International Visitor Program
Global Youth Leadership Program

Interested in empowering youth? Broaden your horizons and perspectives by hosting an international student or teacher in your home!

Serbian Student with Roosevelt High School Students Interviewed by KPLU Reporter- October 2007

2009 Youth Programs
2008 Youth Programs
2007 Youth Programs
Youth Program Scrapbook

Through the Global Youth Leadership Program, the International Visitor Program brings youth from around the globe to the Seattle area. In 2010, students and teachers will visit the Puget Sound region from countries such as Brazil, Korea, and Iraq. Programs include homestays, mentoring, school visits, and intensive project work on topics such as grassroots democracy, ethnic tolerance, youth leadership, social entrepreneurship, international understanding through art, political leadership, and volunteerism.

2010 Programs

Brazilian Youth Ambassador Program: January 14-26, 2010
The World Affairs Council has partnered with the U.S. State Department and World Learning to bring 9 Brazilian Youth to Seattle for leadership programming focused on entrepreneurship. In addition to attending Roosevelt High School during the program, students explore the themes of business entrepreneurship and have the opportunity to create and present their own business plans.

Iraqi Youth Leadership Program: July/August 2010
The World Affairs Council, World Learning, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, and U.S. Department of State have partnered to bring a delegation of high school students and a youth leader from Iraq to Seattle for youth leadership programming.

Application Click Here

Please contact Kristen Comer, IVP Director, at kcomer@world-affairs.org with further questions.

Korean National Assembly Youth Exchange: July/August 2010
In partnership with Meridian International Center, the World Affairs Council will host a group of 10 Korean university students in Seattle for a program focused on civic participation, volunteerism, and community activism.

Please contact Kristen Comer, IVP Director, at kcomer@world-affairs.org with further questions.

2009 Programs

U.S. Brazilian Embassy Youth Ambassador Exchange Project: January 15-22, 2009
The World Affairs Council partnered with the U.S. Embassy in Brazil and the U.S. State Department to bring 7 Brazilian Youth to Seattle. These Youth Ambassadors worked on projects focused on youth leadership and empowerment.

Serbia Youth Program-Grassroots Activism:
May 3 - 18, 2009
World Affairs Council and World Learning partnered to bring a delegation of 10 high school students and 1 teacher from Serbia to Seattle for two weeks. Through the utilization of photography, they examined grassroots activistm by exploring community building and youth-run organizations and groups.

Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program:
July 15 - 22, 2009
World Affairs Council and Meridian International Center partnered to bring a delegation of 10 Iraqi students and 1 adult youth leader from Iraq to Seattle. During their stay, they explored civic education, leadership, and conflict resolution through the use of photography.

Korean National Assembly Youth Exchange:
July 29 - August 01, 2009
In partnership with Meridian International Center, a group of 10 Korean university students visited Seattle through the U.S. Congress-Korean National Assembly Youth Exchange Program. While in Seattle, they increased their knowledge of U.S.-Korean relations, the workings of congressional offices at the national and district level, civic participation, volunteerism, and community activism.

Serbia Youth Program-Ethnic Tolerance in a Multi-ethnic Society: November 1 - 16, 2009
World Affairs Council and World Learning partnered to bring a delegation of 10 high school students and 1 adult youth leaders from Serbia to Seattle for two weeks to explore the themes of ethnic tolerance in a multiethnic society utilizing journalism.

2008 Programs

ASEAN Youth Ambassador Program: June 24-28, 2008
Indonesian youth ambassadors visited Seattle for a program focused on youth leadership and volunteerism. The group also performed traditional Indonesian songs and dances at a public event at the University of Washington.

Korean National Assembly Youth Exchange: June 23-26, 2008
Korean university students visited Seattle through the U.S. Congress-Korean National Assembly Youth Exchange Program. While in Seattle, the goal of the program was to increase their knowledge of U.S.-Korean relations, the U.S. foreign policy process, civic participation, volunteerism, and community activism.

U.S. Brazilian Embassy Youth Ambassador Exchange Project: January 17-24, 2008
The World Affairs Council partnered with World Learning and the U.S. Embassy in Brazil to bring 6 Brazilian Youth to Seattle. These Youth Ambassadors will work on projects focused on youth leadership and empowerment.

2007 Programs

Serbia Youth Program-Grassroots Activism:
April 21 - May 8, 2007
World Affairs Council and World Learning partnered to bring a delegation of 10 high school students and 2 teachers from Serbia to Seattle for three weeks to explore the themes of grassroots activism through two lenses; environment and conflict transformation/human rights.

See photos in the IVP Scrapbook

Moroccan Youth Leadership Program: Linking Individuals, Knowledge, and Culture: June 30 - July 21, 2007
The World Affairs Council partnered with OneWorld Now!, AMIDEAST, and AYUSA to develop a mutual exchange program between Moroccan and Seattle-based students. The program “Linking Individuals, Knowledge and Culture (LINC)” focused on the development of leadership and cross-cultural communication skills through art and culture. LINC is a direct exchange: Moroccan youth stayed with host families in the U.S. while American youth stayed with host families in Morocco. The goal of the program was to educate youth about other cultures, to help them in developing cross-cultural dialogue, and to strengthen mutual understanding.

See photos in the IVP Scrapbook

While in Seattle the Moroccan students worked together with Longhouse Media/Native Lens to produce a film about their impressions of the U.S. See video here.

U.S. Congress-Korean National Assembly Youth Exchange Project: August 1 – 4, 2007
The World Affairs Council and Meridian International Center partnered to bring 8 Korean youths to Seattle to explore youth engagement and volunteerism.

Student Leaders and Civic Activism, Regional Program from the Middle East: August 31 - September 5, 2007
The World Affairs Council, Meridian International Center, and the U.S. Department of State partnered to bring 11 students from the Middle East and North Africa to Seattle to explore youth leadership and empowerment, team building tools, service learning, and student government. Participants were college-age and Arabic-speaking.

See photos in the IVP Scrapbook

Youth Leadership Initiative for Sustainable Peace: September 22 - 27, 2007
The World Affairs Council, Meridian International Center, and the U.S. Department of State partnered to bring 14 youths, educators, and youth organizers from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia to the Olympic Peninsula and Seattle to explore youth leadership tools and youth empowerment programs.

Jordanian Shariah Students – The Role of Religion in the U.S.: October 26 – 31, 2007
The World Affairs Council, Meridian International Center, and the U.S. Embassy - Amman partnered to bring a delegation of 10 youths to Seattle to explore youth leadership, volunteerism, and faith-based programs. Participants were college-age and English-speaking.

Serbia Youth Program-Ethnic Tolerance in a Multi-ethnic Society: October 27 - November 12, 2007
World Affairs Council and World Learning partnered to bring a delegation of 9 high school students and 2 adult youth leaders from Serbia to Seattle for two weeks to explore the themes of ethnic tolerance through two lenses; interfaith religion and immigration and refugees.

See photos in the IVP Scrapbook

To listen to a KPLU interview with the Serbian Students, click here.

While in Seattle the Serbian students worked together with Longhouse Media/Native Lens to produce a film about their impression of ethnic tolerance in a multi-ethnic society. To watch the video here.

For more information on the Global Youth Leadership Program, please contact Kristen Comer, IVP Director, at kcomer@world-affairs.org.