Launched in 1983, the Congress-Bundestag (CB) Youth Exchange Program is jointly funded by the German Bundestag (Parliament) and the U.S. Congress, through the Cultural and Educational Affairs Bureau of the U.S. State Department. CB offers ambitious young people the opportunity to develop their language skills, and to gain real world views of current affairs and German social, political, and economic life. Congress-Bundestag scholars experience German life firsthand. Living abroad, they will be immersed in a new culture and new surroundings every day. They will have an unequaled opportunity to develop new interests, explore new directions, and build self-confidence and self reliance.
”I have really enjoyed my stay so far. I am living in a huge house together with a very nice host family who treat me just like one of their own family members. I like school in the U.S., though it usually is a lot of homework, which is not very common in Germany, but you get used to it faster than you think! My grades in school are just as good as they were back in Germany. Nothing is too complicated, it is just a lot of homework!”-Daniel Greb, 2007 CBYX participant from Germany to USA, hosted in Chaska, MN
”I found out that I have a member of the German Bundestag assigned to me for the year, and mine is Dr. Norbert Lammert who is the President of the Bundestag, basically like the Speaker of the House. He wants me to come to Berlin with my host family for a few days later in the year. Should be very interesting!”-Aletha Smith, 2007 CBYX participant from USA to Germany, hosted in Bochum, Germany
Where do CB students come from?
The program provides full scholarships for 200 American high school students to live and study in Germany for an academic year, and, concurrently, for 250 German students to be hosted in the United States. AFS-USA administers the selection of 50 students from the general Northeast region.
1. To participate in the 2009-2010 academic year program to Germany, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident
- Have a GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale
- Be between 15 and 18 years of age at the start of the program
- If you wish to apply through AFS, you must reside in any of the following regions: CT, D.C., DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, or VT
- Please note that previous study of the German language is NOT required. Language preparation is offered while on program.
If you are an educator or community leader, and you know of an outstanding student who meets the above prerequisites, please nominate the student by completing and mailing/faxing the form below! Nomination forms are not required, but are highly encouraged. Though there is no deadline for the nomination forms, please do allow enough time for your nominees to complete the CB application by the December 16, 2008 postmark deadline.
2. If you meet these prerequisites, please mail a completed application to us by the December 16, 2008 postmark deadline. You may request an application and return the completed forms to:
AFS Sponsored Programs Advisor
506 SW 6th Ave. 2nd Floor
Portland, OR 97204
Toll Free: 1-800-237-4636 ext. 1530
Phone: 503-241-1578 ext. 1530
Fax: 503-419-9630
3. Your written application will be reviewed. If you are selected as a semi-finalist, you will be asked to participate in group and individual interviews at a regional selection committee.
4. AFS-USA Winners will be selected in approximately mid-March. Applications of winners will be forwarded to AFS Germany for approval and final confirmation. Winners are selected based on:- Evidence of the personal qualities essential for adjustment to another culture, such as flexibility, curiosity, open-mindedness, sense of humor, and a desire to be challenged
- Written and oral communication skills
- Motivation for a cross-cultural experience
Please note: Applicants from all racial, economic, ethnic, religious, and social backgrounds are encouraged to apply, as are students with disabilities.
Visit the official Congress-Bundestag website.
