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The People to People Student Ambassador Program is an organization based in Spokane, Washington, that offers international travel opportunities to elementary, middle, and high school students. The program itself is not non profit however it is one of the sponsored programs of People to People International which is non profit. The mission of such programs is to "promote peace through understanding," in the words of Dwight D. Eisenhower, who founded the program in 1956. It has also been criticized for its misleading recruitment techniques usually buying student's names off an academic list and claiming they were 'specially chosen' though they were not. It is also important to know however, that before any student can travel on a trip, they must first be interviewed, then attend meetings over a period of six months prior to the trip before being given a grade by their delegation manager. This grade will determine whether or not the student can attend the trip. In addition, the students also have to complete many assignments and do at least one large project. It needs to be known that an invitation letter does NOT guarantee the student's acceptance into the program.

Student itineraries combine hands-on cultural experiences, access to people and places that are not always available to tourists, and outdoor experiences to create an international travel opportunity geared toward learning and cultural exchange.

Over the past 50 years, Student Ambassadors have traveled to all seven continents with the motto to "promote peace through understanding." Many past participants in the program also attribute a better vision of the world, gain in maturity, and greater confidence to the experience.

In the current high school programs, home stay opportunities are a central element to give a greater insight to the culture of the host family along with touring of the major sites of the destination specific and interacting with the wildlife and people in the general public usually requiring and using the most time. This face to face contact with students and families is meant to "promote peace through understanding" in the way laid out by President Eisenhower. Many programs for all ages also include meetings with local or national government officials.

The typical length of programs for high school age participants is three weeks, with two weeks more common for middle school travelers. Fees vary for domestic and international programs. Prices include all travel expenses, as well as lodging, meals, and activities and these arrangements are made and managed by Ambassadors Group, Inc. (NASDAQ EPAX). The cost varies by program, but has been reported at approximately $5,000 for a high-school program. The cost rises, however, when necessary items outside tuition are considered: passport prices, potential fuel surcharges, travel needs (medicine, clothes, equipment, luggage, phone cards), orientation meeting materials (parties, projects, supplies), emergency funds, additional food, water, souvenirs, and individual spending habits. All delegations are led by license-holding educators that have passed an interview process with the organization. The student:teacher ratio is typically no greater than 10:1, and is often much lower.

Some of the places visited include places like Australia, China, England, Fiji, and Russia.

History

In 1956, President Eisenhower sought an alternative to the wars he witnessed as a soldier, general and Allied Commander. He called a White House conference of 100 of the top American leaders who joined him in creating the People to People initiative. In 1961, Eisenhower decided that People to People should be preserved by private citizens and asked Joyce C. Hall of Hallmark Cards to move the program to the private sector. The organization was relocated to Kansas City, Missouri. In 1962, the first delegation of university students traveled overseas and stayed with families all over Europe. The first Student Ambassador Program was organized in 1963. People to People recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special program in Washington, D.C. The program included a formal reception hosted by Mary Eisenhower and a keynote address by Tom Brokaw.

Criticisms of the program

People to People is not a very choosy organization and rely on academic listings to invite a student with no reason for nominating them other than being on the list the independent marketing company has purchased. The company represents the children as 'specially chosen' when in fact they were only a name on the mailing list. This has caused several children to be disappointed and about 40 complaints to Consumer Affairs. However of the children that did take the trip only 1 complaint has been lodged. It seems the trips are more a travel experience than a privileged academic one.

The Iowa Supreme Court recently reviewed a case in which a woman was contacted by this organization on behalf of her son who had died years earlier. As a result of this attention, descriptions of selection criteria have been updated by People to People.. In a similar situation a dead cat (who had been deceased for 10 years) named 'Earl Grey' was invited to study abroad by the program as well

Similar to the above requirements for students, teacher-leaders themselves are screened, interviewed and background checked prior to appointment. As with all people entrusted with student travelers, it is highly recommended that parents get to know the leaders prior to travel. Students attend a series of orientation meetings prior to traveling so there is much opportunity for parents to get to know the teachers as well as for students to get to know one another.

Program management

People to People Student Ambassador Programs are educational programs designed to continue the mission of People to People International as laid out by President Eisenhower. People to People is not in direct control of booking, itinerary structure, etc., but rather has contracted Ambassadors Group, Inc. with exclusive marketing and logistical support for the People to People programs. AGI is a for-profit public company that trades on the NASDAQ market, with the stock market symbol EPAX. This company is highly successful and regularly pays dividends.

References

1. http://stocks.us.reuters.com/stocks/fullDescription.asp?symbol=EPAX.O&WTmodLOC=L2-LeftNav-8.5-FullDescription
2. http://www.brendastardom.com/arch.asp?ArchID=273
3. ^ ""People to People Marketing Tactics". Consumer Affairs. 8 September 2007. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help); Text "http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/11/people_to_people_marketing.html" ignored (help) Cite error: The named reference "Consumer Affairs" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
4. ^ ""People to People Student Ambassador" Program Agrees to Modify Representations About How Students are "Selected" for International Travel". Iowa Attorney General. 8 June 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "IAG" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).

• Consumer Affairs Report on People to People Complaints

External links

• Official website
• Official website of the People to People Student Ambassador Alumni
• People to People International
• Rip Off Report Consumer Complaints on People to People
• "People to People: Ambassadors or Tourists?"
• Positive and negative experiences with the program in 2001
• Deceased Cat Invited to be Student Ambassador
• People to People Does It Again
• People to People World Leadership Forum

• Student exchange