MANILA, Philippines - The Institute for Foreign Study Inc. (IFS) announced that the search is on for 10 high school exchange students (15 to 18 years of age) who can qualify for the High School Cultural Exchange Program in Holland in August 2010.
Applicants must have good grades, be in good health, flexible and open-minded, and their parents must be financially-capable.
Third year students who prefer to spend their fourth year in Holland as well as graduating seniors who opt to take a gap program before proceeding to college are encouraged to apply.
The 10-month program starts with Orientation Week in Amsterdam before the students go to their respective host communities and host schools where they will attend regular classes. Well-screened Dutch families will provide a home for the exchange students while on the program. A local coordinator will oversee the program to ensure both host families and exchange students are enjoying the experience and to assist in the first few months of cultural adjustment.
Holland (also known as The Netherlands) is a perfect destination for exchange students for very different reasons. People do not only go to Holland to admire the tulips, the mills, the cheese, the cows and the wooden shoes. The Dutch value family life and have active social lives. They are friendly, open-minded and interested in people from all over the world. Holland is a country where young people have a lot of opportunities to explore their educational and language capabilities, to make friends and to be conscious about their own character and culture.
This program is especially recommended for those with leadership abilities and/or those students who wish to supplement their high school experience, acquiring the knowledge and maturity to prepare themselves for a challenging college experience. Youth ambassadorship is now more important than ever as the world today, and the youth specifically, face challenges that are unique to this generation.
For inquiries and pre-application form, call IFS Inc. at 812-1187. Applications are accepted until April 1, 2010 provided slots are still available.