The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) program has deepened the relationship between the United States and Germany for the last four decades, with more than 26,000 American and German participants since its start in 1983. In celebration of the program’s 40th anniversary, the Department hosted a reception this week at the Library of Congress for American CBYX participants who just arrived home from Germany, along with other CBYX alumni, American host families, host school representatives, implementing program partners, and State Department officials.
CBYX is a bilaterally funded program jointly administered by the governments of the United States and Germany. It provides year-long academic, homestay, and community service experiences for American and German high school and vocational students and young professionals who are 15 to 24 years of age. The program also includes a week-long seminar in the respective host country’s capital that focuses on civic education and includes meetings with members of the Bundestag or Congress. CBYX was founded in 1983 under the President’s International Youth Exchange Initiative.