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Origins:
In the course of the efforts to intensify cooperation between Germany and America it was proposed in 1982 that a youth exchange program be set up to be sponsored jointly by the parliaments of both countries. The U.S. Congress and the German Bundestag subsequently passed resolutions to this effect and in October 1983, the tricentennial of the arrival of the first German settlers in America, the program was launched.

Aim:
The participants are sponsored by parliamentarians with the aim of making young people aware of the importance of friendly cooperation between Germany and the United States of America. By agreeing to sponsor participants, the Members of the German Bundestag actively endorse the program every year.

Participants:
The participants, fifteen to seventeen year old high school students and young professionals up to the age of twenty-two, are granted full scholarships. Between 1983 and the program year ending in summer 2004, approximately 15.000 young Germans and Americans received scholarships to spend a year in the host country.

Nature of the program:
Following a preliminary selection of candidates by non-profit youth exchange organizations, the German participants are nominated by Members of the German Bundestag. The young people attend a one-week orientation camp and a language course in preparation for their stay in the United States. Additional seminars are also included in the program. High school students stay with their host families and attend public schools while young professionals also complete an internship with a company.

Applications:
The number of applicants in Germany far exceeds the number of scholarships available. Last year 4.389 applications of high school students and 483 applications of young professionals were received. This is a ratio of about 11 applications in the student area versus 5 applications in the area of young professionals for each scholarship.

Financing:
Every year a budget of approximately $ 2.9 million in the USA and EUR 3.1 million in Germany is made available to finance the program.

Sources of Information:
Complete information about the PPP is available at www.bundestag.de/ppp and about the CBYX at http://exchanges.state.gov/education/citizens/students/europe/german.htm