Youth leader exchange

A relationship between Dayton and cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina has generated a youth leadership exchange that will bring students and teachers to Dayton in October of 2019. During the visit, 18 students and three teachers from Bosnia and Herzegovina will experience the best Dayton has to offer in the areas of education, culture, and person-to-person exchanges.

The “Four Cities Young Leader Academy” is a collaborative effort of the Dayton Mediation Center, the Dayton Sister City Committee, and multiple partner organizations in Dayton and Bosnia and Herzegovina, made possible by funding from the U.S. Department of State.

To support the program, the Dayton Mediation Center has received a $120,000 grant award from the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo through the State Department’s Youth Leadership and Teacher Professional Development Program.

The Dayton Mediation Center connection to Bosnia and Herzegovina began in 2016, when the Dayton Sister City Committee led a delegation to visit Dayton’s sister city of Sarajevo, as well as Banja Luka and Mostar. The trip came on the heels of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords and the signing of an agreement among the mayors of Dayton and the three cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Commissioner Matt Joseph, the City Commission’s ex-officio member on the Dayton Sister City Committee, underlined the importance of the exchange: “This program offers an exciting opportunity to strengthen existing ties with our sister city, Sarajevo, and the cities of Mostar and Banja Luka. These experiences help equip young leaders to be change makers when they return home.”

Homestay families are needed to host students and teachers. Individuals and families can get more information at daytonsistercitycommittee.org/ homestay and should apply by March 31. A per diem allowance will be provided to hosts.