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Are you a U.S. citizen interested in an international Youth Ambassador exchange?
The U.S. Youth Ambassadors Program aims to develop a network of young adults from across the United States 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 civic engagement, youth leadership, mutual understanding, and collaboration between people in the United States and other countries of the Western Hemisphere.
The U.S. Youth Ambassadors Program is a 3-week leadership exchange abroad for U.S. teenagers ages 15-17 and adult educators. The program provides full scholarships for students and adult educators to take part in one of several exchange program offerings to countries in the Caribbean, Central and South America. Participating countries have included Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica and Ecuador.
Youth Ambassadors is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and is administered by World Learning. Exchanges are implemented by World Learning, Amigos de las Americas and Georgetown University CIED.
We are currently not accepting applications for 2026 U.S. Youth Ambassadors exchanges. Please check back for updates.
If you want to be added to a mailing list notifying you when the applications open, please click “Request Information” and complete your information. While the U.S. Youth Ambassadors Program is not currently accepting applications, the following domestic travel opportunities are currently available for U.S. high school students:
Youth Ambassadors Middle East & North Africa Program
The Youth Ambassadors Program with Algeria and Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program will run from July 3-23, 2026. In each full-scholarship program, U.S. high school participants will travel in the U.S. alongside Algerian or Iraqi youth and adult mentors for three weeks, focusing on leadership development, digital citizenship, and entrepreneurship. Apply by January 30, 2026. This summer you could:
- Dive into a cultural adventure—live with a U.S. family in Raleigh, NC or Pensacola, FL, and share the experience with a peer from Algeria or Iraq as you explore traditions, stories, and new perspectives together.
- Join a cross-cultural orientation at Mt. Holyoke College in Hadley, MA and visit important historical sites and museums in Washington, D.C.
- Upcoming Virtual Information Session: December 6th at 1:00 PM ET: Our staff will discuss this opportunity and provide a program and admissions overview for U.S. high school students.
- January 9, 2026 | 6:00 PM EST | Register Online Here
- January 23, 2026 | 6:00 PM EST | Register Online Here
Eligibility Requirements
All Youth Participants must:
- Be high school students between 15 and 17 years old (at the start of the exchange);
- Have at least one semester of school remaining after program participation;
- Be a U.S. citizen and resident;
- 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 or Spanish) to participate fully in all exchange activities.
- Have parental/legal guardian permission.
- Be willing to complete a Community-Based Service Initiative in their U.S. community after the exchange.
All Adult Educator Participants must:
- Be teachers or community leaders who work with youth;
- Be U.S. citizens and residents;
- 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 or Spanish) 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.
U.S. Youth Ambassadors Application
No programs are open for enrollment at this time. Check back later for updates.
