Don't Miss These Opportunities!
International Exchange Programs for High School Students
The following programs offer opportunities for you to participate in academic, language, cultural and community service programs abroad. Many organizations offer scholarships for participants in their programs, so be sure to ask if this is available. These are just a few of the many overseas programs available. To learn about other programs, consult the publications and websites listed below or read the article in this issue "Getting Started."
Exchange Programs:
Academic Year in the USA (AYUSA)
2226 Bush Street
San Francisco, CA 94115 USA
Tel: (800) 727-4540 x543 or (415) 434-1212, E-mail: info@ayusa.org
Academic Year in the USA (AYUSA) provides a high school exchange program for foreign students from over 50 countries to study in the United States, and for U.S. students to study abroad. AYUSA offers academic year, semester or summer programs and homestays. AYUSA has had experience with disabled applicants, and will work with its network of community representatives to find the situation which will best match the applicant’s needs and interests.
AFS-USA
198 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10016 USA
Tel: (800) 237-4636 or (212) 299-9000, E-mail: afsinfo@afs.org
AFS Intercultural Programs offers exchanges to over 50 countries and has extensive experience accommodating participants with a range of disabilities. This program has exchanged thousands of participants since 1914. Students can participate in summer, semester or academic year programs with cultural, study, homestay and community service options.
ASSE International Student Exchange Programs
Western Office
105 Central Way, Suite 201
Kirkland, WA 98033 USA
Tel: (800) 733-2773 or (425) 803-9490, E-mail: asseusawest@asse.com
ASSE International offers educational and cultural exchanges to U.S. and foreign students who wish to live and study abroad. Programs lengths range from summer, to semester, to school year abroad and include homestay arrangements. U.S. students are provided with language instruction and tutoring in the first weeks of their program. Students with all types of disabilities are encouraged to participate in ASSE International programs.
Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange
Youth Programs Division, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
U.S. Department of State SA-44
301 4th Street SW, Room 568
Washington, DC 20547 USA
Tel: (202) 203-7527 (or see the website for regional contacts)
E-mail: YouthPrograms@state.gov; pleasantnx@state.gov
Designed to strengthen ties between the younger generation of Germans and Americans, the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) offers scholarships in each other’s countries for high school students, young professionals and vocational students. None of the programs require prior second language skills. CBYX emphasizes equality and accessibility. Students from all racial, ethnic, economic, religious and social backgrounds are encouraged to apply, as are students with disabilities.
Program of Academic Exchange
71 Arch Street
Greenwich, CT 06830 USA
Tel: (800) 555-6211, E-mail: academicexchange@pax.org
Program of Academic Exchange (PAX) provides educational and cultural exchange programs for U.S. and foreign teens to live and study abroad. Its goal is not to enroll superstars, nor extremely talented or gifted students, although such students are accepted. PAX seeks good, solid students from mixed backgrounds, representing various social and economic levels. Full scholarships are awarded to a number of deserving students each year. PAX has accepted and successfully placed students with a variety of disabilities.
Rotary International Youth Exchange
One Rotary Center
1560 Sherman Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201 USA
Tel: (847) 866-3000, E-mail: youthexchange@rotaryintl.org
Rotary International Youth Exchange programs provide short- and long-term opportunities for high school students in over 60 countries. Interested students must apply through their local Rotary Club. To find out about the nearest club or get general information on the exchange, contact the Rotary International headquarters office or visit the website. Rotary encourages participation of people with disabilities.
YMCA International Program Services
5 West 63 Street
New York, NY 10023 USA
Tel: (888) 477-9622 or (212) 727-8800, E-mail: ips@ymcanyc.org
YMCA International Program Services, a division of YMCA of Greater New York, offers international exchange opportunities for teenagers. These include the YMCA Go Global Program, which arranges volunteer positions, and the International Camp Counselors Abroad, which sends American counselors overseas to work at international YMCA camps. People with all types of disabilities are eligible to participate in various programs of the YMCA.
Youth for Understanding
6400 Goldsboro Road, Suite 100
Bethesda, MD 20817 USA
Tel: (800) 833-6243, TTY: (800) 787-8000, E-mail: admissions@yfu.org
Youth for Understanding (YFU) provides summer, semester and school year programs in 50 countries in Asia, Europe, North America, South America and the Pacific. Homestay experiences are centeral to all YFU exchanges. YFU encourages students with disabilities to apply to its programs.
Publication:
Advisory List
Council on Standards for International Educational Travel
212 S. Henry Street
Alexandria, VA 22314 USA
Tel: (703) 739-9050, E-mail: mailbox@csiet.org
Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) annually produces a guide to international exchange programs for high school students, titled Advisory List. The guide lists organizations that meet CSIET’s criteria for high school programs.
Websites:
Go Abroad.Com offers a variety of websites with searchable databases of exchange programs worldwide, including a site dedicated to high school programs.
The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange offers a searchable database online. By typing in "high school" in the keywords, find over 80 programs for teens worldwide.
Student & Youth Travel Association has a searchable database that lists group tour operators that organize custom programs for worldwide. Search by country, type of program and age range.