Applications are now open for the 9th Philippine Youth Leadership Program, a five-week U.S.-based exchange program on responsible citizenship, community service leadership and action plan development sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the U. S. Department of State and administered in partnership with the Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, USA, and AFS Intercultural Programs Philippines Foundation, Inc.

Primer

The PYLP program will be bringing to NIU 27 youth and adult leaders from the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and surrounding provinces in the Philippines during the period April 14 to May 17, 2012.

The PYLP program, in its 9th year of federal funding, aims to teach conflict resolution skills, examine the important role of volunteerism in civil society, and introduce participants to American institutions that promote tolerance and religious diversity.

The overarching goals are to develop a sense of civic responsibility and commitment to community development among youth in Mindanao; to develop a cadre of community activists who will share their knowledge and skills with their peers through positive action; to foster relationships among youth from different ethnic, religious and national groups; and to promote mutual understanding between the United States and the people of other countries. Participants are expected to implement community service projects focusing on peace and leadership cooperatively after returning home.

ACCESS Philippines is a project of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State. It has been continuously funded since 2002. The project is directed by CSEAS Associates Dr. Susan Russell (anthropology) and Dr. Lina Davide-Ong (International Training Office) of lead grantee, Northern Illinois University (NIU).

Starting in April 2010, for cycle of PYLP 9, the new in-country partner organization is AFS Intercultural Programs Philippines Foundation, Inc., fully supported by the Department of Education and local AFS Chapters, NGOs and LGUs and other institutions. The U.S. Embassy in Manila is also a participating partner organization.

Philippine Youth Leadership Program applicants, must be:
-3rd year high school students (15-17 years old) or
-1st year college students (15-17 years old) or
-Teachers/community youth leaders (25-35 years old)
-permanent residents of Mindanao

Important update for PYLP as of Sept 26 2011:

-Deadline of submission to AFS of PYLP full applications, Oct 31, 2011
-AFS will conduct paper screening of PYLP applicants, Nov 1-15, 2011
-Results of PYLP semifinalists will be released Nov 15, 2011
-Only PYLP semifinalists will be invited to the venues below
Cagayan De Oro City (Dec 1) or
Davao City (Dec 8) or
Zamboanga City (Dec 15)

For application forms, contact AFS Chapters & volunteers, American Corners & American Shelves network, or PYLP alumni, nearest you or AFS Philippines Sending Program at email info.philippines@afs.org or download forms below.