The Summer Institute for Youth, a program under the Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Initiative, is a 3-½ week U.S.-based Institute for teenagers that focuses on the exploration of global issues through interactive activities, practical experiences, and other hands-on opportunities. Through their participation in the Institute, Fellows learn more about democratic practices, volunteer service, conflict resolution, critical thinking, tolerance and respect for diversity, and youth leadership.

Each Institute includes 30 to 35 European and Eurasian youth and 10 American students. Fellows are nominated by U.S. Embassies in Europe and Eurasia.

Wake Forest University has administered the Institutes for the past three years, hosting one Institute in 2006, two Institutes each in 2007 and 2008, and an alumni conference in Europe in 2009.  The U.S. Institute will resume in summer 2010.

Go to http://www.bftf.org for additional information.