Q:  What is a People to People Student Chapter?
A:  People to People Student Chapters are similar to a student club. They are designed to give middle school and high school students an opportunity to work together in leadership roles on activities such as community service, volunteer work, social and international events as well as many other activities. The overall goal is to promote Peace through Understanding on a daily basis.

Q:  What does a PTPI Student Chapter do?
A:  Chapters participate in activities devoted to cultural understanding and humanitarianism. Student Chapter members also enhance leadership and teambuilding skills, resulting in students of great character with an increased appreciation of diverse people and cultures.

Q:  How do I form a student chapter?
A:  Contact friends, teachers, community leaders, and anyone else. Your parents can be of assistance in helping you gather a mix of students and adults, or you can have a student chapter with students only and at least one adult advisor. Make sure you have a core of at least 10 people.

Q:  What do we do once we have a core group?
A:  Hold a planning meeting where you review the Student Chapter Guidelines and Manual. You will then:

  Elect your officers.
  Name your Chapter.
  Adopt bylaws.
  Create your Program of activities.

All the necessary forms are included in the student manual. After your meeting, send your Chapter forms and dues to People to People International Headquarters to receive your preliminary charter.

Q:  How many activities should our chapter do each year?
A:  Student Chapters are required to do at least one activity from each of the following four categories. Examples for each category are located in the Student Chapter Guidelines. Additional activities are encouraged.

1) Project with educational/international focus.
2) Community service at local or international level.
3) Fundraising.
4) Social event/membership recruitment drive.

Q:  What are the costs involved with being a member of a PTPI student chapter?
A:  Membership dues for People to People International are the following:

· $35 Family
· $20 Individual
· $15 Student

A portion of the dues is retained by the Chapter.

NOTE: Please refer to the Adult Chapter FAQs if you have more questions or for further information.

Q:  How is a chapter organized?
A:  Each chapter should have a name that identifies themselves and describes their region or area. Each chapter should have an adult advisor and elect officers: president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. Additional positions may be added, such as homestay coordinator, public relations representative or webmaster.

Q:  Who can be an Adult Advisor?
A:  Adult Advisors can be school administrators, teachers, parents, coaches, delegation leaders and others in the community. The Advisor is very important to the development and success of the Student Chapter. As an Adult Advisor, you are the mentor and provide guidance for the Chapter officers as well as all chapter members.

Q:  What if there is no chapter in my area?
A:

• Start a new Chapter!
• Join as a PTPI at-large member!
• Increase awareness about PTPI in your school and community by having a teacher sign up for the School and Classroom Program!
• Develop projects to benefit PTPI’s Operation Iraqi Children program or raise awareness and funds for PTPI’s Global Landmine Initiative.

Q:  What if I am a student ambassador looking to join a chapter and apply for scholarships?
A:  While some of our student chapter members travel with Ambassador Programs, this should not be a sole reason to join or start a student chapter.

PTPI has strict guidelines on fundraising due to IRS regulations. Please note that an individual can not fundraise for themselves or any specific individual and have that money be used as a tax-deductible donation. If the chapter chooses to raise money for students to participate in the Student Ambassador Program, a chapter scholarship fund must be developed. This includes a committee being developed to select guidelines for the fund, and creating an application for student chapter members to apply for these funds. (PTPI must also be provided with a copy of the scholarship guidelines.) The chapter can fundraise together for the scholarship fund. Prior to the travel event, members can apply for the scholarship. Donations into this scholarship fund are considered tax-deductible for businesses.

Please visit www.fundingyoureducation.org for a complete website of ideas of how to fund your student ambassador trip.