The U.S. Department of State and Cultural Vistas are pleased to announce that Maureen Thomas is one of 74 Americans selected to study and work in Germany as part of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals program – now in its 41st year. The 2024-2025 CBYX Young Professionals cohort departs for Germany on July 26 and returns to the U.S. in June 2025. Participants come from a wide variety of career fields and from all over the U.S. This year about 500 young professionals vied for a spot in this prestigious program.

CBYX is a bilateral exchange program of the U.S. Congress and German Bundestag (Parliament). The program is administered by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs through non-profit implementing partners such as Cultural Vistas.

While in Germany, Maureen will attend a two-month intensive language course, study at a German university, and complete an internship in the field of engineering. Participants are usually placed with host families throughout Germany, where they act as citizen ambassadors of the United States, promoting a positive image of the U.S. abroad, creating lifelong friendships, and professional connections to enhance German-American relations.

While Maureen is in Germany, a group of 75 German CBYX participants will spend a year in the United States on a reciprocal exchange. German participants study at U.S. colleges and work at local businesses while living with American host families. U.S. citizens interested in hosting Germans in their community should fill out this interest form- https://culturalvistas.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6Fr1y73z1gFRsq2.

While each exchange year is unique, over the last forty years, the program has positively changed the life trajectories for thousands of American young people. Find out about how the CBYX program builds the skills of American participants in the recently completed independent evaluation (full report).

For more information about CBYX, visit exchanges.state.gov/cbyx or contact Cultural Vistas at cbyx@culturalvistas.org. Applications for the fully funded 2025-2026 academic year will open in September 2024. German language skills are not required to apply for the fellowship. More information about the program, including eligibility requirements, can be found here.

About The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Exchanges

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) promotes international mutual understanding through a wide range of academic, cultural, professional, and sports exchange programs. ECA exchanges engage youth, students, educators, artists, athletes, and emerging leaders in many fields in the United States and in more than 160 countries. Alumni of ECA exchanges comprise over one million people around the world, including more than 50 Nobel Laureates and more than 350 current or former heads of state and government. More information on their programs can be found at http://exchanges.state.gov.

About Cultural Vistas

Founded in 1963, Cultural Vistas is a nonprofit exchange organization promoting global understanding and collaboration among individuals and institutions. We develop international professional experiences that create more informed, skilled, and engaged citizens. Our programs empower people to drive positive change in themselves, their organizations, and society. Every year our 30-plus unique exchange programs reach thousands of individuals and organizations in the United States and more than 130 countries around the world. Visit www.culturalvistas.org for more information.