In 1987, during his tenure as United States Ambassador to Austria, Ronald S. Lauder established a cultural and educational exchange program between New York City secondary students and their counterparts in Vienna. The program has been so successful over the years that it has now expanded to include schools in Berlin, Germany; Budapest, Hungary; Prague, Czech Republic; Sofia, Bulgaria; St. Petersburg, Russia; and Warsaw, Poland.

To date, over 600 high school sophomores and juniors count themselves as alumni of this non-sectarian exchange program. More than 400 of these students reunited in 1997 to celebrate the program's Tenth Anniversary held at the United Nations in New York. Ambassador Lauder, the seven United Nation Ambassadors from the Exchange Program's participating countries, and New York Governor, George Pataki also participated.

Our goal is to cultivate global citizens for the future, fostering in teenagers an appreciation for the political, social, and economic systems of other countries and cultures. We begin each program in August with the American student hosting the European student through mid-December. Participants are chosen not only on the basis of high academic achievement, but also for their demonstrated leadership skills and hunger for knowledge. Students live with their host families and attend school every day with their partners, earning grades that count toward their degree. Both European and American students are exposed to art, culture and leisure activities that the New York area has to offer.

At the end of the four-month period, the European students return home, and from January to mid-June, the same young Americans become guests of the European students they previously hosted. This is an exchange in the truest sense of the word.

Many of our students go on to attend some of the most prestigious universities in Europe and America. Some are enrolled in Ph.D. programs; others are studying medicine, law, and the arts. A large percentage of alumni have gone on to study international law and economics.

A remarkable program, The Ronald S. Lauder Student Exchange has received underwriting support from the Soros Foundation, the United States Information Agency and Chase Manhattan Bank, as well as from other organizations and private donors.

The Foundation takes great pride in enlarging the vistas of young American students and their counterparts in Central and Eastern Europe. The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation is helping to forge a bond of understanding and friendship that will last a lifetime.

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