The Pan African Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP) supports long-range U.S. foreign policy priorities by offering secondary school students (ages 15-18) and adult educators the oppportunity to explore themes such as entrepreneurship, civic education, youth leadership and economic development, and respect for diversity. Through three-week, intensive exchanges in the United States, participants engage in workshops on leadership and service, community site visits related to the program themes and subthemes, interactive training in conflict resolution, presentations, visits to high schools, local cultural activities, and homestays with local American families. A key component of the program is to develop community-based projects in their home communities and high schools to affect change upon their return home. In 2016, Swaziland participated in this exchange program for the first time and sent a cohort of 4 young leaders and an adult mentor to the United States for this remarkable opportunity.
