Sister Cities International’s Youth Leadership Summit

The 2025 Youth Leadership Summit is an immersive program for young leaders, ages 14-18, from across the globe. Designed to inspire the next generation of citizen diplomats, the Summit equips participants with essential leadership and professional development skills. Through interactive sessions and activities, students will address global challenges, fostering a commitment to peace, mutual respect, and cross-cultural cooperation.

This year’s program takes place June 15-21, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

Apply online by 11:59 p.m., Saturday, March 1, 2025.

The United States Capitol building with its dome and adjacent wings, set against a partly cloudy sky, surrounded by trees and a lawn with people.

Gilberto Antoliano Ricarte Youth Leadership Scholarship Program

The Sister Cities International Northern California Chapter invites scholarship applications from Northern California youth selected by Sister Cities International to attend the Youth Leadership Summit. NorCal’s Gilberto Antoliano Ricarte Youth Leadership Scholarship Program helps defray the cost of attending SCI’s Youth Leadership Summit.

Participants will:

  • Meet young people from around the world
  • Learn how they improve their own sister city and community
  • Work with other youth delegates on a community service project
  • Share their community’s culture with fellow delegates
  • Build leadership skills for an increasingly connected world
  • Learn how to make the Sister Cities International “Mission of Peace through People” a reality

Scholarship eligibility

  • Applicants for this scholarship need to have already been selected by Sister Cities International to attend the Youth Leadership Summit (more information)
  • Your local Sister Cities chapter and/or the city you live in must be a member of Sister Cities International in good standing.
  • Participants must be between 14-18 years of age (high school students to recently graduated seniors).
  • Participants do not need a chaperone to attend.
  • Parental travel permission authorization and consent is required for all participants.

What’s included in the scholarship

The Scholarship will cover the program registration fee, which includes:

  • Lodging
  • Meals
  • Daily programs and activities

What’s not included in the scholarship

These costs are not covered by the scholarship. Additional financial support may be provided to the student by their family, supporters and/or their local sister city organization.

  • Roundtrip airfare
  • Transportation to and from the airport
  • Spending money and insurance.

Scholarship award/selection

In the event that there are multiple participants from the Northern California region to attend the Youth Leadership Summit, the Scholarship Committee will meet to select the awardee based on the merits of their scholarship application.

Scholarship application

Apply online