Programs are primarily for high school students, and most include adult participants who are high school teachers or community leaders who work with youth. Participants develop relationships with teenagers from different ethnic, religious, and national groups and engage in building bridges of understanding and respect among the people of the United States and other countries. Alumni use their newly-acquired skills and knowledge to transform their communities and countries. All Youth Leadership Programs include a competitive participant selection process and comprehensive orientations leading into the exchange.

During the exchanges, students and educators participate in:

• workshops
• volunteer activities
• dialogues, simulations, role plays and other activities related to project themes
• team building exercises
• meetings with community leaders
• leadership development
• site visits related to civic education, leadership, tolerance and respect for diversity, and community activism
• homestays
• social and cultural activities

The Youth Programs Divisions sponsors the participation of approximately 1,275 international and American high school students and teachers in exchanges under the Youth Leadership Programs umbrella.