Apply

APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN FOR U.S. CITIZENS AND U.S. PERMANENT RESIDENTS TO THE IYLEP 2024 PROGRAM. THE DEADLINE FOR U.S. APPLICATIONS IS APRIL 15, 2024.

 

Eligibility

Before starting an application, please check to make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements.

High School English (Iraqi)

Iraqi student applicants must:

  • Have proficiency in English in speaking, writing, and listening;
  • Be at least 15 years old but not more than 17 years old by July 1, 2024;
  • Have completed at least one year of high school before the start of the program in July 2024 and have one year of high school remaining following their return home;
  • Have a high school graduation year of 2025 or later;
  • Have permission from either a parent or legal guardian to participate in the exchange program in the United States; and
  • Have citizenship and current residency in Iraq (applicants with dual U.S. citizenship will not be considered);
  • Have an Iraqi passport valid through March 2025 by January 10, 2024.

Applicants are NOT eligible to apply if:

  • Applicant or parents of applicant have applied for permanent residency or refugee status outside of Iraq;
  • Applicant has been to the United States on a U.S. government-funded exchange program (including IYLEP (undergraduate or high school), MEPI, YES, Fulbright, SUSI, and others); or
  • Applicant has immediate family members who are employees of the U.S. embassy or any U.S. government agency.

Students will be evaluated on the following characteristics:

  • Completeness of application in English, including copy of passport;
  • A demonstrated interest in and commitment to volunteer and civic activities;
  • A demonstrated knowledge and interest in the IYLEP themes and their relevancy to the needs of the applicant’s local community;
  • Ability to work cooperatively in diverse groups and tolerate the opinions of others;
  • Leadership potential;
  • Proficiency in English;
  • Good social and communication skills;
  • An energetic, positive attitude; and
  • Commitment to implementing a project that benefits the applicant’s school and/or community in Iraq after the four-week program.

Required documents:

  • Iraqi passport valid through March 2025 by January 10, 2024
  • Iraqi Identification Card
  • One Letter of Recommendation 
  • Academic Transcript

High School English (U.S.)

U.S. student applicants must:

  • Be at least 15 years old but not more than 17 years old at the time of the July 1, 2024;
  • Have completed at least one year of high school before the start of the program in July 2024 and must have one year of high school remaining following their return home;
  • Have a high school graduation year of 2025 or later;
  • Have permission from either a parent or legal guardian to participate in the exchange program in the United States;
  • Have citizenship and current residency in the United States;
  • Have not participated nor traveled on an ECA-funded program within one academic year; and
  • Not be related to an ECA Youth Programs Division staff member nor an employee of an organization responsible for implementing IYLEP 2024.

Students will be evaluated on the following characteristics:

  • A demonstrated interest in and commitment to volunteer and civic activities;
  • A demonstrated knowledge and interest in the IYLEP themes and their relevancy to the needs of the applicant’s local community;
  • Ability to work cooperatively in diverse groups and tolerate the opinions of others;
  • Leadership potential;
  • Proficiency in English;
  • Good social and communication skills;
  • An energetic, positive attitude; and
  • Commitment to implementing a project that benefits the applicant’s school and/or community in the U.S. after the four-week program.

Required Documents:

  • U.S. State ID / Driver’s License valid through March 2025 submitted by January 10, 2024
  • One Letter of Recommendation​
  • Academic Transcript

Applications are being accepted from all states.

High School Arabic

على الطالب المتقدم للبرنامج العربي أن:

  • يكون متمكنا من التحدث، و الكتابة، والإصغاء باللغة العربية.
  • لا يقل عمره عن الـ ١٥ سنة، وأن لايزيد عن الـ ١٧ سنة.
  • • يكون قد اكمل على الاقل سنة واحدة في المرحلة الثانوية قبل بداية البرنامج في يوليو/تموز 2024، وأن يكون لديه، على الاقل، سنة دراسية كاملة متبقية في المرحلة الثانوية بعد انتهاء البرنامج.
  • تكون سنة تخرجه من المرحلة الثانوية في سنة 2025 أو بعدها.
  • يكون حاصلاً على موافقة احد والديه او الاوصياء عليه للسفر الى الولايات المتحدة الامريكية.
  • يحمل الجنسية العراقية وان يكون مقيماً في العراق (المتقدمين من حاملي الجنسية الأمريكية المزدوجة لن يتم اعتبارهم مؤهلين للمشاركة).
  • يحمل جواز سفر عراقي نوع  نافذ حتى مارس/آذار 2025، بحد أقصي ١٠ يناير/كانون الثاني لسنة 2024.

يفقد المتقدم للبرنامج الأهلية للتقديم في الحالات التالية:

  • ان يكون المتقدم أو والديه قد تقدم لطب الإقامة الدائمة او اللجوء خارج العراق.
  • سبق له المشاركة في برامج ممولة من الحكومة الأمريكية وتشمل هذه البرامج: (برنامج IYLEP  لكل من الثانوية أو الجامعات،MEPI, YES, Fulbright, SUSI وأي برامج أخرى).
  • إذا كان له أقارب من الدرجة الاولى من الموظفين مع السفارة الامريكية او اي مؤسسة حكومية أمريكية.

ما معايير اختيار الطالب؟

  • سيتم تقييم الطالب حسب المعايير التالية:
  • إكمال استمارة التقديم باللغة العربية، وبتضمنها نسخة جواز السفر ( جواز السفر العراقي فقط) ورسائل التوصية.
  • أن يظهر عليه الاهتمام والالتزام بالأعمال التطوعية والنشاطات المدنية.
  • ان تكون لديه المعرفة والاهتمام بمواضيع البرنامج وملائمتها لاحتياجات المجتمع المحلي للمتقدم.
  • تكون له القابلية على العمل بصورة تعاونية في فريق متنوع وان يتقبل آراء الآخرين.
  • أن تظهر عليه بوادر القيادة.
  • الكفاءة في اللغة العربية.
  • أن يكون لديه مهارات اجتماعية ومهارات تواصل جيدة.
  • ذو طاقة وموقف إيجابي.
  • الالتزام بتنفيذ مشاريع تخدم مدرسة و/ أو مجتمع المتقدم في العراق بعد العودة من اسابيع البرنامج الأربعة.

الأوراق المطلوبة:

  • ان يمتلك جواز عراقي ساري المفعول حتى مارس/آذار 2025 في تاريخ يناير/ كانون الثاني 2024
  • صورة من البطاقة الشخصية العراقية.
  • جواب توصية واحد (إلزامي)
  • شهادة الدرجات المدرسية.

اخرموعد للتقدیم لبرنامج الایلب 2024 للمرحلة الثانویة ھو 5 نوفمبر | تشرين الثاني 2023

Undergraduate

Iraqi student applicants must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age but not more than 24 years old by July 1, 2024;
  • Have at least one semester of college or university left at the end of program;
  • Have citizenship and current residency in Iraq (applicants with dual U.S. citizenship will not be considered); and
  • Be enrolled in a university / college within Iraq.
  • Have an Iraqi passport valid through March 2025 by January 10, 2024.

Applicants are NOT eligible to apply IF:

  • Applicant has been to the United States on a U.S. government funded exchange program;
  • Applicant or parents of applicant have applied for permanent residency or refugee status outside of Iraq;
  • Applicant has immediate family members who are employees of the U.S. Embassy or any U.S. government agency;
  • Applicant has an academic scholarship that is funded by the U.S. government.

Students will be evaluated on the following characteristics:

  • Completeness of application in English, including copy of passport, proof of university enrollment, academic records, and letter of recommendation;
  • A demonstrated knowledge and interest in the IYLEP themes and their relevancy to the needs of the applicant’s local community;
  • Demonstrated interest in and commitment to public service and volunteerism;
  • Commitment to implement projects that benefit the applicant’s school and/or community after they return home;
  • Leadership potential;
  • Strong academic record;
  • Written and oral English proficiency;
  • Good social and communication skills; and
  • An energetic, positive attitude.

Required documents:

  • Iraqi passport valid through March 2025 by January 10, 2024
  • Iraqi Identification Card
  • One Letter of Recommendation 
  • Academic Transcript

Adult Mentors

Adult applicants must:

  • Be 24 years or older as of July 1, 2024;
  • Be active in working with youth in either a high school or community setting;
  • Be capable of supporting students with during the entirety of the program;
  • Be willing and able to meet periodically with selected students from in their city/region, during the academic year 2024-2025 to support and monitor their follow-up work;
  • Be proficient in English speaking, writing, and listening;
  • For IYLEP-Arabic mentor applicants: must be proficient in English AND Arabic; and
  • Have citizenship and current residency in Iraq (applicants with dual U.S. citizenship will not be considered); and
  • Have an Iraqi passport valid through March 2025 by January 10, 2024.

Applicants are NOT eligible to apply IF:

  • Applicant or parents of applicant have applied for permanent residency or refugee status outside of Iraq;
  • Applicant has been to the United States on a U.S. government-funded exchange program (including IYLEP undergraduate or high school, MEPI, YES, Fulbright, SUSI, and others); or
  • Applicant has immediate family members who are employees of the U.S. Embassy or any U.S. government agency.

Iraqi adults will be evaluated on the following characteristics:

  • Completeness of application in English, including a copy of passport and letters of recommendation;
  • A demonstrated interest in and commitment to service in their local regions;
  • Demonstrated history of supporting youth activities;
  • Strong record in teaching and/or youth programs;
  • Demonstrated leadership ability;
  • Ability to work cooperatively in diverse groups of students and peers while tolerating the opinions of others; and
  • Demonstrated knowledge and interest in the IYLEP themes and their relevancy to the needs of the applicant’s local community.

Required documents:

  • Iraqi passport valid through March 2025 by January 10, 2024
  • Iraqi Identification Card
  • One Letter of Recommendation
  • Resume or CV

The IYLEP Program encourages all qualified individuals to apply, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability status.

The World Learning Youth Program Sexual Misconduct and Harassment Policy and Procedures are linked here.

Enrolled IYLEP participants and parents of participants under the age of 18 are required to sign World Learning’s Conditions of Participation, which includes acknowledgment of our Online & Social Media Policy and our Sexual Misconduct & Harassment Policies and Procedures.