Kosovo Youth Exchange Program: an opportunity for cross-cultural exchange

By: Kosovo Diaspora    October 3, 2013

The Kosovo Youth Exchange Program (KYEP) is a collaborative effort funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the Cleveland Council on World Affairs (CCWA). The program brings accomplished students from Kosovo who are highly proficient in English to study in American high schools for one year. KYEP focuses on cross-cultural exchange and the development of leadership skills. Students are placed with host families and attend local schools for one academic year.

This unique exchange program will award up to 16 high school students from Kosovo the opportunity to live and study in the United States for the 2014-15 academic year.

APPLICANT MUST:

* Be a secondary school student in Kosovo who has not completed more than 11 years of primary and secondary study, exclusive of kindergarten and will still have one year left of high school upon return, is at least 15 years of age, but not more than 18 years and six months of age as of the program start (August  2013).

* Commit to maintaining residency in Kosovo for two years after returning home from the exchange program

* Have a working knowledge of English

* Be an active leader in his/her school or community

* Have confidence to represent his/her town, region, and country as a youth ambassador

* Demonstrate maturity, good character, and scholastic aptitude

* Have an open mind and an interest in traveling to the USA for an academic year

* Have not previously participated in an academic year or semester secondary school student exchange program in the United States or attended school in the United States on either F–1 or J–1 visa status.

WHAT WILL BE COVERED?

* Roundtrip international airfare

* Domestic US airfare to and from host city

* Housing with American host family

HOW TO APPLY:

Go to http://www.ccwakyep.org/#!vstc0=apply to apply online, or http://www.ccwakyep.org/#!vstc1=page-2/vstc0=forms to download paper forms.

DEADLINE: March 1, 2013