Kansas State University

4-H International Exchange Applications

Submitted by Mary Kay Munson

Please let 4-H families with members 12 and older (including alumni up to age 25) know that there are opportunities for travel abroad through 4-H. 4-H exchanges are top flight in management and allow 4-H enthusiasts from throughout the U.S. to travel and make friends with 4-H’ers and 4-H alumni with interests similar to their own. They are based on the learning by doing approach promoted by 4-H in developing world citizenship and leadership life skills. Most exchanges allow teens to stay with 4-H families in other countries or with families in other youth organizations with similar purposes and values. All 4-H members travel as a group to the host country with chaperone(s). Home stays make up the major part of the exchange. Most families have a member near our delegate’s age and the same gender.

Travel opportunities for summer 2017 include:

4-H alumni can travel for 2-6 months with multiple home stays in a country negotiated with the delegate from among partner countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and some island nations. Six –month exchanges may be in two countries. These exchanges are part of International 4-H Youth Exchange or IFYE programs conducted by Kansas and IFYE U.S.A., Inc.

Information on both States’ 4-H and IFYE exchange programs and applications are posted on the Kansas 4-H Global Citizenship web page: http://www.kansas4-h.org/events-activities/global-citizenship/index.html. Follow the link to “Exchange Information and Forms”. For more information, contact Mary Kay Munson, Kansas 4-H International Exchange Coordinator at 785-238-3631 or munson@ksbroadband.net.

Application packages for 2017 outbound exchanges are due November 1, 2016. Interviews and first Orientation are December 2-3 in Manhattan. Applicants should save these dates.