August 16, 2024
2024 Chile IFYE Pilot Program Open to Kansas 4-H
The IFYE Association of the USA, Inc. has been working with several stakeholders in the USA and Chile to initiate a pilot IFYE program with Chile in South America during the last quarter of 2024, for both inbound and outbound IFYEs. Chile was a former partner with IFYE exchanges conducted in the 1950s and 1960s. Since then, the Chilean IFYE program has been dormant.
Many program details remain to be worked out, but the new program is a go for 2024. Kansas 4-H will not be sending any young adults as IFYEs to Chile this year. However, Kansas 4-H is seeking host families to host one-two IFYEs from September 23 - November 23. Chile will be sending six IFYEs to the USA, likely hosted by Virginia, Colorado, Illinois, and Kansas.
Inbound Chilean IFYEs to the USA Details:
• Kansas 4-H is planning for 1-2 Chilean IFYEs to be in Kansas, September 23 – November 23.
• Four to five Kansas 4-H families will be needed to host from 2-3 weeks each.
• Insurance – Chile will provide health and liability insurance for their participants. The IFYE Association of the USA, Inc. will provide overall liability insurance for program participants.
• Host families will be required to complete an online application and complete background checks for those adults residing in the household.
• Chilean IFYEs, aged 18-21 will be selected through their agriculture institute (farm school) as well as with the supporting organization and the Ministry of Agriculture.
• Chilean IFYEs will be in the USA during fall harvests of corn, soybeans, and grain sorghum. Experiencing them would be highly desirable.
• Chilean IFYEs will be expected to become part of their host families, doing what those families do. When and where possible, job shadowing with local agribusinesses and auditing classes at agricultural colleges/universities/community colleges is encouraged.
• The Chilean IFYE participant applications/bios are not yet available but will be shortly. The intent is to closely match each participant’s agriculture interest(s) with their host family placement.
• Some level of spoken, reading, and written English is expected by the IFYE participants.
What Kansas 4-H Families Can Do to Participate:
• Agree to host a Chilean IFYE for two to three weeks from September 23 – November 23, while they are in Kansas.
• Identify and coordinate agricultural opportunities for the Chilean IFYEs in order to provide an experience that better matches their interests. These agricultural opportunities may be located in your county or nearby counties to help provide a richer experience for your IFYE.
• Help move IFYEs from one part of the state to another to the next host family.
For further questions or if your family is interested in hosting, please contact Deryl Waldren, Kansas IFYE Association President, at dwaldren@ksu.edu, or call 303-349-7403.