This project showcases the vital role that women play in preventing, mitigating, and resolving conflict by building peace in countries threatened and affected by war, violence, and insecurity. Participants will use case studies to examine how women leaders in the United States actively engage in mediating disputes arising from political, socioeconomic, ethnic, religious, and regional differences. Meetings, site visits, and activities will highlight how women leaders strategically balance divergent social demands and interests when confronting peace and security challenges in their communities.

Each summer, the VCWA welcomes a cohort of Iraqi high school students to Vermont as part of a two-week exchange called the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP). 

IYLEP participants stay with local host families as they explore themes of leadership development, civic rights and responsibilities, respect for diversity, community engagement, and social entrepreneurship.

The participants work to develop skills in leadership and civic engagement among participants enabling them to be active change-makers in their communities, foster respect for diversity and a stronger understanding between people of different ethnic, religious, and national backgrounds and build mutual understanding between people of Iraq and the U.S.

4 Part-Time Host families are needed from July 17th - July 30th.

July 22-30, July 24-30 (adult male mentor), July 20-30 (x2)

We are seeking families in Chittenden, Orange, Washington, and Addison counties to host participating Arabic-speaking high school students during the two-week period they are visiting Vermont. The VCWA arranges programming during the weekdays (9:00am - 5:00pm), while you share your home with the visitors in the evening and on the weekend. Hosting is a wonderful opportunity to connect with international visitors and experience a new culture without leaving the comfort of your own home! Questions? See FAQs here.

Interested in hosting a high schooler from this delegation? Email Jennifer@vcwa.org or fill out the interest form here.

The VCWA will be hosting a delegation of visitors from Latvia for a program focusing on Cybersecurity. The visit is sponsored by the Open World Leadership Center, an arm of the US Congress, which works to introduce rising leaders of emerging countries to the importance of legislative functions in creating and sustaining democracies.

This group will be meeting with various stakeholders throughout Vermont July 15 - 19 to learn more about Cybersecurity practices in the US.

Seeking Host Families

Interested in hosting a visitor from this delegation? Email Jennifer@vcwa.org or fill out the interest form here.

This program examines best practices to combat trafficking in persons, focusing on both slave labor and sex trafficking. Participants will examine U.S. legislation, visa regulations, and enforcement against and prosecution of traffickers; initiatives to identify, protect, assist, and provide services for trafficking victims; efforts to raise awareness through the media; and local, national, and international cooperative efforts to combat trafficking in persons. Participants will discuss strategies to end trafficking, both domestically and internationally, with local, state, and federal government agencies, law enforcement officials, educators, NGO leaders, faith-based organizations, and advocacy groups.

This project will examine the rise of social entrepreneurship in the United States and how innovation in this sphere can drive social, economic, and environmental change. It will explore the concept of social entrepreneurship, community initiatives, and government initiatives that support civic engagement and innovation. Through successful models of social entrepreneurship, the participants will explore the impact of new and social media on traditional methods of fundraising, grassroots mobilization, and strategic collaboration.

This program explores the strategies of human and civil rights practitioners who advocate for the rights of marginalized communities and demonstrate how they present their concerns to government and social influencers. It addresses approaches to defending the rights of members of the LGBTQI+ community and other vulnerable populations. Participants will explore creative approaches to celebrate diversity, promote inclusive public attitudes, address sensitive issues by working across institutional lines, and expand collaborative networks. Participants will also learn how civil society, the private sector, and the media can empower gender-nonconforming people to overcome common barriers that perpetuate gender-based violence, discrimination, and harassment. The group will learn how vulnerable communities developed diverse coalitions among civil society, governments, and media to promote transgender rights, gender equality, and tolerance.

This project highlights U.S. efforts to prosecute trafficking in persons, including forced labor. Participants will examine U.S. legislation, visa regulations, and enforcement against and prosecution of traffickers; initiatives to identify, protect, assist, and provide services for trafficking victims; efforts to raise awareness through the media; and local, national, and international cooperative efforts to combat trafficking in persons. Participants will discuss strategies to end trafficking, both domestically and internationally, with local, state, and federal government agencies, law enforcement officials, educators, NGO leaders, faith-based organizations, and advocacy groups. Participants will also discuss strategies to improve the methodology of statistics across all industries and government.

This program will examine best practices in combating trafficking in persons, focusing on both forced labor and commercial sex trafficking. Participants will examine U.S. legislation, visa regulations, and enforcement actions against and prosecution of traffickers; initiatives to identify, protect, assist, and provide services for trafficking victims; and local, national, and international cooperative efforts to combat trafficking in persons. Participants will discuss strategies to end trafficking, both domestically and internationally, with local, state, and federal government agencies, law enforcement officials, educators, NGO leaders, faith-based organizations, and advocacy groups.

This project will examine the effects that inclusion of women and girls and people with disabilities in sports have in academic and civic life. Participants will consider strategies for inclusion and empowerment of diverse youth, particularly girls and youth with disabilities through sport; and learn the best practices for positive engagement of women and girls and people with disabilities in sport. Meetings with accessibility-driven organizations will demonstrate the different levels of sport that exist in the U.S. (school-based, community based, recreation leagues, semi-pro, professional) and how they contribute to healthy communities.

This project examines how transparency and accountability in government ensure public trust in the integrity and fairness of elected officials, public servants, and the institutions of government. In addition to highlighting mechanisms for transparency in government in the United States, the project addresses the roles of civil society and the media as watchdogs and catalysts for the creation and maintenance of transparent and accountable government. The project incorporates case studies that illustrate whistle blower protections and current and ongoing transparency investigations.

This project will help accelerating climate adaptation in Africa and support efforts to work in collaboration with other nations and experts to address the impact of climate change, its nexus with adaptation, and water scarcity. This program will explore the legal, political, and regulatory environment that facilitates water negotiations in the United States. Meetings will include technical experts that work on transboundary water resource management, adaptation, and climate change, as well as policymakers and civil society organizations that work on transboundary water management negotiations and its environmental and economic impacts. This project will illustrate the value of transboundary cooperation to prevent water scarcity that affects the environment and economies.

This program will explore legislation, technological tools, and social interventions that the United States uses to effectively combat digital sex crimes. Participants will discuss practical skills and best practices for increasing public awareness of such crimes and for promoting greater respect for victims’ rights, including the prevention of widespread distribution of non-consensual pornography and online sexual abuse that are enabled by digital technology. Participants will also learn how offenders in the United States are prosecuted.

This program builds on and reinforces the efforts of the Department of State's NEA Higher Education Initiative, which aims to strengthen connections between U.S. and Middle East and North African (MENA) universities. Meetings, site visits, and activities will focus on the accreditation process, expansion of Fulbright program opportunities, recruitment strategies for American students to attend MENA institutions, potential university partnerships, intellectual freedom, and critical thinking. Participants will also examine how higher education institutions in the U.S. offer degrees that facilitate economic prosperity, encourage innovation, and collaborate with the private sector to develop the workforce.

This project examines how sustainable energy development fosters global political stability and prosperity. Meetings, site visits, and activities will highlight how developing and innovating clean energy technologies leads to economic prosperity, energy matrix modernization, and environmental sustainability. Discussions will focus on how renewable energy resources diversify sources of energy supply and allow for greater energy independence, thus increasing geopolitical stability and reducing the potential for malign influence. This program will explore U.S. policies; public-private partnership programs at the federal, state, and city levels; incubators and innovation hubs that support renewable energy and grid infrastructure sectors; and how energy innovation can strengthen local and regional economies.

This project will expose three participants from the Ministry of Communications in Paraguay to best practices in government communication. This program will examine public communication strategies, including the use of technology, to provide government services more efficiently. The project will highlight practices that increase transparency and citizen oversight of government activities while increasing the geographic reach of government services in outlying areas that tend to be marginalized from accessing the benefits of governance.

The Pan Africa Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP) believes in the potential for great & lasting impact when leadership development programs target young emerging leaders. PAYLP brings together high school students for practical leadership and technical skills training centered around an action-planning curriculum & capstone.

This dynamic youth leadership program engages participants from over 38 countries in Africa for a two-week U.S.-based cultural exchange and civic engagement training program.

Seeking Host Families

We are seeking families to host participating English-speaking high school students during the two-week period they are visiting Vermont. The VCWA arranges programming during the weekdays, while you share your home with the visitors in the evening and on the weekend. Hosting is a wonderful opportunity to connect with international visitors and experience a new culture without leaving the comfort of your own home! Participants will stay with host families from April 10-24.

Urgent need for hosts April 17th - April 24th.

Since its launch in 2015, the U.S. Department of State’s Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program empower emerging entrepreneurs from the Western Hemisphere to enable the full economic potential of the region’s citizens.

YLAI promotes U.S. business models, increases trade, encourages job creation, and builds lasting and sustainable networks of young entrepreneurs and business and social leaders across Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, and the United States.

This project provides opportunities to explore U.S. economic, political, and security goals and exposes participants to the complex U.S. foreign policy decision-making process. Meetings focus on U.S.-European relations and cooperation regarding the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East; post-COVID politics and economies; fighting disinformation online; climate change; Afghanistan; protecting and promoting marginalized communities; countering violent extremism; the U.S. strategic course in Asia and the Pacific; responding to China's influence in Europe; stability and democratization in Southeast Europe; nuclear nonproliferation; energy security; and immigration.

This project explores how U.S. universities and technical schools design curricula for IT and cybersecurity degree and certification programs. In meetings with their academic and government counterparts, participants will discuss ways to align course design with the needs of employers and adapt to a continuously evolving IT labor market. Participants will also examine the role of career development centers in helping students learn job skills and find internships and employment opportunities. Visits to innovative laboratories and training centers will showcase best practices in providing students with real-world experience in administering and maintaining the security of computer networks.

This program will introduce participants active in entrepreneurship and community-building initiatives to American experts in social entrepreneurship and explore ways to improve opportunities in the Caucasus region through public and private sector support, improving access to economic opportunity for rural and disadvantaged communities, women’s economic empowerment, and establishing entrepreneurial networks and innovation ecosystems.

This project explores the impact of propaganda and censorship. Participants will assess strategies designed to encourage better public awareness of disinformation and will explore the role of government agencies, NGOs, academia, and social media in the fight against deceptive information. The project will introduce participants to independent media and pro-democracy thought leaders who will provide information and resources on the use of technologies and approaches that can disseminate information in restrictive environments. Participants will examine how the U.S. protects democratic values through countering propaganda campaigns and censorship.

This project provides opportunities to explore U.S. economic, political, and security goals and exposes participants to the complex U.S. foreign policy decision-making process. Meetings focus on U.S.-European relations and cooperation regarding the war in Ukraine; post-COVID politics and economies; fighting disinformation online; climate change; Afghanistan; protecting and promoting marginalized communities; countering violent extremism; the U.S. strategic course in Asia and the Pacific; responding to China's influence in Europe; stability and democratization in Southeast Europe; nuclear nonproliferation; energy security; and immigration.

The U.S.-Jordan Leadership Exchange Program (UJLEP) supports a new generation of collaborative, innovative, and values-driven Jordanian leaders who drive success and growth in their economy and civil society, while strengthening ties between the United States and Jordan.

Selected fellows with demonstrated high potential in eight key economic and social development disciplines will participate in leadership training in Jordan, travel to the US for a tailored practicum and cultural experience with the VCWA, and engage in follow on projects in their home communities in Jordan.

This cohort will be in Vermont September 15th - October 15th and the VCWA will put them in a homestay for one week during their four-week stay.

10 host families will be needed from September 15th - 22th. Interested in hosting a visitor from this delegation? Email marya@vcwa.org or fill out the interest form here.

This project examines how transparency and accountability in government ensure public trust in the integrity and fairness of elected officials, public servants, and the institutions of government. In addition to highlighting mechanisms for transparency in government in the United States, the project addresses the roles of civil society and the media as watchdogs and catalysts for the creation and maintenance of transparent and accountable government. The project will incorporate case studies that illustrate whistle blower protections and current and ongoing transparency investigations.

This project will build on policy priorities identified in past Party-to-Party exchanges, which will encourage maximum CPV participation. Further, women represent an ever-growing percentage of government employees and party officials. Despite this, they still face significant challenges in rising to Vietnam's most senior position. This project is an important opportunity to exchange views and lessons learned with this group of rising women in Vietnam's Party. This project will be amplified through complementary exchanges facilitated by the U.S. Speaker Program and the Congressional Office for International Leadership (COIL). This approach will broaden U.S. Government engagement with the CPV and oversight of the program while offering cost savings over the previous approach of subcontracting programming to IRI/NDI.

The Youth Ambassadors Program brings together high school students and adult mentors from countries across the Americas to promote mutual understanding, increase leadership skills, and prepare youth to make a difference in their communities.

The VCWA will be hosting a Youth Ambassadors Program focussing on entrepreneurship and the environment. 18 high schoolers will be joining us from The Caribbean.

Participants will engage in workshops, community service activities, team-building exercises, meetings with community leaders, and homestays with American families. Upon their return home, the students apply what they have learned to implement projects that serve the needs of their communities.

18 Host families are needed from August 25th - 30th.

We are seeking families to host participating English-speaking high school students or adult mentors. The VCWA arranges programming during the weekdays (9:00am - 5:00pm), while you share your home with the visitors in the evening and on the weekend. Hosting is a wonderful opportunity to connect with international visitors and experience a new culture without leaving the comfort of your own home!

Interested in hosting a high schooler from this delegation? Email marya@vcwa.org or fill out the interest form here.

The Youth Ambassadors Program brings together high school students and adult mentors from countries across the Americas to promote mutual understanding, increase leadership skills, and prepare youth to make a difference in their communities.

The VCWA will be hosting a Youth Ambassadors Program focusing on entrepreneurship and the environment. 13 high schoolers will be joining us virtually from Haiti.

Participants will engage in virtual workshops, community service activities, team-building exercises, meetings with community leaders, and homestays with American families. Upon the closure of this program, the students apply what they have learned to implement projects that serve the needs of their communities.

10 Virtual Host families are need from August 7th - 10th

We are seeking families to host participating French-speaking high school students or adult mentors. Hosts will participate in one hour a day Home Hospitality Activities during the four days of the program. Hosting is a wonderful opportunity to connect with international visitors and experience a new culture without leaving the comfort of your own home!

Interested in hosting a high schooler from this delegation? Email marya@vcwa.org or fill out the interest form here.