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We are currently not accepting Iraqi High School applications

Iraqi student applicants must:

• Have proficiency in English in speaking, writing, and listening;
• Be at least 15 years old but not more than 17 years old by July 1 of your exchange year;
• Have completed at least one year of high school before the start of the program in July and have one year of high school remaining following their return home;
• Have a high school graduation year of 2026 or later;
• Have permission from either a parent or legal guardian to participate in the exchange program in the United States; and
• Have citizenship and current residency in Iraq (applicants with dual U.S. citizenship will not be considered);
• Have an Iraqi passport valid through March 2026 by January 10, 2025.

Applicants are NOT eligible to apply if:

• Applicant or parents of applicant have applied for permanent residency or refugee status outside of Iraq;
• Applicant has been to the United States on a U.S. government-funded exchange program (including IYLEP (undergraduate or high school), MEPI, YES, Fulbright, SUSI, and others); or
• Applicant has immediate family members who are employees of the U.S. embassy or any U.S. government agency.

Students will be evaluated on the following characteristics:

• Completeness of application in English, including copy of passport;
• A demonstrated interest in and commitment to volunteer and civic activities;
• A demonstrated knowledge and interest in the IYLEP themes and their relevancy to the needs of the applicant’s local community;
• Ability to work cooperatively in diverse groups and tolerate the opinions of others;
• Leadership potential;
• Proficiency in English;
• Good social and communication skills;
• An energetic, positive attitude; and
• Commitment to implementing a project that benefits the applicant’s school and/or community in Iraq after the four-week program.

Required documents:

• Iraqi passport valid through March 2026 by January 10, 2025
• Iraqi Identification Card
• One Letter of Recommendation 
• Academic Transcript

U.S. student applicants must:

• Be at least 15 years old but not more than 17 years old at the time of the July 1, 2026;
• Have completed at least one year of high school before the start of the program in July 2026 and must have one year of high school remaining following their return home;
• Have a high school graduation year of 2027 or later;
• Have permission from either a parent or legal guardian to participate in the exchange program in the United States;
• Have citizenship and current residency in the United States;
• Have not participated nor traveled on an ECA-funded program within one academic year; and
• Not be related to an ECA Youth Programs Division staff member nor an employee of an organization responsible for implementing IYLEP 2026.

Students will be evaluated on the following characteristics:

• A demonstrated interest in and commitment to volunteer and civic activities;
• A demonstrated knowledge and interest in the IYLEP themes and their relevancy to the needs of the applicant’s local community;
• Ability to work cooperatively in diverse groups and tolerate the opinions of others;
• Leadership potential;
• Proficiency in English;
• Good social and communication skills;
• An energetic, positive attitude; and
• Commitment to implementing a project that benefits the applicant’s school and/or community in the U.S. after the four-week program.

Required Documents:

• U.S. State ID / Driver’s License valid through March 2027
• One Letter of Recommendation​
• Academic Transcript

Applications are being accepted from all states.

We are currently not accepting Iraqi applications

Iraqi student applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years of age but not more than 24 years old by July 1, 2025;
• Have at least one semester of college or university left at the end of program;
• Have citizenship and current residency in Iraq (applicants with dual U.S. citizenship will not be considered); and
• Be enrolled in a university / college within Iraq.
• Have an Iraqi passport valid through March 2025 by January 10, 2025.

Applicants are NOT eligible to apply IF:

• Applicant has been to the United States on a U.S. government funded exchange program;
• Applicant or parents of applicant have applied for permanent residency or refugee status outside of Iraq;
• Applicant has immediate family members who are employees of the U.S. Embassy or any U.S. government agency;
• Applicant has an academic scholarship that is funded by the U.S. government.

Students will be evaluated on the following characteristics:

• Completeness of application in English, including copy of passport, proof of university enrollment, academic records, and letter of recommendation;
• A demonstrated knowledge and interest in the IYLEP themes and their relevancy to the needs of the applicant’s local community;
• Demonstrated interest in and commitment to public service and volunteerism;
• Commitment to implement projects that benefit the applicant’s school and/or community after they return home;
• Leadership potential;
• Strong academic record;
• Written and oral English proficiency;
• Good social and communication skills; and
• An energetic, positive attitude.

Required documents:

• Iraqi passport valid through March 2026 by January 10, 2025
• Iraqi Identification Card
• One Letter of Recommendation 
• Academic Transcript

We are currently not accepting Iraqi Adult Mentor applications

Adult applicants must:

• Be 24 years or older as of July 1, 2025;
• Be active in working with youth in either a high school or community setting;
• Be capable of supporting students with during the entirety of the program;
• Be willing and able to meet periodically with selected students from in their city/region, during the academic year 2025-2026 to support and monitor their follow-up work;
• Be proficient in English speaking, writing, and listening;
• For IYLEP-Arabic mentor applicants: must be proficient in English AND Arabic; and
• Have citizenship and current residency in Iraq (applicants with dual U.S. citizenship will not be considered); and
• Have an Iraqi passport valid through March 2026 by January 10, 2025.

Applicants are NOT eligible to apply IF:

• Applicant or parents of applicant have applied for permanent residency or refugee status outside of Iraq;
• Applicant has been to the United States on a U.S. government-funded exchange program (including IYLEP undergraduate or high school, MEPI, YES, Fulbright, SUSI, and others); or
• Applicant has immediate family members who are employees of the U.S. Embassy or any U.S. government agency.

Iraqi adults will be evaluated on the following characteristics:

• Completeness of application in English, including a copy of passport and letters of recommendation;
• A demonstrated interest in and commitment to service in their local regions;
• Demonstrated history of supporting youth activities;
• Strong record in teaching and/or youth programs;
• Demonstrated leadership ability;
• Ability to work cooperatively in diverse groups of students and peers while tolerating the opinions of others; and
• Demonstrated knowledge and interest in the IYLEP themes and their relevancy to the needs of the applicant’s local community.

Required documents:

• Iraqi passport valid through March 2026 by January 10, 2025
• Iraqi Identification Card
• One Letter of Recommendation
• Resume or CV

The World Learning Youth Program Sexual Misconduct and Harassment Policy and Procedures are linked here.

Enrolled IYLEP participants and parents of participants under the age of 18 are required to sign World Learning’s Conditions of Participation, which includes acknowledgment of our Online & Social Media Policy and our Sexual Misconduct & Harassment Policies and Procedures.