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Gilbert Sister Cities

Youth Ambassador Application – Summer 2024

Summer 2024 Youth Ambassador Application

ANTRIM-NEWTOWNABBEY, NORTHERN IRELAND AND LESHAN, CHINA


Student exchange provides opportunities to make new friends, share cultural perspectives, practice critical 21st-century language skills, and build connections around the world. Additionally, being selected as a delegate includes the honor of serving as an ambassador for Gilbert and the United States, as well as the benefit of building a strong college resume. Whether selected or not, you participated in the Gilbert Sister Cities Youth Ambassador Program selection process. You will gain new friendships, skills to complete your college/ job applications, and soft skills for interviews. You will also receive credit for volunteer hours if requested.
Application Requirements: Each applicant must:
  • Be a United States citizen
  • Live in or attend a school located in Gilbert or Higley
  • Be a junior in high school
  • Be in good health (and upon request, be able to supply a doctor’s statement of verification)
  • Commit to actively participating as an ambassador for their senior year of high school
Cost:
  • $25 application fee
  • Families are also required to pay the costs associated with hosting a student from another country
  • If you do not have a current passport, the cost of obtaining a passport will be at your family’s expense
  • If traveling to China, families are responsible for obtaining a Visa (about $200)
  • If traveling to N. Ireland, starting in 2024, families are responsible for obtaining a Visa (~$8)
  • If selected, your family must join Gilbert Sister Cities, pay the $40 membership fee and support Gilbert Sister Cities activities
  • Students are responsible for the cost of their personal health insurance while traveling abroad
Program Timeline:

The interview process takes place from September 2023 to March 2024. If selected as an ambassador, your family would first host a student from one of our sister cities for 2-3 weeks, beginning in June 2024. In July, you would travel with your fellow ambassadors to your host families and stay for 2-3 weeks. Students will return in July before school starts. Please make sure you will be available in June and July as the dates fluctuate each year depending on school calendars.

Application Deadline:

Applications are due October 20th, 2023 by 11:59 PM.

Application Checklist:

Be sure to submit your application after you have completed all areas, incomplete and/or partially saved applications will not be considered. You will receive an email upon successful submission. Refer to the checklist below to ensure all steps are completed for the application process:

  1. Submit your application by 10/20/23, which includes:
    • A current photo/headshot of yourself. This will be used for both internal and external publications.
    • Applicant short answer questions
    • Parent statements
    • Responsibility agreement
  2. Pay your $25 application fee at the Applicant Information Meeting on 10/26/23 
    • This fee is to be paid to Gilbert Sister Cities and may be paid online via PayPal/Credit Card or by check made payable to Gilbert Sister Cities.
Questions: If you have any questions, please contact lori.schuermann@gilbertsistercities.com

This form has a “save and continue” feature so that you can begin the form, save it and continue work later on. To enable, scroll to the bottom of the page and click “save and continue”. You will receive an email with a link. It is very important to save that link so you can come back into the form and continue completing the application.

Student Information

Date(Required)
Name(Required)
Email(Required)
(Please do not use your school email address as we find it goes to junk mail most of the time.)
Permanent Address(Required)
Birth Date(Required)

Tell us more about you…

Please enter a number from 15 to 18.
Do you speak a foreign language?(Required)
Foreign Languages Spoken(Required)
Click the + to add additional languages.
Language
How Long
 

Parent/Guardian Information

Parent/Guardian's Full Name(Required)
Spouse's Name
Parent/Guardian's Email Address(Required)
Do you have a 2nd Parent/Guardian in the house?

2nd Parent/Guardian Information

2nd Parent/Guardian's Full Name(Required)

Family and Travel

Do you have any siblings?(Required)
Brother(s)
Name
Age
 
Sister(s)
Name
Age
 
Have you traveled abroad?(Required)
Trips(Required)
Location
Approximate Dates
How Long
 
Have any of your siblings participated in foreign exchange?(Required)
Which siblings?(Required)
Name
Where
Appr. Dates
 
Has your family ever hosted a foreign exchange student?(Required)
Details(Required)
Country
Dates of stay
 
Are you taking any medications?(Required)
Are you willing to submit to a drug test?(Required)
Do you have food or pet allergies?
Are you afraid to travel by airplane?
How did you hear about the Gilbert Sister Cities program?

Essay

Please limit your answer to 500 words or less.
Please limit your answer to 500 words or less.
Please limit your answer to 500 words or less.

Parent Input

Please limit your answer to 500 words or less.
Please limit your answer to 500 words or less.
Please limit your answer to 500 words or less.
Please limit your answer to 500 words or less.

While a professional headshot is not required, please do not use selfies. We will be using these photos in our press releases and social media platforms.
Max. file size: 50 MB.

Gilbert Sister Cities Responsibility Agreement

 Carefully read the following before signing.
  1. If selected, I will do my best to represent Gilbert Sister Cities well. I will promote the exchange program and volunteer my time to support Gilbert Sister Cities. My parents will participate and become members of Gilbert Sister Cities.
  2. If selected, I will host a delegate from Northern Ireland or China and treat them as a member of my family.
  3. I will not partake in drinking of alcohol as it is forbidden. Drugs, other than prescribed medication by a doctor, are forbidden.
  4. In the event of illness, act as your host family advises. If emergency treatment is required or you become seriously ill, your host family will advise either the local coordinator and/or your parents.
  5. I will not drive when abroad.
  6. While staying with your host family, you will be expected to participate in family life, which may include performing routine household tasks or chores. Be alert to the fact that your host family will have “family rules” by which you are expected to abide. Your host family may have a different approach to certain situations than does your own family.
  7. During the exchange, you may travel with your host family or participate in other organized trips (by our host sister cities committee). You may not travel alone to distant points unless you have the prior written permission of your own parents and your host family. The local sister cities coordinator must be aware of the travel also. Trips should be planned well in advance with family and the local sister cities coordinator. Hitchhiking is not allowed.
  8. I understand that if chosen, I must abide by all rules of responsible conduct expected of me while living with a host family. I understand that my failure to do so will result in my being sent home at my parents’ expense. I further understand that I am expected to live in Gilbert or attend a Gilbert or Higley high school.
  9. I understand that a passport and/or visa will be needed for travel and if selected, I will apply for and show proof of passport/visa (if needed) by the deadline set by Gilbert Sister Cities Coordinator.
  10. I grant permission to Gilbert Sister Cities to use photographs and video of me in social media, online, promotional materials, publications, presentations, news releases and other communications.
  11. During your exchange, you are not permitted to participate in camps, vacations or retreats that require you to be away from your visiting ambassador that are not first approved by the GSC Board.
  12. I will provide GSC with an itinerary for time with the visiting ambassador before their arrival to include dates of required events with GSC.
  1. My child has my permission to apply for and participate in the Gilbert Sister Cities Youth Ambassador Program.
  2. I have read and understand the responsibilities listed above.
  3. As the applicant’s parent and/or guardian, and in the event my child is selected for the Youth Ambassador program, I hereby agree to authorize the host family in the above-mentioned cities to act for me in an emergency, accident or illness.
  4. I understand that my child’s failure to abide by all rules of responsible conduct will result in them being sent home and that in such an event, we are responsible for any additional expense incurred.
  5. I further understand that if my child is selected, it is mandatory that my family joins the Gilbert Sister Cities membership and participates in related events throughout the year.
  6. I grant permission to Gilbert Sister Cities to use photographs and video of my child in social media, online, promotional materials, publications, presentations, news releases and other communications.
  7. I agree to be present for the duration of my visiting students stay in Gilbert.
  8. I agree to accompany my student and their ambassador for any trips outside of a 50 mile radius.
  9. Should my student be selected as a Youth Ambassador, I agree that I am willing to submit to a background check.
Date
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Birth Date
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Date
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Birth Date
MM slash DD slash YYYY
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

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