Diplomacy Beyond Borders: Inspire, Connect, Transform
The 2024 Youth Leadership Summit includes sessions and activities for youth, ages 14-18, from across the globe. The Summit is designed to engage future leaders and expose them to important global challenges inspiring a new generation of citizen diplomats and volunteers who become instrumental in promoting peace, mutual respect, and prosperity. The main goal of this summit is to prepare students with leadership and professional development skills to enable their successes and growth in the global community.
Application Deadline: May 15, 2024
The cost for the 2024 Youth Leadership Summit is $1,795.
This all-inclusive price covers lodging, cultural activities,
and transportation within Washington, DC during the event.
This year’s YLS will take place in person in Washington, DC and the theme is “Diplomacy Beyond Borders: Inspire, Connect, Transform.” There will be two parts of the Summit: training seminars and a Department of State led Diplomacy Simulation. During the training days of the Summit, students will attend professional development seminars, hear from guest speakers, and learn about foreign policy and diplomacy. On the last day of the Summit students will be participating in a diplomacy situation which will allow for students to learn about international relations, problem solving, and conflict resolution.
Experience University Culture
Throughout the week, students will be staying in dormitories at American University, allowing for students to experience university culture.
Chartered by an act of Congress in 1893, American University is a campus that offers more than 100 academic programs to over 14,000 students. Designated as a national arboretum, AU’S carbon neutral campus is conveniently located in Spring Valley, an urban residential neighborhood of Washington, DC, only a short distance from some of the cities most historic sites.
Age Range
Applicants must be between the ages of 14 and 18 years old at the time of the Youth Leadership Summit.
Affiliation with Sister City Organization
Participants must be actively associated with a Sister City Organization. This could include being a member, volunteer, or participant in programs facilitated by the organization. 3 students from each local sister city organization can apply, allowing for many different sister city programs to be represented at the Youth Leadership Summit.
Demonstrated Interest in Citizen Diplomacy
Applicants should have a genuine interest in citizen diplomacy and a demonstrated commitment to fostering international understanding and cooperation.
Leadership Potential
Candidates should exhibit leadership potential and a willingness to engage in activities that promote leadership development.
Commitment to Attend
Applicants should be able to commit to attending the entire duration of the Youth Leadership Summit. Any scheduling conflicts should be communicated in advance.
Diversity and Inclusion
The selection process aims to be inclusive and diverse. Candidates from various backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives are encouraged to apply.
Application Submission
Interested individuals must complete the application form and submit any required documents or essays as outlined in the application guidelines.
Parental/Guardian Consent
For participants under 18 years old, parental or guardian consent is required for participation in the summit.
Thank you for your interest in the Youth Leadership Summit. Below are the details regarding the payment process and what is covered in the set price:
Summit Fee:
Travel Arrangements:
Payment Timing:
Accepted Payment Methods:
Payment Deadline:
Refund Policy:
Confirmation of Payment:
Please be attentive to all provided instructions and deadlines to ensure a smooth registration process. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the payment process, feel free to contact the summit organizers for assistance. We look forward to welcoming you to the Youth Leadership Summit in Washington, DC!
Agenda
Sunday 8/4: Registration and Settle in Dorms
Monday 8/5: Welcome to YLS and Introduction to Diplomacy
Tuesday 8/6: Water as a Global Issue and Cultural Activities
Wednesday 8/7: Welcome to the Nation’s Capital
Thursday 8/8: Climate Change as a Global Issue
Friday 8/9: Diplomacy Simulation and Closing Celebration
Saturday 8/10: Student Departure
No. If you have not contacted your local sister city organization before, you are not automatically part of their network. If you have attended any events through their local programming, you might be in their network. However, all sister city organizations have their own membership procedures. There might be fees and other conditions for being part of their network. Therefore, please contact your local organization to learn more about your current status.
No. Unfortunately, all applications must be coordinated with your local Sister City Program.
No. Please do not provide a school-affiliated email address (.edu, k12.net, etc). Most school email addresses have a security function that prohibits us from contacting you. Our main contact method will be email. Therefore it is essential that you provide an email address you check regularly. Lastly, please do not forget to check your spam folder as our emails will be considered “external” and might not show in your inbox.
No. All applications will be taken virtually.
The Youth Leadership Summit is open to individuals between the ages of 14 and 18 who are associated with a Sister City Organization, and have a keen interest in citizen diplomacy and leadership topics.
The summit fee covers lodging, cultural activities, and transportation within Washington DC during the event. However, participants are responsible for arranging and covering the costs of their travel to and from Washington DC.
The summit is scheduled to take place from August 5th to August 9th in Washington DC.
Notification of acceptance will be sent out after the completion of the applicant selection process. Details on how to proceed with payment and other relevant information will be included in the acceptance package.
50 students will be selected for the Youth Leadership Summit.
There is no financial assistance provided by the Sister Cities International headquarters. However, your sister city organization might have resources to help you. We highly encourage our students to contact their sister city organization for financial assistance.
The summit fee is non-refundable once the payment has been processed. However, exceptions may be considered in cases of unforeseen and exceptional circumstances, and decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Participants with specific dietary requirements or medical needs should inform the summit organizers during the application process. Accommodations will be made to the best extent possible.
The Youth Leadership Summit is designed for students only. Parents or guardians are not expected to accompany participants during the program. Chaperones will be assisting students during their time in Washington DC. Once the student is selected for the summit, families will have time to virtually meet the chaperones.
For any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]
