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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. Below is a list of programs for international applicants and their approximate program exchange dates.
- Argentina & Chile – March
- Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras & Panama– March/April
- 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
- Dominican Republic, Guatemala & Nicaragua – March/April (Spanish)
- Haiti – November (French)
- Paraguay & Uruguay – January/February
Eligibility Requirements (Some requirements vary by program
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
Program application deadlines vary by country, please check this page for more information. If you don’t see an application link for your country, the application is currently closed. If you would like to be added to a mailing list notifying when the applications open, please click on the “Request Information” button and complete your information.
You must be a citizen and resident of the program you apply to.
Participating countries include: Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, the Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, the United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Applications for 2024 exchanges are currently closed. Please check back for additional upcoming application periods.
Application Process
World Learning encourages all qualified individuals to apply, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability status. IMPORTANT: All applications are due by 11:59 PM EST (Eastern Standard Time in the USA) on the designated application deadline. Please make sure that you calculate what time that is in your time zone.”
Important note for all applicants:
World Learning respects the privacy of your personal information. Our Privacy Policy explains how we collect, protect, store, and use your data. Personal data collected via this application will be used to consider you for participation in, and communicate with you about World Learning Programs. Personal data provided via this application may be transferred to and processed by the U.S. Department of State or other partner organizations, as necessary, to administer World Learning Programs. Youth Ambassadors Applicants below the age of 16 years must have the consent/permission of parent(s) or legal guardian(s) prior to completing the application. World Learning may verify that such consent has been given prior to considering applicants for any World Learning Program.
This Portal may include information which should be considered sensitive and confidential (“Confidential Information”). Such information may include personally identifiable information and sensitive information about the needs or personal circumstances of potential program participants.
In fulfilling your duties you agree not to 1) disclose any Confidential Information, directly or indirectly, to any third party, 2) make use of Confidential Information for purposes other than those for which you have been granted access, and 3) retain any Confidential Information, in any form, following completion of your duties.
Any intentional or inadvertent disclosure, or misuse of Confidential Information, or any conflict of interest or misconduct encountered in discharging your duties should be reported to World Learning immediately.
