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The Department of State’s “Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Initiative,” is scheduled to take place in-person from June 22 to July 20, 2024. This initiative is open to young people aged 16 to 18. The program honors American statesman and diplomat Benjamin Franklin, whose life and career strengthened transatlantic cooperation. For the first time in the history of the program, this year qualifying candidates who apply for the program, but are not accepted, will be eligible for selection to participate in a keynote event at the U.S. embassy, in which students will serve as a diplomat for a day in a simulation of the work of a U.S. Ambassador and U.S. Embassy. We hope this additional opportunity will encourage robust applications for the Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellowship.

The Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellowship is an intensive short-term exchange program, created to foster relationships among young Europeans and Americans to build strong linkages and awareness of shared values. The four-week program will enable students, ages 16-18, to explore U.S. foreign policy priorities such as youth engagement, support for democracy and civil society, and economic prosperity. The program will consist of a series of lectures, seminar discussions and presentations, and a broad assortment of practical, faculty- and mentor-led workshops. The coursework and classroom activities will be complemented by community service activities, site visits, social and cultural activities, and homestays with American families to deepen participants’ experience of U.S. society during their exchange.

During the program, participants also will have the opportunity to discuss topics such as democratic practices, conflict resolution, problem solving, communication skills, critical thinking, tolerance and respect for diversity, youth leadership, team building, disinformation, and the media. The program will explore how freedom of expression provides rights to and imposes responsibilities on citizens. Upon their return home, participants will implement service projects in their communities and present an alumni project plan to a youth-serving or youth-centered organization in their home country. These organizations may include U.S. Mission Youth Councils, American Spaces, and exchange alumni associations.

BFTF’s goals are: to develop a commitment to transatlantic cooperation; to foster relationships between American and European youth from different ethnic, religious, and national groups; to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Europe; and to develop a cadre of young leaders who will share their knowledge and skills with their peers through positive action.

We invite you to share this opportunity with all students aged 16 to 18 and nominate candidates from your school who you believe would benefit from and contribute to the summer program.

Nominees should have:

1. a strong interest in learning more about diplomacy, the transatlantic relationship, the role of a free press in a democracy, and an interest in public or community service
2. a strong demonstrated interest in communications, advocacy, debate, or civic participation
3. the academic aptitude for a program of this nature and
4. personal qualities such as maturity, strong social skills, flexibility, and open-mindedness.

Ideally nominees will have little or no prior U.S. study or travel experience in the U.S. Nominees must be Maltese citizens; dual U.S./Maltese citizens are not eligible. Fluency in English is essential.

Nominees must demonstrate a serious interest in pursuing leadership opportunities in civic society in Malta and demonstrate a genuine desire to learn firsthand about the United States, its people, society, and institutions. The selected candidate will be expected to fully participate in all program components, as well as in follow up activities in Malta. In addition, he/she should be ready to inform and educate Americans about the culture of Malta in non-structured gatherings and in public presentations. The applicants must be 16, 17, or 18 years of age at the time of the program. Applicants must not be older than 18 or younger than 16 during the program.

International travel costs and visa costs will be paid by the U.S. Embassy. Tuition, ground transportation in the U.S., food and accommodation expenses will be paid by the Department of State's Office of Education and Cultural Affairs. The successful candidate will only need personal spending money.

The closing date for nominations is February 9, 2024. The U.S. Embassy will conduct an initial screening of applications and preliminary interviews. The final decision on which candidate will participate in the program rests solely with the Department of State.

This is the program nomination form [PDF]. Please note that nominees must complete each item on the form. As mentioned above, those who apply but are not selected will still be eligible for selection to participate in a keynote event at the U.S. embassy, in which students will serve as a diplomat for a day in a simulation of the work of a U.S. Ambassador and U.S. Embassy. We hope this additional opportunity will encourage robust applications for the Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellowship.