) to participate fully in all exchange activities.

All Adult Educator Participants must:

  • Be teachers or community leaders who work with youth;
  • Be citizens and residents of the country they are representing on the exchange;
  • Demonstrate an interest in assisting youth to become productive and responsible members of society;
  • Exhibit maturity and open-mindedness;
  • Be supportive of the teenage participants;
  • Have sufficient proficiency in the language of the exchange (English, Spanish, or French) to participate fully in all exchange activities; and
  • Be willing and able to meet periodically with selected program participants during the academic year, following the exchange, to support and monitor their follow-on work


How to apply instructional video
Password: pJRegZk8

View a sample Youth Ambassadors Application for STUDENTS
Vea una muestra de la solicitud de Jóvenes Embajadores para ESTUDIANTES en Español

View a sample Youth Ambassadors Application for STUDENTS
Vea una muestra de la solicitud de Jóvenes Embajadores para ESTUDIANTES en Español

View a sample Youth Ambassadors Application for ADULT MENTORS
Vea una muestra de la solicitud de Jóvenes Embajadores para MENTORES ADULTOS en Español

(Program application deadlines vary by country)

Exemple de demande pour les jeunes ambassadeurs destinée aux ÉTUDIANTS souhaitant se rendre aux États-Unis (en français)

Exemple de demande pour les jeunes ambassadeurs destinée aux MENTORS ADULTES souhaitant se rendre aux États-Unis. (en français)

La méthode préférée pour soumettre cette application est en ligne à l’adresse https://youthambassadors.worldlearning.org/YA/wl_sitelogin. Seuls les candidats ayant un accès limité à Internet peuvent soumettre des candidatures sur papier en téléchargeant l’application à partir des liens ci-dessous.