WASHINGTON – Five German students are currently in Washington, D.C. working for members of the United States House of Representatives for six weeks as part of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals’ Congressional Internship Program.

The Congressional Internship Program (CIP) provides students participating in the longstanding U.S.-German exchange program, which is joint funded by the German Bundestag and U.S. Department of State, with the opportunity to acquire real-world experience working in an office of a member of the U.S. Congress. It is an invaluable opportunity to acquire practical work experience at the level of the federal government , expand their knowledge of the responsibilities of a congressional member and legislative processes, while enhancing one’s analytical, communication, and research skills.

The five CIP interns were selected from a group of 73 German CBYX Fellows currently studying and interning with U.S. hosts across the United States. Their internships will run through February 17.

Since the inaugural internship cohort in 2000-01, more than 80 young German students and young professionals have taken part in the CBYX Congressional Internship Program.

The 2017 class of CBYX Congressional Internship Program participants is:

Participating Student Representative (District) Leonie Bohle Mike Conaway (TX-11) Ersin Demircan Jim Himes (CT-4) Paul Kreutzer Steve Chabot (OH-1) Johannes Stahl Chuck Fleischmann (TN-3) Daniela Vogel David Reichert (WA-8)

The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals is a fellowship funded by the German Bundestag and U.S. Department of State that annually provides up to 75 American and 75 German young professionals, between the ages of 18-24, the opportunity to spend one year in each other’s countries, studying, interning, and living with hosts on a cultural immersion program. The program consists of three phases:

• Two months of intensive German language training
• Four months of classes in one’s academic or career field at a university, technical or professional school
• Five-month internships in one’s career field

Cultural Vistas has administered CBYX for Young Professionals for over 30 years, together with its German partner organization, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit. Learn more about the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals at cbyx.info.

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. Cultural Vistas is headquartered in New York with regional offices in Washington, D.C. and Berlin.

Follow @CulturalVistas and @CBYXPPP on Twitter.

We’re thrilled to welcome 5 @CBYXPPP participants to the Hill where they’ll intern for 6 wks w/ members of the House https://t.co/BPokd81HZq pic.twitter.com/aoGTaoEm1O

— Cultural Vistas (@CulturalVistas) January 10, 2017