YFU Scholarship Information Sheet
2009 James Bradley Peace Foundation

How can we stop fighting each other and live in peace?

The most effective means of cultural understanding is achieved when American kids sit in the living rooms, eat in the kitchens, and sleep in the bedrooms of families in another country.

This is much more than reading about or hearing about different countries. It builds bridges of friendship between peoples and nations. If more kids from more countries went to live in homes abroad and had a second Mother and Father, we all would benefit from the mutual respect, understanding, and love that impact both families.

My father, John Bradley, was one of the Flagraisers at Iwo Jima. His story, and many others, is told in my books Flags of Our Fathers and Flyboys. Through the James Bradley Peace Foundation, I am investing in American high school students by funding homestay immersion exchange programs to which gives them an incredible opportunity at international awareness.

The James Bradley Peace Foundation has partnered with Youth For Understanding USA, the world experts at shepherding young people on international exchanges.

For future peace, it is important that young Americans understand their brothers and sisters in this big world.

I urge you: "Do it. Sign Up. Experience. Grow."

James Bradley
President of the James Bradley Peace Foundation
Author of Flags of Our Fathers and Flyboys

Program Length

• School Year (winter departure)
• School Year (summer departure)

Country Choice

• China
• Japan

Eligibility

• (James Bradley Peace Foundation to Japan)

• The James Bradley Peace Foundation Scholarship, formerly known as the Sons of Iwo Jima Scholarship program, provides academic year scholarships to China and Japan. Open to all US high school students, but with a selection priority for students attending specific high schools. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Previous participants on a YFU exchange are not eligible. Only US citizens may apply.

  Selection priority will be given to students attending the following high schools: Andrew Jackson Senior High School (FL), Antigo (WI) High School, Audubon (NJ) High School, Childress (TX) High School, Clay Center Community (KS) High School, Conemaugh Valley (PA) High School, Fleming County (KY) High School, Long Beach Polytechnic High School (CA), Manchester (NH) High School, Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts (MO), Smith-Cotton (MO) High School, Weslaco (TX) High School, and students of the Pima Tribe (AZ) Ira H. Hayes Memorial High School.

  (James Bradley Peace Foundation to China)

Age Requirements

• Applicant's birth date must fall between April 2, 1991, and April 1, 1994. (James Bradley Peace Foundation to Japan)
• Applicant's birth date must fall between April 1, 1991, and July 15, 1994. (James Bradley Peace Foundation to China)

Application Fee

• $35 (James Bradley Peace Foundation to Japan)
• $75 (James Bradley Peace Foundation to China)

Complete Application Includes:

• 1 American Overseas Application Form, including:
• 1 Educator Evaluation Form
• Host Family Letter
• 5 Responses to Short Answer Essay Questions
• Application Fee (non-refundable)
• 1 Scholarship-specific Essay

• 1 American Overseas Application Form, including:
• 1 Educator Evaluation Form
• Host Family Letter
• 5 Responses to Short Answer Essay Questions
• Application Fee (non-refundable)
• 1 Scholarship-specific Essay (see below)

Scholarship Covers:

• Round-trip international travel
• Round-trip domestic travel
• Placement with a carefully selected host family
• Regional orientation for scholarship recipients and parents
• Preparatory materials
• Support services in host country

Scholarship Recipients are Responsible for:

• Passport
• Visa fees (if necessary)
• Any excess luggage tariffs
• Required overseas medical insurance (many insurance policies will cover students while traveling abroad)
• Personal spending money
• Upon returning home, scholarship winners are expected to complete at least one presentation in their school or community to share their experiences, teach others about the culture in their host country, and encourage other students to participate in foreign exchange.

NOTE:

James Bradley is funding your scholarship. In his books, Flags of Our Fathers and Flyboys: A True Story of Courage, Bradley details the deaths of Americans fighting the Japanese in World War II. Why would you want to go to China or Japan to study?

Note: All applicants will be notified by mail of their status in December (Japan program) or April (China program). Please keep this form and a completed copy of the application materials for your reference.

If applying for multiple scholarships, please indicate each scholarship's name and code on your application. For more information regarding the scholarship selection process, please refer to the Scholarship Facts section of this web site.

PLEASE KEEP THIS FORM AND A COMPLETED COPY OF THE APPLICATION MATERIALS FOR YOUR REFERENCE.