I often receive emails from teen readers who want to travel abroad like Astrid — though maybe without the corresponding bow and arrow — but can’t afford it. I thought I’d pass along this information about scholarship programs for high school students to study abroad — there doesn’t seem to be anything in Italy from my quick perusal, but there are other European countries, as well as a lot of programs in Asia, South America, and Africa.
Applications are being considered now, so if you’re a highschool student (there seem to be a few open for college kids, too) who wants to travel and learn other languages/cultures, check it out:
Youth Exchange Scholarship Opportunities for U.S. High School Students
The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) offers merit-based scholarships to U. S. high-school aged students to study seven critical languages in countries where these languages are spoken. Recruiting for 2012-2013 programs is underway and applications are due on November 3, 2011. The application and more information about the program can be found at nsliforyouth.org. The NSLI-Y program is part of a multi-agency U.S. government initiative launched in 2006 to improve Americans’ ability to engage with people from around the world who speak Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Korean, Persian (Tajik), Russian and Turkish. Academic year programs will be offered to study Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean and Russian, and six-eight week summer programs will be offered for all seven languages.
The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad Program offers scholarships to American high school students to spend one academic semester or year in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Oman, Thailand, and Turkey during the 2012-2013 academic years. The application period for academic year 2012-2013 is now open. The application deadline is January 11, 2012. Visit yesprograms.org for eligibility criteria and information on how to apply. YES Abroad program participants live with host families, attend high school, engage in activities to learn about the host country’s society and values, acquire leadership skills, and help educate others about American culture while learning about their host country’s culture.
The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program (CBYX) was established in 1983 to celebrate German-American friendship based on common values of democracy and promotes lasting personal and institutional relationships through an academic year school and a home-stay experience. t -school students, ages 15-18, live with host families, attend school and participate in community life. Another part of the program is dedicated to young professionals (undergraduates) and high-school graduates of vocational studies ages 18-24 who study and participate in practical training. Prior German language skills are not required. Recruiting for the 2012-2013 programs is underway. For more information and application deadlines visit the organization in charge of recruitment for your state at USAGermanyScholarship.org .
The American Youth Leadership Program offers opportunities for American high students and educators to travel abroad on a three- to four-week-long exchange program to gain firsthand knowledge of foreign cultures and to collaborate on solving global issues. ECA has partnered with several different organizations to implement this program, and each of them has organized an academic and experiential educational exchange focused on dialogue and debate, leadership development, and community service. In 2012, more than 300 selected participants will be able to travel to Bangladesh, Cambodia, Japan, Kenya, Mongolia, Norway, or Panama and Costa Rica. Recruitment areas and application deadlines vary, so please check the American Youth Leadership Program website for links to the partner organization’s program information.
