Youth and Education

Youth Delegates participate in team-building exercises at the 2009 Youth Conference

"Artists of Peace" Quan Nguyen Santa Clara, CA

Current Youth Programs & Resources

2011 Youth Leadership Conference, July 26-30, Eugene, Oregon “Green Generation: Shaping Your Community for the Future”

High School Homestay USA
The High School Home Stay exchange program is an opportunity for sister cities to host students for a year or semester of high school in the United States. The sister cities choose the high school students, who must be between the ages of 15 and 18 1/2 on the first day of school. Once the student is in the United States, the U.S. sister city will provide oversight for the student and include the student in sister city activities.

Have you Heard?

U.S. Department of State Launches Virtual Student Foreign Service Program

The Virtual Student Foreign Service (VSFS) Program, announced by Secretary Clinton at the 2009 New York University commencement speech, is part of a growing effort by the State Department to harness technology and a commitment to global service among young people to facilitate new forms of diplomatic engagement.

Over the summer, the U.S. Department of State partnered 37 U.S. diplomatic missions and associated projects with 44 current or former interns who are now students attending universities throughout the U.S. The VSFS projects these diplomatic missions and students will be working on in 2009-2010 include assisting in the development of the Iraq National Museum website; helping to teach the English language and American culture through social media outreach; environmental and conservation curriculum planning; and researching and promoting gender equality. Students who are interested in following or contributing to these and other projects can learn more at http://www.facebook.com/usdos.vsfs. The Department of State will continue to develop the VSFS program over the next year to increase engagement with the rising generation of citizen diplomats. More information is available at www.state.gov/vsfs.

Youth Program Resources

Sister Schools Toolkit and Program Overview — To facilitate the Sister Schools relationships across the world, the Youth and Education Department has created an accessible online toolkit. Here you will find information on how to start a school to school partnership and program tips to keep the enthusiasm going.

One World Youth Project — The One World Youth Project is a partner organization that brings classrooms together with curricula focused on the Millennium Development Goals. Click here for more information on how to get your class involved.

Past Youth Programs

2009 Belfast Youth Leadership Conference — View the schedule-at-a-glance for the 2009 Youth Leadership Conference — "Bridging Differences: Building a Peaceful Future", pictures and testimonies from the students who attended, and an overview of the program.

2008 Kansas City Youth Conference — Here you will find an overview of the 2008 Youth Conference - "Global Action: Taking Community Service Abroad", the schedule at a glance, and some pictures and testimonies from the youth delegates who participated.

Other Recent Youth Programs — Find more information on past Sister Cities International Youth Conferences, grant programs, and collaborative projects with the U.S. Department of State.

Contact Janelle Root, special programs manager, at 202-347-8630 x4003 or jroot@sister-cities.org for more information regarding Sister Cities International youth programs.

Click here to support Sister Cities International's work in youth and education.