HOME>

    
 

ACYPL at a Glance
________________________________________________________________________

  • Founded in 1966, the ACYPL is a 501(c)(3) organization that conducts bipartisan international exchanges, enabling emerging leaders (aged 25 to 40) to experience firsthand the political and cultural dynamics of other countries.

  • U.S. delegates are chosen annually from a pool of approximately 1000 local, state and national nominations by Governors, Members of Congress, National and State political party chairs, state legislative leaders, board members, alumni, corporate contributors and other ACYPL supporters.

  • Since our founding, more than 6,000 promising young leaders from around the world have participated in ACYPL exchanges. Our distinguished alumni include two former Prime Ministers of Japan, the former Prime Minister of Hungary, the Foreign Minister of Australia, the Speaker of the House of Representatives in Uruguay and the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of China’s National People’s Congress the Foreign Minister of Taiwan and members of national parliaments throughout the world. Here at home, more than 36 members of Congress, three Bush Cabinet members, two Ambassadors and seven sitting Governors are among our alumni.

  • The exchanges are intensive two-week study programs conducted in conjunction with ACYPL's counterpart organizations in every region of the world including:


    Asia & the Pacific Rim

    Central & Eastern Europe

    Central & South America

    Indian Subcontinent

    Middle East & North Africa

    Russia

    Sub-Saharan Africa

  • During the program, delegates engage in candid dialogue with senior government and political officials, industry executives, and community leaders on a wide range of political, cultural, and economic issues. For many rising leaders, an ACYPL exchange program provides their first substantive experience abroad and early exposure to international affairs.

  • ACYPL is strictly bipartisan.  It is governed by a 42 member Board of Trustees consisting of an equal number of Republicans and Democrats.  All incoming and outgoing delegations must also be bipartisan or multi-partisan. 

  • An independent evaluation of ACYPL’s exchanges by the American Institute for Research completed in March 2002 concluded that ACYPL is effective in promoting the U.S. State Department’s foreign policy objectives, promoting a greater understanding of foreign affairs and promoting mutual understanding.

  • Corporations, foundations, individuals, and a generous grant from the Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State provide ACYPL funding.