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High School and Teens

High School, Teen, and Gap Year Planning References

Transitions Abroad's Recommendations

Africa-America Institute, Graybar Bldg., 420 Lexington Ave., Suite 1706, New York, NY 10170-0002; 212-949-5666, fax 212-682-6174; aainy@aaioline.org, www.aaionline.org. Information on opportunities in Africa for employment, teaching, aid projects, etc.

Council on Standards for International Education Travel (CSIET), Council on Standards for International Education Travel (CSIET), 212 S. Henry St., Alexandria, VA 22314; 703-739-9050; mailbox@csiet.org, www.csiet.org. CSIET is a nonprofit organization committed to quality international educational travel and exchange. It establishes standards for organizations operating international educational travel and exchange programs at the high school level and monitors compliance with those standards by annually reviewing those programs that submit themselves for evaluation. It also disseminates information on international educational travel organizations. Advisory List of International Educational Travel & Exchange Programs, published annually, lists programs that adhere to CSIET’s standards. For more see the CSIET Advisory List, which contains information on approximately 78 international youth travel and exchange organizations.

Institute of International Education (IIE), IIE Books, Higher Education Resource Group, 809 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017; 212-883-8200; for books 800-445-0443; www.iie.org, www.iiebooks.org. The world leader in the international exchange of people and ideas, IIE designs and implements over 200 programs of study and training for students, educators, young professionals, and trainees from all sectors with funding from government and private sources, including the Fulbright Student and Scholar programs, administered for the Department of State. IIE publications of interest to secondary students include: Short-Term Study Abroad and Academic Year Abroad, which includes thousands of college and university stummer and agency-sponsored programs, some of which accept secondary students; and (www.iiebooks.org), which describes over thousands of semester and academic-year study abroad programs offered by U.S. and foreign colleges, universities, and private agencies. IIE Passport is an interactive web site with thousands of program listings, and is searchable (www.iiepassport.org).

International Schools Services, www.iss.edu, provides information on schools abroad and exchange programs for children and teens.

Mobility International USA (MIUSA), P.O. Box 10767, Eugene, OR 97440; 541-343-1284 (v/tty), fax 541-343-6812, info@miusa.org, www.miusa.org. A national, not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to promote and facilitate opportunities for youth and adults with disabilities to participate in international educational exchange. MIUSA manages the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE), a project sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. NCDE provides free information and referrals for people with disabilities interested in international exchange. It also provides international exchange organizations with practical how-to consulting on including people with disabilities in their programs. Resources include: A World Awaits You, a free journal of success stories by and about people with disabilities participating in international exchange.

NAFSA: Association of International Educators, 1307 New York Ave., NW, 8th Fl., Washington, DC 20005-4701; 202-737-3699, publications: 800-836-4994; inbox@nafsa.org; www.nafsa.org. NAFSA provides conferences, training, information, and other educational services to professionals in international education.

The Gap-Year Advantage: Helping Your Child Benefit from Time Off Before or During College by Karl Haigler and Rae Nelson. Education experts and gap-year parents Haigler and Nelson have produced a resource for parents and students that offers all the advice, tips, and information needed to plan a gap-year strategy. Provides guidance on researching program options, creating a gap-year timeline that complements the college-application process, and handling logistics such as travel, health insurance, and money. International and U.S. program options, as well as anecdotes from gap-year students and their parents are included.

Univ. of Michigan, International Center’s Overseas Opportunities Office, internationalcenter.umich.edu/swt/index.html. Comprehensive collection of articles along with hundreds of selected annotated websites and books for study, internships, and volunteering. The link for “Study Abroad” will be of particular interest to high school and pre-college students, as well as their advisers and parents.

U.S. Department of State, SA-44, Youth Programs Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges, 301 4th St., SW, Washington, DC 20547; 202-619-5348; youthprograms@state.gov, exchanges.state.gov. Supports secondary school exchange programs, including students and educators, with many countries worldwide and works closely in administering these programs through grants with a range of organizations involved in international educational exchange activities.

World Pen Pals, P.O. Box 337, Saugerties, NY 12477; 845-246-7828, fax 845-246-7828; www.world-pen-pals.com. Promotes international friendship and cultural understanding between youth around the world and American boys and girls ages 9 through 19. Contact World Pen Pals for a group rate brochure or an individual application at the above address.

WorldWide Classroom, www.worldwide.edu/category_search/teen.html. An international consortium of schools that offer intercultural and educational programs.

Year Out Group, Queensfield, 28 Kings Rd., Easterton, Wiltshire, SN10 4PX; 011-01380-816696, info@yearoutgroup.org, www.yearoutgroup.org. This nonprofit organization is an association of leading year-out organizations that was formed in 1998. Its website is worth a visit by those considering a gap-year, as it contains information on the concept and benefits of well-structured year-out programs, promotes models of good practice, and helps young people and their advisers in selecting suitable and worthwhile projects. It aims to provide accurate, impartial information about opportunities available.