COUNTRIES:
DURATION: 09/01/2018 - 04/30/2023
FUNDER: U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
CONTACT[email protected]

Program Description

The On-Demand Youth Leadership Program (ODYLP) is a unique program created to serve the emerging needs of U.S. embassies around the world.

The program supports high school youth and adult educators’ participation in intensive, substantive three-week exchanges in the United States, as well as follow-on programming in the home countries of the international participants. Youth and adult participants hail from countries around the world and the U.S. This is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by World Learning.

Exchange activities introduce participants to a comprehensive survey of civic education, community service, and youth leadership development, among other themes. Youth and educators participate in workshops, conduct community service activities, meet with community leaders, live with American host families, hold discussion groups, and make the most of opportunities for learning and substantive interaction with each other.

See below for more information, including how to apply.

Program Goals

  • Promote mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries;
  • Prepare youth leaders to become responsible citizens and contributing members of their communities; and
  • Foster relationships among youth from different ethnic, religious, and national groups.

ODYLP with Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova (2016)

Current Programs:

In the current cycle, ODYLP is offering exchanges exploring unique themes from music to emergency preparedness. These programs are being conducted through World Learning’s five implementing partners in diverse locations throughout the U.S. See our partners’ websites for more information about the local program.

Kenya: Youth Leadership through Citizen Participation and Rule of Law, April/May 2020
Implementer: Northern Nevada International Center (Reno, NV)

Peru & Ecuador: Youth Leadership through Multiculturalism and Inclusion, February 2020
Implementer: Cleveland Council on World Affairs (Cleveland, OH)

Turkey: Youth Leadership in Agriculture, July/August 2019
Implementer: Legacy International (Bedford, VA)

FAS Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau: Our Ocean: Sustainability and Partnerships, June 2019
Implementer: WorldOregon (Portland, OR)

El Salvador: Always Prepared: Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response, June 2019
Implementer: Global Ties Kansas City (Kansas City, MO)

Taiwan: Music and Social Action, May 2019
Implementer: Cleveland Council on World Affairs (Cleveland, OH)

ODYLP with New Zealand & Australia (2014)

Previous Programs Include:

  • ODYLP with Burma (2012)*
  • Youth Leadership Peace Program (2012)*
  • ODYLP with Libya, Egypt and Tunisia (2012)*
  • The Christopher Stevens Youth Network Leadership Exchange (2013)*
  • Youth Ambassadors Program with Ecuador and Colombia (2013)
  • ODYLP with Sicily (2014)
  • ODYLP with China (2014)*
  • ODYLP with Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador (2014)*
  • ODYLP with New Zealand & Australia (2014)*
  • ODYLP with Azerbaijan (2015)
  • ODYLP with Russia (2015)
  • ODYLP with Algeria (2015)*
  • ODYLP with Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova (2016)*
  • ODYLP for Our Ocean with China, Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand (2016)*
  • ODYLP with Italy (2016)
  • ODYLP with Mongolia (2016)
  • ODYLP with Indonesia (2017)
  • ODYLP with Azerbaijan and Georgia (2017)
  • ODYLP with the Baltics (2018)
  • ODYLP with Italy, Slovenia, and Spain (August 2018)
*asterisk denotes World Learning-implemented projects
ODYLP with Burma (2012)

Apply to be a Youth Leader or Host Family!

World Learning and its implementing partners seek U.S. youth to participate in each of the ODYLP programs. Host families are also needed to support the youth for their short stay in your home city. If you live near the hub cities mentioned above, we invite you to apply directly with the implementing partners.

The On-Demand Youth Leadership Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by World Learning.