Frequently asked questions
Questions about applying to the YLPA
Unfortunately, no. It is a strict requirement of the U.S. Department of State that participants in the YLPA are both:
- Between 15 and 17 years of age on June 30, 2024 (your birthday MUST fall between July 1, 2006, and June 30, 2009, to meet the age requirement for the 2024 program); and
- Have one year of high school remaining after the program.
Even if you won’t graduate until the year after the program, if you do not meet the age requirement, you are NOT eligible to apply. Your birthday MUST fall between July 1, 2006, and June 30, 2009, to meet the age requirement for the 2023 program.
In order to see if there are any other U.S. Department of State programs that would expand your capacities, we suggest you look at the U.S. Embassy to Algeria’s website.
Unfortunately, no. It is a strict requirement of the U.S. Department of State that participants in the YLPA are both:
- Between 15 and 17 years of age on June 30, 2024 (your birthday MUST fall between July 1, 2006, and June 30, 2009, to meet the age requirement for the 2024 program); and
- Have one year of high school remaining after the program.
Even if you meet the age requirement, if you are currently in your third year of high school and will graduate in June 2024, you are NOT eligible to apply. Regardless of your age, you MUST have one year of high school remaining after the program.
In order to see if there are any other U.S. Department of State programs that would expand your capacities, we suggest you look at the U.S. Embassy to Algeria’s website.
Unfortunately, no. It is a strict requirement of the U.S. Department of State that participants in the YLPA are both:
- Between 15 and 17 years of age on July 7, 2023 (your birthday MUST fall between July 8, 2005 and July 7, 2008 to meet the age requirement for the 2023 program) AND
- Have one year of high school remaining after the program
Even if you meet the age requirement, if you are currently in your third year of high school and will graduate in June 2023, you are NOT eligible to apply. Regardless of your age, you MUST have one year of high school remaining after the program.
In order to see if there are any other U.S. Department of State programs that would expand your capacities, we suggest you look at the U.S. Embassy to Algeria’s website.
We highly encourage having your letters of recommendation written by a professional reference such as a teacher, supervisor, volunteer coordinator, mentor, coach, etc. who knows you well and can speak to your leadership skills and character. Letters of recommendation CANNOT be written by your family members. This will result in your application being rejected.
Please remember to request two separate letters of recommendation from two separate people.
To be eligible to apply as an adult participant, you must be at least 18 years of age by the start of the program. We highly suggest that you only apply once you have finished at least your undergraduate university degree. We find that it is best to have an age gap between the youth and adult participants and usually select adult participants who are at least 23 years old. Please note this is NOT a requirement, but it usually takes at least until you are in your mid-twenties to obtain the experience and English level necessary to be a successful adult candidate.
Successful adult participant candidates:
- Have experience working with and leading youth (through mentoring, leading volunteer projects with youth participants, teaching/tutoring youth, etc.);
- Have taken leading roles in community service organizations and/or facilitating workshops;
- Have excellent English; and/or
- Typically, have started a project that makes a positive change in their communities. The youth participants are required to complete a project after the program in the United States, so it is extremely beneficial for the adult participants to have a solid understanding of what is required to accomplish this.
The Youth Leadership Program with Algeria is fully funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.
This program will provide the following for all youth and adult participants:
- Transportation to and from the in-person interview at the U.S. Embassy in Algiers;
- All program transportation (transportation to and from the pre-departure orientation in Algiers, flights to and from Algeria, all transportation in the U.S.);
- All food (three meals and day and snacks) and lodging in the U.S. and Algeria as part of the program (from the pre-departure orientation in Algiers to your return to Algeria);
- Admission to all cultural visits; and
- Participant insurance that covers the cost of any non-pre-existing medical emergencies while in the U.S.
Youth and adult participants will be responsible for paying for the following (the program will not pay for):
- Gifts, souvenirs and personal purchases (clothes, electronics, additional meals and snacks as desired by the participant);
- Any activities that the participant decides to do outside of the activities provided by the program;
- Treatment for pre-existing medical conditions (if you have an illness, injury or disorder prior to coming to the U.S., the program will not pay for treatment);
- Dental or eye-care costs;
- Your Algerian passport fees; and/or
- Your trip to and from Algiers to obtain your U.S. Visa and any fees associated with your Visa requirements.
No, a passport is not needed to apply for the program. However, if you are selected as a finalist, you will need to obtain a passport immediately in order to get a U.S. visa and travel to the U.S. for the program.
The YLPA staff extensively interviews host families to ensure that they are people who are excited to have someone from a different culture stay in their home. If YLPA staff would personally not want to be a guest in their home, they will not be selected as a host family. All members of the family who are over 18 complete a background checked to ensure that they do not have a criminal record and their homes are visited to ensure that the family members, homes, and pets are friendly and safe. For more information about what host families must do to be considered for hosting, please refer to our website on home hosting.
Yes, if you do not already have a personal email address, please create one using one of the many free email servers available (Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, and many more). Please double-check that you have included your correct email address on your written application. This is the only way we have to communicate with you, so it is imperative that the address on the application is correct.
We highly suggest that you create an account using your full name, not a nickname. Please ensure that you DO NOT change the email that you put on the application for the duration of the application process and the program. It is your responsibility to check this inbox email frequently. We will not extend deadlines because you have failed to check your email.
Please add ylpayouth@nnic.org to your address book or “whitelist” (email addresses that are allowed to send you messages) so that emails will come to your inbox and to not your clutter/spam folders.
Additional questions?
Do you have a question that is not answered above or in the program description?
Please carefully read the instructions below before sending an email.
- Youth applicants: send an email to ylpayouth@nnic.org
- Adult applicants: send an email to ylpaadult@nnic.org
In your email, please include:
- A clear subject (reason for the email) in the subject line (examples: “YLPA Visa Question” or “YLPA Application Inquiry”);
- in the body of the email (NOT in the subject line), please clearly state your question in English. Again, please make sure that you have reviewed all the available application information and the FAQ document before sending a question; and
- both your first and last name as a signature, so the recipient knows who you are.
Please email only to ylpayouth@nnic.org or ylpaadult@nnic.org. It is not necessary to send your request to any other email address.
It is not necessary to send an email to let us know your intention to apply for the program or to ask how to apply. You can simply click the respective apply buttons found on our main program page and begin to complete your application.
The YLPA Team will respond to your email within 72 hours. Please note that we are not in the office on Saturdays or Sundays and that there is an 8 to 9-hour time difference between the Pacific Standard Time in the U.S. and Algeria.
The YLPA Team will be in the office from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (PST) on Mondays through Fridays. Due to the high volume of emails, we may not answer your email right away even if your email is received during these hours. It is only necessary to send one email to this address. If you do not receive a response within 72 hours, then it is appropriate to send another.