Italian Language Exchange Program
Five Separate Itineraries in Spring 2001College-age students studying Italian now have the chance to visit Italy and experience first-hand the incredible culture that, up until now they may have only read about in textbooks or seen on television. The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) has announced their sponsorship of the Gift of Discovery, a language and culture-exchange program to be conducted in the spring of 2001.
Ten-Day All-Expenses-Paid Trip
200 Italian American university students between the ages of 18 and 23 and 100 Italian students will participate. Trip itineraries will include educational lectures, meetings with government officials and business leaders, and visits to government offices, international businesses, museums and other cultural attractions.
The NIAF's stated purpose for the program is to:
"Strengthen Italian American identity by bonding them to the country, culture, and heritage of Italy; to help them gain an understanding of their heritage and a pride in preserving that heritage for the next generation; and to understand the historical significance of Italy and the current contribution Italy is making to the United States and the world."Travel dates range from mid-May through late July 2000. The all-expenses-paid trip includes round-trip transportation from New York (JFK) to Italy, chaperoned supervision, room and board, tours, and visits to points of interest in Northern or Southern Italy. Students in Italy studying English will also enjoy similar benefits here in the U.S.
Application/Participant Guidelines
For application information and participant guidelines see the Gift of Discovery Web site. The deadline for applying is December 31, 2000, and the decision deadline is February 15, 2001.
NIAF Initiatives
The NIAF, based in Washington, DC, is an advocacy group committed to preserving and protecting Italian American heritage and culture. One of their primary goals is to help young Italian Americans with their education and careers. The NIAF Youth Institute has many grants and scholarships based on various criteria. The Institute also offers mentoring, newsletters, internships, and retreats, and is an excellent resource for students of Italian American heritage who want to further their educational, social, and career development.
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