Change Your Perspective, Change Your Life.

Scholarship Recap

Enhancing mutual understanding and supporting public diplomacy efforts between the United States and young people from other countries.

By The Numbers

  • Years of scholarship awards

    Years of scholarship awards

  • 173 Scholarship recipients

    Scholarship recipients

  • scholarship participating countries

    Participating countries

  • U.S. Host Communities

    U.S. host communities

  • 98% of scholarship recipients increased personal and/ or professional skills

    Scholarship recipients increased personal and/ or professional skills*

  • 74% of scholarship recipients increased media literacy skills*

    Scholarship recipients increased media literacy skills*

  • 87% of scholarship recipients increased communication skills*

    Scholarship recipients increased communication skills*

  • 75% of scholarship recipients increased listening skills*

    Scholarship recipients increased listening skills*

  • 62% of scholarship recipients increased leadership skills*

    Scholarship recipients increased leadership skills*

  • Scholarship recipients increased self-awareness skills*

  • 64% scholarship recipients increased self-confidence skills*

    Scholarship recipients increased self-confidence skills*

  • 66% of scholarship recipients increased problem-solving skills*

    Scholarship recipients increased problem-solving skills*

  • 64% scholarship recipients increased decision-making skills*

    Scholarship recipients increased decision-making skills*

*Data source: 2022 and 2023 NYC Seminar evaluation survey

What People Are Saying

  • "One of the most cherished moments from the NYC Arrival Seminar was during a storytelling workshop, where I had the opportunity to share my personal journey with the group. As I recounted my experiences, struggles, and aspirations, I could feel a deep connection forming among us. My story seemed to resonate profoundly, prompting many of the participants to openly express their emotions through tears and hugs. This experience stands out because it showcased the remarkable power of storytelling to transcend cultural boundaries and foster genuine empathy. Witnessing the emotional responses and the supportive atmosphere that emerged from my storytelling reaffirmed the seminar's emphasis on intercultural understanding and the potential for personal narratives to bridge differences."

    Gursel A., Azerbaijan, 2023

  • "I am committed to implementing the valuable insights gained from the seminar into my daily life. Moving forward, I will approach social media with increased caution, being mindful of its potential pitfalls and ensuring that I use it responsibly. Recognizing the significant role of storytelling, I will make a conscious effort to consistently share my own narrative, understanding its power to connect and inspire others. Additionally, I will cultivate a deeper understanding of the societal issues we discussed and actively seek opportunities to contribute positively towards their improvement. With these goals in mind, I am dedicated to personal growth and making a meaningful impact on the world around me."

    Vyara M., Bulgaria, 2023

  • “I gain professional experience and meet people not only from the USA. That is a surprising experience to see how the US community is successful in embracing a variety of cultures. The program enables me to learn different cultures and also share my own culture.”

    Orkhan H., Azerbaijan, 2022

  • “Besides the huge development of my personal skills, due to my participation in the [arrival] seminar I have gained some important practical skills, which I would like to use in the future. I was informed about the essential components of storytelling, about the right way to target the audience I want to have an impact on and how I can effectively raise awareness of any issue I am concerned about.”

    Tereza R., Armenia, 2022

  • “It’s very exciting here, especially the elks, high mountains and an ancient restaurant where I am working and which was built in 1939 in Baldy Mountain. The view of the Sun Valley is breathtaking. There are roughly 20 nations here. I learn not only American but also other nations' cultures as a result of which I am becoming multicultural.”

    Nail N., Azerbaijan, 2022

  • “Everything in New York was unbelievable and the seminar was full of emotions for me.”

    Nino M., Georgia, 2022

Scholarship Highlights

  • In 2023, through the partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Greece, we diversified the list of our scholarship partners and welcomed the first-ever cohort of scholarship recipients from Greece.

    Increasing Access

    In 2023, through the partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Greece, we diversified the list of our scholarship partners and welcomed the first-ever cohort of scholarship recipients from Greece.

  • Arrival Seminar in New York City

    In June 2022 and 2023, a group of participants from Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Bulgaria attended a special in-person networking and skills building seminar in New York City.

  • Be a changemaker

    Be a Changemaker Challenge with Mentor Dida, Ashoka Youth Venture, Inc.

    Through storytelling, the groups were tasked to tackle a social issue of their choosing and create a pitch with the intention of inspiring change.

  • Engaging in Intercultural Cooperation for Changemaking

    Engaging in Intercultural Cooperation for Changemaking

    Working all together and in smaller groups, participants focused their efforts on the following social issues: climate change, populism in the media, women’s access to education, intergenerational exchange of ideas, human rights, animal rights, emotional intelligence, and lack of motivation in youth, to name a few.

  • Guided Tour of the United Nations Headquarters

    Seminar programming also provided opportunities for cultural and professional exploration.

    “The most memorable and the most unforgettable was the tour in United Nations, because I study at the faculty of Law and I know how this one of the biggest organizations, but only theoretically. It was a pleasant experience for me to try all of this in practice. The whole human rights are related to my profession, so it was nice to feel these emotions. I saw in reality everything that I only used to hear about.”- Mariam S., Georgia, 2022

  • Most Memorable NYC Arrival Seminar Experience and Why?

    Most Memorable NYC Arrival Seminar Experience and Why?

    “Meeting Mentor Dida and Nicole Elkon; it was inspiring to see their level of motivation; Meeting all of the participants and getting to know a bit of New York City vibes was amazing.” - Gergana R., Bulgaria, 2022

  • Media Literacy Workshop

    Media Literacy Workshop

    As a result of participation in the seminar, scholarship recipients increased their ability to evaluate everyday information they see from multiple sources (77%), ability to identify false information (76%), and ability to think critically about the information they see online (74%)*.

    *Data source: 2022 and 2023 NYC Seminar evaluation survey

  • Ambassadors Fund for Summer Work Travel scholarship and program reflections.

    Ambassadors Fund for Summer Work Travel Scholarship and Program Reflections.

    Upon completion of their scholarship program in 2022 and before departing back to Bulgaria, Valeri K. and Hristina N. shared their experience of living and working in the U.S. with Deputy Assistant Secretary Nicole Elkon.

  • Alumni Meetup

    Ambassadors Fund for Summer Work Travel Alumni Meetup

    A group of 2023 scholarship recipients from Greece enjoyed connecting and sharing their program experiences and reflections with each other, and with the U.S. Embassy in their home country.