The City of Dayton will welcome a group of 18 students and three teachers from Bosnia and Herzegovina for a three-week immersive exchange program. The group will arrive at Dayton
International Airport on Friday, October 13, 2023.

The Youth Leadership Program provides Bosnian students and teachers an opportunity to further explore ideals of democracy, dialogue, conflict management, community and civic engagement, diversity, and volunteerism, while learning alongside American peers. The students and teachers will experience American life through homestays with local host families and visits to local attractions. The exchange marks Dayton's fifth since 2019. A delegation from Dayton traveled to Bosnia in 2015 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Dayton Agreement, which effectively ended the Bosnian War. The Youth Leadership Program was borne of the connections made in Bosnia during that visit.

The Youth Leadership Program is made possible by a Cooperative Agreement in the amount of $120,000.00 from the U.S. Department of State, between the City of Dayton and the U.S.
Embassy, Sarajevo.

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The Dayton Mediation Center is pleased to partner with the Dayton Sister CityCommittee (DSCC), with support from the National Conference for Community and Justice of Greater Dayton (NCCJ),to provide exceptional programing and opportunities for the exchange participants. Together, the Dayton Mediation Center, DSCC, and NCCJ expect the exchange
to encourage multi-cultural collaboration for expanded possibilities of a more bright, prosperous, and peaceful future.

 

Past participants credit the Youth Leadership Program as
“life changing” and “a window into American culture.” These efforts continue the bridgebuilding work between the U.S. and Bosnia and Herzegovina.