Telekom International Youth Exchange Program
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Program Description
Corporate Telekom Summer Program
AFS Germany launched the Deutsche Telekom International Youth Exchange Program in 2011 and subsidiary T-Mobile participated that year. The program continues in 2012 with USA subsidiary T-Systems based in Scottsdale, AZ, Chicago, IL, and Detroit, MI.
Program Dates:
- Inbound AFS USA to AFS GER: June 21 to August 4, 2012
- GER Outbound to AFS USA: July 1 to August 12
Background:
Telekom wishes to strengthen it’s international network and to give employees and their families the opportunity to participate in and benefit from a unique intercultural immersion experience. They are therefore, offering to sponsor a summer program for employee’s high school aged teens.
Telekom has chosen AFS as the service provider because of our broad network and many years of experience, combined with our reputation for high quality standards and solid risk management. This program is a 6 week exchange of employee’s teens from their “home destinations” to targeted international destinations. Target destinations will have both an AFS Volunteer organization and viable Telekom offices.
Program Design:
Program Content
- Participants will travel in the NH cycle
- Where AFS Partners have school in session, pax will attend high school.
- Where AFS Partners do not have school in session an alternate activity, such as, community service, or a Telekom internship may possibly be arranged by the hosting partner.
- Irregardless of whether the activity is school or possible community service, there will also be some time for other less structured activities.
- Altogether 30 pax in 2012, agreement for growth
- 5 students from GER to USA and 5 students from USA to GER in 2012
- Exchanges only from GER to international partners and vice versa
Qualifications for Participants
- At least one parent employed by a subsidiary of Telekom
- Age 15-18 and still attending High School
- Outbound pax’s families, may optionally choose to reciprocate hosting if desired
- Interest in an immersion experience
- Open to either school attendance, or to alternate activity
- Ability to travel on a tourist visa
Qualifications and Responsibilities for Host families
- At least one parent employed by a subsidiary of Telekom
- Must complete AFS HF applications and associated procedures, such as, background checks where required by hosting organization
- Willingness to assist with transportation
- All other HF expectations as outlined in the application
- Host families are hoped to be recruited in one single metropolitan area, however, if this is not possible, families may be disbursed. For 2012, this location will be disbursed for T-Systems.
- Host families are to pick their students up at arrival airport; however, local volunteers will provide an Arrival Orientation.
General rule: exchange numbers are usually based on max number of host families or participants, whichever one is lower.
Responsibilities of Telekom and it’s subsidiaries
- Identify individual in each AFS Partner location as the responsible Telekom representative prior to program launch
- Create job responsibilities for that person to include, but not limited to,
- recruitment of outbound participants (number to be identified),
- recruitment of host families, and
- recruitment of at least one emergency or replacement family prior to student travel
- Identify target community for program in 2012: Chicago, IL for hosting; National Recruitment for Sending
Responsibility of Sending Partner:
- Assist with application process:
Some pieces of the standard outbound application can be skipped. Here is a detailed list of which forms are essential, and which are not required: (Though Form 11, the Letters of Recommendation, would certainly help us choose the best candidate for this scholarship. Maybe it should be required.)
Required Forms for Student to Complete: Cover (with Photo), 01 Personal, 02 Placement, 03 Health, 04 Self Intro (2 short easy paragraphs with simple English words), 04A (instead of 8-12 photos, please use 2-4 photos), 12 Upload Your Passport
Required Forms for Parents to sign: 06 Authorization Form, 10 Participation Agreement, 10A Consent
Forms Not Required: 05 Parents Statement, 07 Academic Transcript, 09 Financial Commitment - does not apply, 11 Letters of Recommendation are optional
- Provide interview with at least one parent - in home where possible, in person required
- Application Deadline is currently February 15th. This date is established between AFS Germany and Telekom and is subject to change
- Screen and select participant winners for full scholarships
- Arrange for pre-departure orientation via conference call for National Winners
- Outbound partner will arrange travel for the group
- Be available for questions from sending families during exchange, if needed
- Winners to be announced by April 1st
- Outbound partner will send winners applications to Hosting Partner July 1
Students will be evaluated based on the following forms: 01 Personal, 02 Placement, 04 Self Intro, Essay, and 08 Volunteer Interview
Responsibility of Hosting Partner:
- Assist with application process
- Provide host family interview in home
- Plan for community service or internship activity for hosted students if school is not available
- Arrange for host family orientation
- Assign liaison and provide training
- Provide support for host families and hosted participants during exchange
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Additional Responsibilities of AFS GER
- Arrange welcome orientation for the group in Germany
- Manage Scholarship with Telekom
