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View all answers
People to People Student Ambassador Programs was created in 1963. Since that time, we have sent thousands of students from across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada to destinations around the globe. Student Ambassadors travel for two to three weeks during the summer in delegations of 35–40 students, most of whom are from their own area. Groups of carefully selected teachers and educators lead these delegations.
Read more about the beginnings of People to People.
Many of our teachers are recommended to us through Student Ambassadors and their families or by current delegation leaders. Others will find out about People to People through a student, friend or family member who has participated in the programs. Whether we contact an individual or they contact us, all delegation leader applicants must go through a screening process before being assigned to a group.
The minimum requirements for our delegation leaders are a Bachelor's degree, one year of classroom experience, be actively teaching, and be at least 21 years of age. All new delegation leader applicants who meet these criteria must complete an interview questionnaire and three recommendation forms before they will be interviewed by a program director or area director. Directors look for individuals who are active, flexible, and have a positive attitude. Preference is given to current teachers who have classroom experience with students in the 6th through 12th grade.
Your responsibilities will fall into these general categories:
- Serve as a contact person for local students
- Help identify potential Student Ambassadors
- Organize and conduct student interviews
- Organize and conduct at least 12 hours of orientation sessions
- Chaperone Student Ambassadors during the travel portion of the program
- Complete and mail in an evaluation form for every student within your group
One teacher is assigned as a leader for approximately every 10 students traveling on the program. In addition, each delegation will have a full-time delegation manager who is an expert on the locations the delegation will visit and who takes care of the logistics of the program.
Programs for middle, junior high, and high school delegations are all approximately three weeks in length. Programs for fifth and sixth-grade students range from two to three weeks in length.
Departure dates are set by Feb. 1 for the coming summer. We work with the local leaders to coordinate the best departure time for their area; however, leaders must be willing to accept any departure date after their school closes.
The total time commitment varies from leader to leader. Besides the two or three weeks spent chaperoning students during the journey and helping them learn about their destinations, leaders organize and conduct a minimum of 12 hours worth of educational orientation meetings (materials are provided by the program office). They also act as a program contact for students in their area and participate in the student interview and selection process.
Teachers traveling as leaders on the program help us identify outstanding students who would best exemplify Student Ambassador Programs. We also learn about students through recommendations from teachers, school administrators and Student Ambassador alumni. We find out about others through national academic listings.
After students apply, they go through a review and interview process to determine their qualifications for acceptance.
On average, for every 10 students traveling on the program, one teacher is selected to travel at no cost as a delegation leader. The leader's personal costs would include mainly passport fees and spending money, as meals and lodging are provided. Costs associated with identifying and contacting qualified students, conducting interviews, and leading orientation sessions are generally reimbursed to leaders.
Delegation leaders can earn post-baccalaureate, graduate credit through the program from Eastern Washington University. Course assignments include the development of cross-cultural instructional units for your own classroom.
It is helpful if leader candidates have traveled with groups of students, domestically or overseas, but such experience is not required.
Along with one year of teaching experience, we require that all of our delegation leaders are certified teachers and currently work with students in some capacity. Many of the challenges that leaders must take on during travel with a delegation are similar to those that occur in a classroom setting.
Leaders are asked to nominate outstanding students who could be potential Student Ambassadors. These students and their families are invited to information meetings conducted by program directors from our office. As a leader, you would be expected to attend the information meetings and act as a contact for students interested in the program.
Your spouse may apply to be a leader, with selection based on the same criteria as those of other applicants. If you are assigned as a leader, and your spouse is not, your spouse will not be able to travel with you. Spouses who do travel together as leaders are not guaranteed they will room together throughout the program.
Although children of delegation leaders are welcome to apply to become Student Ambassadors and to join a delegation of their peers, leaders will not be placed in the same delegation as their child. Like all applicants, they are required to go through an interview process and pay the same tuition as other Student Ambassadors.
Leaders are trained in procedures for handling emergency situations that may occur. Each delegation will travel with a delegation manager. This person, as well as our overseas coordinators, will be on hand in case of an emergency. In addition, our office maintains a 24-hour response team to help handle any difficulties or unusual circumstances that may occur during travel.
If you would like to meet an experienced People to People delegation leader from your area, we encourage you to attend the local information meeting. Another option, if the meeting has already occurred, is to call our office: 800.669.7882. We will do our best to identify an experienced leader you can contact from your own county or state.
