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Those looking for youth programs for international students can take advantage of this comprehensive guide. We have listed some of the most popular youth programs that provide opportunities for participants from all over the world. By applying to one of the following initiatives, you will have the opportunity to gain competence in academic, social and vocational areas while building connections to the global community and peers.
What is A Youth Program?
Youth programs are geared toward those between the ages of 10 and 25 and are meant to be fun and educational. Recreation, social life, prevention, intervention, or education are all common themes in the activities mentioned.
Youth programs may include athletics, religion, community involvement, youth activism, youth service, or outdoor education. Meanwhile, youth empowerment, consumer rights, youth-led media, and youth rights are just a few of the issues addressed.
Depending on the area, culture, class, education, and values of the persons and organizations engaged, youth program focuses and activities might vary widely. These programs are offered by government agencies, non-profit groups, and corporations around the globe.
10 Youth Programs for International Students
Here are some youth programs for international students worth checking out:
1. UNESCO Youth Programme
As part of its youth program, UNESCO works with young people to promote social innovation and change, engage them fully in their countries’ growth, eradicate poverty and inequality, and cultivate a culture of peace. Some of its well-known projects are the Global Youth Community (GYC) and Youth As Researchers (YAR).
The UNESCO youth-to-youth collaboration and intergenerational learning are key goals of GYC, which strives to raise the profile of young people’s activism and the work of young change-makers. People between the ages of 18 and 35, as well as youth-led groups working in areas under the purview of UNESCO, are encouraged to apply.
On the other hand, to undertake research on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the young population and their responses to these challenges, YAR’s global project on COVID-19 interacts and engages with young people. To become a participant in the YAR program, you must submit a content and share your experience.
2. Australia-Indonesia Youth Exchange Program (AIYEP)
Youth (aged 21 to 25) from both Australia and Indonesia are brought together through the Australia-Indonesia Youth Exchange Program (AIYEP), which was started in 1982. Participants will have the opportunity to expand their intercultural competence, professional experiences, and global networks as a result of their participation in this activity.
Virtual job experience, educational and cultural performances, and high-level guest speakers will be offered to participants during the program. They will also collaborate on a project of mutual interest to themselves and the bilateral relationship.
Eighteen Indonesians and eighteen Australians will spend seven weeks (November to January) together engaging with each other, alumni, and others who wield influence and expertise in the academic, corporate, community, and diplomatic worlds of Australia and Indonesia.
3. International Youth Initiative Program (YIP)
Young people aged 18 to 28 can participate in the YIP in Sweden, a 10-month societal entrepreneurship training program. It provides a comprehensive educational experience that helps students have a better grasp of the world and their own selves. This effort aims to empower young people to take personal and communal action in the face of today’s global circumstances.
Experts, facilitators, and innovators work with up to 40 participants to learn, create, and organize. For young people who want to learn more about the world around them, YIP’s curriculum provides a framework for them to do so.
To enroll in the program, you must be between the ages of 18 and 28. For the duration of the YIP program, each participant is charged SEK 100,000. Included are tuition, textbooks, supplies, meals, lodging, and all related travel expenses. Applicants will be approved as they come in, and the process will continue as long as they meet the eligibility requirements.
4. Youth International
Youth International is a program that blends international travel, cross-cultural exchange, homestays, volunteer work, and outdoor activities to provide an unforgettable learning experience. Since 1997, it has been taking groups on educational excursions around the world, and its single-country programs last around a month.
The trips begin in late November and end in late April twice a year. Traveling with two group leaders, fourteen young people between the ages of 18 and 25 visit one of four destinations: Nepal, Kenya, Ecuador, or India.
Anyone between the ages of 18 and 25 is eligible to apply to participate in a Youth International gap year program. As long as there remain open slots on the squad, applications will be welcomed. It is completely free to apply.
5. Rotary Youth Exchange
By bringing young people together, Rotary Youth Exchange works to create a more peaceful world. Students learn a new language, encounter a new culture, and become genuinely global citizens as a result of this program. Rotary clubs from all over the world fund youth programs for international students between the ages of 15 and 19.
As a result of their participation in an exchange program, high school students have the opportunity to gain valuable life skills such as leadership, cultural sensitivity, and a global perspective. There are no additional costs for housing or meals. However, the cost of a round-trip ticket and travel insurance are normally the responsibility of students in most programs.
The candidates range in age from 15 to 19 and are active in their schools and communities as well as in sports and other activities. Contact your local Rotary club to learn more about exchange opportunities and the application process.
6. International Youth Exchange
The Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE) organizes the International Youth Exchange to bring people from around the world closer to Japan. Youth programs for international students offered by JICE are tailored to each participant’s unique political, economic, social and cultural contexts in order to ensure that each person receives a meaningful experience.
The invitation program takes place over a 10-day period in Tokyo and other places across Japan, with participants primarily hailing from Asia and North America. By participating in various activities, such as seeing cutting-edge technology, visiting historic/scenic sites and local enterprises, and experiencing traditional cultures and pop cultures, participants will learn about Japan’s unique qualities.
Additionally, school exchanges and homestays give participants a chance to get to know Japanese individuals and build bonds of friendship.
7. Global Youth Village (GYV)
Young people aged 15-19 from more than 15 countries have been gathering in Bedford, Virginia, every summer since 1979 to create a functioning model of the world’s population. Long-lasting friendships are forged here at a traditional summer camp, where mutual respect is the norm for human contact.
In GYV, young people have an important role in all aspects of the organization. It provides hands-on leadership training so that people can build a future that is full of hope, creativity, and long-term viability.
As a result of this unique opportunity, young people get the opportunity to interact with world-changing changemakers who are tackling today’s most important global issues. Learn from experts and champions in a wide range of fields, and create your own youth advocacy toolkits to help change the world in your own community, all in a lovely rural location.
8. Fort Worth Sister Cities International: Youth Exchanges
Students at Fort Worth Sister Cities International have had the opportunity to participate in international youth exchanges and excursions since 1985. Young brains are less bound by ingrained habits of thinking and exposed for cultural competency and building the social trust that is needed to developing a more peaceful society.
These youth programs for international students have been providing international youth trips and exchanges for kids from Fort Worth Sister Cities International (FSCI) since 1985. It is easier for young brains to break free from their engrained habits of thinking, exposing them to cultural competency and fostering social trust that is essential to establishing a more peaceful world.
To apply, complete an application and submit your $25 student membership fee, a copy of your last report card, recommendations from two teachers, and a one-page essay on “Why I want to be a Youth Ambassador.” Furthermore, Fort Worth Sister Cities International offers three different scholarship opportunities for Youth Ambassador Exchanges.
9. Wharton Global Youth Program
As part of the Wharton Global Youth Program, pre-college kids learn about business practices, examine difficult global issues, and take the initial steps toward becoming leaders who will influence the global economy through the Wharton academic community’s wide resources.
Students in grades 9 to 11 can take part in these full-time, college-preparatory programs. These youth programs for international students, which are taught by Wharton academics and staff, take place on the university’s Philadelphia or San Francisco campuses.
Wharton research and teaching subjects are explored by students, who take part in our rigorous business education and make connections with their classmates in an Ivy League setting.
10. ASF Intercultural Programs
AFS Intercultural Programs help young people from all walks of life learn vital global skills and develop a desire to make a positive impact on their communities. You have the option of participating in the exchange for one academic year, one semester, or one trimester.
More than 70 years of experience running exchange programs in more than 60 countries are used to construct the educational content of AFS programs. Before, during, and after the program, AFS has devised a journey that encompasses all aspects of the exchange experience.
Young individuals between the ages of 14 and 18 can participate in ASF Intercultural Programs. These programs are for people who are curious about the world and want to make a difference.
Looking for more opportunities for youth? Check out our guide on Simon Youth Foundation Scholarship and Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards. Also, make sure to bookmark our website for more information on youth programs for international students.
