August 15, 2018
Promote Outbound Opportunities for 2019
With November 1 as the application date approaching, it’s time to encourage 4-H members, alumni and volunteers in your county to apply for next summer’s exchanges. Don’t underestimate the influence you have with young people and volunteers you work with to try new things and expand their horizons beyond the county and state. Seldom do we find an international exchange participant who didn’t grow in some way from the experience. Many make remarkable transformations in their leadership and involvement when they return home.
Opportunities for 4-H members begin at age 12 (for Japan and Korea exchanges) and age 15 for exchanges to Costa Rica and Finland in 2019 through States’ 4-H International Exchange Programs (States’ 4-H). 4-H alumni 19-25 are eligible for exchanges to a number of countries through the IFYE program. Volunteers, staff and alumni over 25 may apply to chaperone all of the States’ 4-H Exchanges. There are career enhancement opportunities for IFYE’s in addition to the leadership and life skills development that all exchanges offer. New scholarship opportunities are offered this year.
Why not make a short list of 4-H participants in your county and personally encourage them to apply? Updated applications and details will be posted on the Kansas 4-H web site by the end of the month. However, changes will be minor from currently posted documents with the exception of Finland replacing Norway in the States’ 4-H Outbound Opportunities for 2019. Contact Mary Kay Munson, Kansas 4-H International Exchange Coordinator for details about 2019 exchange programs. Her emails are mkm2@ksu.edu and munson@ksbroadband.net and phone is 785-238-3189.