2015 Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program

For High School Students and Adult Mentors

Letter of Recommendation for Adult Mentor Applicants
A program sponsored and funded by the U.S. Embassy, Baghdad and the Bureau
of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State
Administered by World Learning
Instructions for the Applicant:
Give this form to a teacher, supervisor, colleague and/or an adult leader and ask him or her to fill it out
completely and submit it by the application deadline. Please write your name and the email you use to
register for the application on all letter of recommendation forms.
You should upload this form online with your application by the application deadline. If your professor
or other reference would like to send this form directly to IYLEP without showing it to you, he or she can
upload it to http://iylep.tumblr.com/docs. Please make sure your reference has the email address you
are using to register online.

Information for the Reference

Program Introduction:
The Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program is a youth leadership exchange program based in the U.S. for
Iraqi and American teenagers ages 15-17 and several Iraqi adults. The program aims to develop a cadre
of young adults in Iraq and the United States who have a strong sense of civic responsibility, a
commitment to community development, an awareness of current & global issues, strong interpersonal
leadership skills, willingness to foster relationships among youth from different ethnic, religious, and
national groups in Iraq, and to promote mutual understanding, respect and collaboration between the
United States and Iraq.
Participants will be required to implement follow-on activities upon their return home that will help the
participants stay in touch with each other and reflect on their experiences and integrate that learning
into their day-to-day lives at home. An important goal of the program is that the student leaders, now
empowered, will train other student leaders through student led community oriented service projects.

Applicant Name:_________________________________

Applicant Birth Date:_______________________

Applicant Email:___________________________

The goals of the program are to:

1) enable the participants to understand civic participation and the rights and responsibilities of citizens
in a democracy;
2) develop leadership skills among high school students and adult leaders appropriate to their needs;
3) foster understanding and build relationships across ethnic, religious, and national groups; and
4) promote mutual understanding between the people of Iraq and the U.S.
Description of the Adult Participant Role:
The Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program is designed for international and U.S. teenagers ages 15-17.
Daily activities are non-formal, non-traditional, experiential in nature, and designed specifically for
teenagers. This includes outdoor activities to promote teambuilding, conflict resolution goals and crosscultural understanding. The adult participant has many roles on the program.
These are listed according the level of importance and percentage:
80% Participant: The adult participant is an active participant who attends and is engaged in all
program activities and events, including social activities, unless specified as optional. An adult
participant actively contributes to the group and to the learning process. Adult participants
must remain with the program throughout the entire trip. Personal travel within the US during
the program is not permitted.
20% Group Leader and Adult Mentor:
o A group leader is responsible for:
Travel: Managing students when traveling in airports.
Discipline: It is important to understand that there may be times where the U.S.
program coordinator is not present for meetings because they may be preparing for
other activities. In that case it is up to you, the adults, to serve as the group leader
Assisting US Staff: There are many instances in which the U.S. staff will ask for your
assistance in helping with different sessions or activities, either as a participant or as
a facilitator. There may also be times when well need you to assist with evening
transitions and room checks.
Program Pace: This program is American-style, which means its very busy and
requires a lot of energy and a high level of attention. It is expected that meetings
and sessions will start on time. Become familiar with the schedule and program
rules, and assist staff in reminding participants about upcoming workshops, field
trips, and daily activities.
Observing: Paying attention to the mood, needs and dynamics of the group - notice
those who are isolated, homesick, or having difficulty adjusting or has any language
barriers. Please communicate relevant observations to the staff.
o An adult mentor is responsible for:
Being a cultural bridge: It is important to understand and anticipate where
there may be cultural differences and confusion and willing and able to address
issues between both the Iraqi and U.S. participants as well as within the group
of Iraqi students who come from different regions in Iraq. Additionally, the adult
mentor is able to bridge the learnings from the U.S. program to Iraq for the Iraqi
teens.
Role Model: Model respectful, positive, and cooperative interactions. Help to
create positive energy and enthusiasm among participants. Support the
development of a community among participants.

Applicant Name:_________________________________

Applicant Birth Date:_______________________

Applicant Email:___________________________

Letter of Recommendation Form

(To be completed by Reference)

Instructions for Reference:

Our program features a special kind of educational experience abroad. This applicant will be involved in
a youth exchange program in the U.S. with close contact with young people and adults in a challenging
academic environment that will require cross-cultural adjustment and an extended period of living as a
member of a host family. To succeed, the applicant must have a high degree of motivation and the
ability to adjust to people of different social and cultural backgrounds. Please be very honest in your
assessment of the applicant to help us to determine whether the applicant is ready for this kind of
program. Please indicate, by checking the appropriate spaces, your estimate of the applicants
characteristics. If you wish to add comments, please do so on another sheet of paper. Your answers
will remain confidential.
Name
Address
Telephone
Email Address
Job Title & Place of Employment
In what capacity have you know the applicant? ______________________________________________
How long have you known the applicant? From

to
year

Excellent
Consideration for and interest in others
and their views
Common sense and good judgment
Leadership potential
Ability to take direction cheerfully
Takes Initiative and Responsibility
Ability to adjust to and cope with new
situations
Intellectual curiosity and imagination
Ability to express self
Participation in community and
extracurricular activities
Ability to follow through with projects

Good

year
Average

Poor

Unknown

Applicant Name:_________________________________

Applicant Birth Date:_______________________

Applicant Email:___________________________

Please print your responses to the following questions in English.

What do you see as the strengths of this applicant?

How well will the applicant be able to adapt to living with a host family from a different culture and
interact with people who have very different values?

How well will the applicant be able to work with and support youth?

Please comment on the applicants overall suitability for the program, including leadership and
interpersonal skills. Do you think this person is suitable to work with Iraqi and American teenagers?

Signature
Please submit this reference form back to the applicant before the deadline. All forms must be
submitted directly by the applicant.
Thank you!