People to People Student Ambassador Programs are invitation-only programs that provide international educational opportunities for grade school, junior high school, and high school students.

These journeys to destinations all over the world combine hands-on cultural experiences, behind-the-scenes access to fascinating people and places, and amazing outdoor adventures to create life-changing educational experiences. Learn more about the Student Ambassador Program.

People to People Student Ambassador Programs embody the original mission set forth by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eisenhower founded People to People International in 1956 to "promote peace through understanding" between individual citizens of the world. Over the past 50 years, Student Ambassadors have traveled to all seven continents to fulfill President Eisenhower's vision of a better world, gaining maturity, confidence, self-esteem and friendship. Learn more about our 50 year history.

At People to People, the health and safety of our Student Ambassadors has always been our top priority. We've worked to make our health and safety measures as advanced and comprehensive as they can be. Learn more about how People to People ensures students' safety.

Student Ambassadors gain not only valuable life-changing experiences that will help them stand apart on college essays, they can also gain valuable academic credit for their journeys.

We choose teacher leaders in much the same way we select Student Ambassadors: through applications, recommendations and interviews. We have a large group of leaders each year who are very experienced in leading student delegations. Many of them have served as People to People delegation leaders for several years.

Tuition varies by program, and includes accommodations, meals and much more. Because of the variety of our programs, we do not provide tuition details on this site. For a full explanation of your program and the tuition, please refer to your downloadable Application Booklet.

First, apply online. Next, submit three recommendations. Your area leaders will review your application materials and contact you to set up an interview. After your interview, we will notify you about your acceptance as a Student Ambassador. If accepted into the program, you will attend four to six orientation meetings which will provide all the details you'll need to embark on your journey.

Delegations usually depart between the first week of June and the end of July. The specific departure date depends on when school closes in your area and how many students are in your delegation. You'll be on the road for approximately two or three weeks, depending on your grade level and the countries you'll be visiting.

Most Student Ambassador journeys are between two and three weeks long, depending on your grade level and the countries you'll be visiting. Programs for high school students and our alumni who have explored previously as Student Ambassadors tend to last about three weeks. Programs for fifth and sixth grade students are usually about two weeks in length.

At People to People, we have been organizing and operating overseas educational experiences for decades. In that time, hundreds of thousands of Student Ambassadors have safely ventured to more than 60 countries worldwide. Over the years of international exploration, we've developed specific policies and procedures to ensure that every delegate enjoys a safe and rewarding Student Ambassador experience.

Our staff is highly experienced in working with our local coordinators to handle emergencies. In addition to the medical and accident insurance included in the program, we maintain 24-hour staff coverage in our program office during the summer months so that we can notify parents immediately about any emergency that might arise.

We maintain 24-hour staff coverage in our program office during the summer so families can contact us in an emergency. We can also put you in contact with your child if necessary.

Our associates maintain ongoing relationships with medical personnel in every destination, so that these medical personnel can be brought in to address any situation that may arise. We also maintain 24-hour staff coverage in our program office during the summer so we can notify you immediately if your child becomes severely ill.

As a parent you have many ways to get in touch with your Student Ambassador, including telephone calls, letters and faxes. Your child is also free to call home during the journey. At your orientation meetings, the teacher leaders will discuss how to send international mail and use calling cards. We remind parents not to worry if you don't hear from your child during the first few days of the journey; Student Ambassadors have full schedules and are often too excited by the activities to stop and call home.

It's completely natural for your child to get nervous in the days leading up to the journey. If your child begins to worry about leaving home, it may help to offer reminders of all the reasons your child wanted to participate as a Student Ambassador. During the journey itself the focus on friendship and educational activity, does wonders to ward off homesickness. Your child's teacher leaders will watch for signs of worry and encourage any homesick Student Ambassador to call home. A quick phone call to a positive, reassuring parent is often all a homesick student needs to return to the fun and adventure of a Student Ambassador journey.

The different foods your child will enjoy on a Student Ambassador journey reflect the culture and traditions of the destinations. Trying new foods is a fun way to experience unique cultures and an opportunity for personal growth. Most delegation meals include a choice of items or a buffet of selections, so your child should be able to find foods he or she enjoys. During home stays with our selected host families, we encourage Student Ambassadors to try the food and politely decline items they do not prefer. Student Ambassadors often find themselves enjoying foods they would never have tried at home, much to their parents' surprise.

Before your child embarks on a People to People journey, we will ask you to fill out a health form outlining any special dietary restrictions regarding your child. We will then work with our overseas partners to best meet your child's dietary needs during the journey. In addition, your child's teacher leaders will be accessible throughout the orientation meetings leading up to departure to discuss any special dietary requirements your child may have.

It is very difficult (and in some cases impossible) to ship medications internationally or fill a prescription in another country. Therefore, we recommend the following steps to ensure your child's medication needs are satisfied:
* Leave all medication in its original packaging with all prescription details.
* Bring extra medication in case of loss or damage.

Discuss the issue of time zone changes with your physician to ensure that your child will receive proper dosages at the right time of day. You should also consider alternatives for medications that require refrigeration, as refrigeration is not possible while traveling.

Make sure your delegation leader is aware of all medications your child is taking.

Our highly selective nomination, application, interview and acceptance processes are designed to ensure that every Student Ambassador delegation is made up of bright, well-mannered and disciplined students. We employ the same kind of highly selective screening process when choosing our delegation leaders. We only select educators who we believe have the classroom and youth leadership experience to handle their delegations appropriately and effectively. In the event of a serious discipline violation, the parents of the offending delegate will be notified immediately, and the Student Ambassador will be escorted home as quickly as possible. We aim to ensure that no single participant's behavior interferes with the positive opportunities for committed Student Ambassadors to learn and explore on an exciting educational adventure.

Students can be nominated for the program by teachers, former Student Ambassadors or their parents. Our goal is to allow as many students as possible the opportunity to participate in our programs. For this reason, we work with student listing organizations to send invitations to students who may be interested in the program. Students can also request an invitation on line. Regardless of how they receive an invitation, all students must submit three letters of recommendation and be interviewed by local delegation leaders. We rely on this selection process to help us accept the best students and ensure that they are appropriate candidates for the program.