Conceived by members of the United States

Congress and the German Bundestag, this full

scholarship program is designed to strengthen

ties between the successor generations of each

country. The friendships developed through this

special program will deepen each participant’s

understanding of the commonalities and

differences in German and American social,

economic and political institutions. The program

provides an opportunity for the exchange students,

our future leaders, to expand their perspectives

and awareness of each other’s culture, society,

history and politics. At the same time, it enables

German and American families to extend their

friendships across international boundaries and

to relate to one another as members of the same

world community.

The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange

Program provides a unique intercultural

educational opportunity for American and

German youth. Each year over 300 American

high school students receive full scholarships to

become exchange students to Germany, where they

will live with host families for a year and attend

German schools. Similarly, German students live

for a year with American families in the

United States. This program is supported, as well

as funded, by the United States Congress and the

German Bundestag.

For the upcoming school year, a special Congress-

Bundestag scholarship opportunity is being offered

to 20 -25 graduating high school seniors with a

vocational background. This program is being

administered by Nacel Open Door.

The Congress-Bundestag Vocational Scholarship

provides an opportunity for U.S. high school

graduates who have undertaken vocational training

to spend their 13th year abroad pursuing their

vocational interests. It is important to emphasize

at the outset that this is a “Young Adult” program

which seeks to enroll students who have

demonstrated maturity and responsibility and who

can be entrusted to fulfill their roles as exchange

students without day-to-day supervision.

1) All students will receive two months of intensive

language preparation following their arrival

in Germany before being assigned to their

permanent host family and school. The family/

school experience is meant to ensure their

integration into German society, more fully

prepare them to communicate in German,

offer them opportunities to meet other young

people their age, and prepare them for

internships, wherever possible.

2) Students should be aware that Nacel Open

Door’s partner in Germany will make every

effort to place them in a school or work

situation in their field of interest or related

to their field of interest. This, however, will

not necessarily be possible in all cases.

Students should fully understand that their

“international experience” is the important and

essential element in the exchange, rather than

specific training in their given fields of interest.

3) Students are required to bring between

$400-450 per month for spending money.

4) Students will provide their own domestic

round trip transportation from their home

to Washington D.C.

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This full scholarship program,

which runs from July to June,

includes:

• A pre-departure orientation in

 

Washington D.C.

• Two months of intensive German

 

language training.

• Training/School attendance and an internship

 

while living with a German host family.

• Both a Mid-Term and Re-Entry Seminar

 

in Berlin.

• Room and board for the duration of

 

the program.

• Health, liability and accident insurance.

 

• International travel to and from Germany.

 

High school students must meet the following

minimum requirements to be eligible to apply for

this program:

• Age: At least 18 and no more than 19 years

 

of age by July 1 of the departure year.

• Grade level: Graduating seniors who will

 

complete U.S. school studies in January or

June prior to departure.

• Academic achievements: Minimum of a “B”

 

average (3.0 GPA).

• U.S. citizenship.

 

• Ability to serve as an ambassador of your

 

country – the USA!

Although previous study of German is

advantageous, it is not a prerequisite for

scholarship selection. The program encourages

applicants from all economic, ethnic, religious

and social backgrounds.

Interested students must be

NOMINATED BY THEIR HIGH

SCHOOLS TO APPLY FOR THI

PROGRAM. Each participating

school may nominate up to three

students, who then complete the application

materials. Students should consult their principal,

guidance counselor, vocational education

administrator, or call Nacel Open Door at

for assistance. Completed

applications

must be postmarked by January 31

of the departure year. Schools should forward

completed applications as directed in the

instructions accompanying the application.

1) Application materials are evaluated

during February by Nacel Open Door

in cooperation with selected educators

and program alumni.

2) In March, semi?

finalists are

interviewed

at designated

sites. Students

are notified of

the selection

committee’s

decision by the end

of the month.

3) Final decisions on

scholarship awards will be determined by

Nacel Open Door after additional medical,

placement and grade transcript materials

have been submitted.

The vocational component of the Congress-

Bundestag program is administered by Nacel

Open Door in cooperation with Open Door

International e.V, in Germany.

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