Woman from Bremer residing in the U.S. affiliated with Political Party PPP
In August 2022, 15-year-old Sofia Schneider from Bremen, Germany, will embark on an exciting adventure as she participates in the Parliamentary Partnership Program (PPP). This bilateral exchange initiative, co-sponsored by the German Bundestag and the U.S. Department of State, offers scholarships for young Germans to study and live in the United States.
Sofia is one of over 300 Germans selected annually for the PPP, also known as the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) scholarship. The program provides scholarships for high school students from both countries, covering living, educational, and cultural immersion costs for typically one academic year.
Unlike some other fellowships associated with German-American academic exchange, the CBYX program emphasizes cultural and language immersion and does not require German language skills to apply. Participants gain exposure to parliament-related activities, intercultural seminars, and visits to government officials as part of the program's comprehensive experience.
For Sofia, this means a year of new friendships at a new school, living with a host family, and exploring the United States. She will be studying in the 10th grade of a high school, equivalent to the 9th grade at a German gymnasium.
Sofia's journey began with an interview at the old US embassy in Berlin, which she aced. Her host family in Utah, consisting of a pastor and his wife, was selected based on her church involvement. Sofia's mother, Jimena Caelles, is thrilled about the scholarship, and her daughter's host mother appreciates her church involvement as well.
Sofia, who has previously visited America, specifically Florida, with her family, is looking forward to her upcoming itinerary, which includes visiting Washington's attractions and iconic desert landscapes from Western movies. In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball and organizing a monthly youth service at St. Petrus Church in Habenhausen.
The scholarship for Sofia Schneider will be fully covered by the PPP, providing her with the opportunity to immerse herself in American culture and foster mutual understanding between Germany and the United States through citizen diplomacy.
[1] Parliamentary Partnership Program (PPP) - Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) Scholarship. (n.d.). Retrieved June 22, 2022, from https://www.usagov.de/en/services/youth-exchange/cbyx/
[2] Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX). (n.d.). Retrieved June 22, 2022, from https://www.cbyx.org/
Education-and-self-development are integral parts of Sofia Schneider's upcoming adventure, as she has been awarded a full scholarship for the Parliamentary Partnership Program (PPP), also known as the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) scholarship. This program promotes cultural and language immersion and provides opportunities for high school students to study in the United States for typically one academic year.
