Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP)
Our high school participants from the ALEX Program with Cameroon and Pakistan at Pike Place Market in September 2023. IYLEP is a new program at FIUTS and we do not have photos of the participants quite yet!
About the Program
The Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP) for high school and undergraduate students is a program sponsored and funded by the US Embassy, Baghdad and U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Youth Programs Division. Students are selected by the U.S. Embassy through a competitive application process. During the program, 13 students will develop leadership skills, learn about U.S. history and culture, and build a network of emerging leaders. FIUTS produces a 2-week portion of the 3-week program through a contract with World Learning, and the program is fully funded by the U. S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Students arrive in Seattle on July 28th and stay until August 10th.
Get Involved
All high school and university students in the Seattle area can get involved in the IYLEP program by applying to be an IYLEP Ambassador. Ambassadors are a critical piece of the program and act as peer mentors, cultural liaisons, friends and student leaders. SUSI Ambassadors learn new skills, build their resume, make international friends and have fun! University students will be matched with the adult mentors coming on this program. Apply to be an Ambassador here.
If you have questions about the Ambassador program, please contact FIUTS Program Specialist: Education Programs, Nada Ramadan, at nada@fiuts.org.
Community Members
Community Members are invited to host one or more IYLEP participants for one week. The Homestay is the entirety of the program from July 28th to August 10th. Homestay is an important opportunity for participants to learn about U.S. culture and connect with local people. On the final evening, all hosts are invited to join us for dinner to celebrate the program and enjoy cultural presentations from student participants. Please contact jason@fiuts.org for information about hosting a IYLEP participant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to do in order to become a host? Please fill out the availability form to share your information with us. Then, we’ll be in touch with you to share additional details . Please note that if you are a new host for youth programs through FIUTS, we may ask you to provide information so that we can do a criminal background check; this is requested by our partners in order to ensure the safety of the youth involved in the program.
After I submit the form, what are the next steps? We’ll be in touch once we receive your form to confirm your participation. We’ll also ask you to send us a short bio and photos of you and your family/home that we can share with the matched students. The youth have also provided information about themselves that we will share with you so that you can learn about them before you meet in person!
Where can I find more general information about hosting? You can check out the Hosting FAQ page to find more information about hosting for this visiting program or other programs offered at FIUTS.