People to People International
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People to People International was first established on September 11, 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. At the time, the first people to travel as a part of the program were professionals from varying fields. Today, this organization shows continuing support for the People to People Student Ambassador Program, the Sports Ambassador Program, and Ambassador Programs for adults. PTPI is also often involved in humanitarian projects and is currently assisting in Operation Iraqi Children.
People to People International was privatized in 1961 and moved to Kansas City, MO; today it is registered as a non-profit organization [1], with its business dealings carried out by the Ambassadors Group, a for-profit company spun off from Ambassadors International in 2002. The current President and Chief Executive Officer of People to People International is Mary Jean Eisenhower, granddaughter of former President Eisenhower. On June 22, 2006, People to People was the first organization awarded the Cavaliere per la Pace (Knight of Peace Award). [2] Prior to People to People, recipients of this award had always been individuals. Previous honorees include Mother Teresa, Mikhail Gorbachev and Pope John Paul II. Since its inception, eight presidents have served as the honorary chairman of People to People International, with George W. Bush acting as the current honorary chairman.
Of the programs that People to People International sponsors, the Student Ambassador Program is their most well known. Participants in this program travel to countries throughout the world with the maxim "to promote peace through understanding." Another program is the Global Youth Forum (GYF). Participants have to be between the ages of 13 to 18. The 2005 GYF was held in Washington D.C., the 2006 was held in Kansas City, and the 2007 GYF was held in Chicago. Next year the GYF is going to be held in Denver.
Student Ambassador Program
Outstanding high school students are nominated for a trip by others, or they can nominate themselves. Once a student has been accepted into the program, they go to monthly meetings to prepare for their destination. The next summer, they spend 2-3 weeks in one or more foreign countries, including a "homestay," where they live with a local family. Delegations are made up of 30-40 people from the same geographical area. Students may receive academic credit for the journey, depending on the school.