A description is provided of the International Youth Exchange Initiative, a joint government-private sector project to encourage citizen participation in international and cultural exchange programs. Following an introduction, there are four sections. The first section, "Becoming an Exchange Student," outlines questions to consider in applying for an exchange position and provides comments of former exchange students on their experiences. The second section, "Choosing the Right Program," describes how to evaluate an exchange program, by focusing on the sponsor, sponsor's finances, contingency provisions, housing and student facilities, study programs and selection procedures, and orientation. The third section, "Volunteering To Be A Host Family," defines hosting and reviews common problems and considerations in choosing a program. The final section, "Directory of Selected International Youth Exchange Programs, Services, and Information," is arranged in five parts: organizations primarily engaged in international youth exchange, organizations with an international focus that offer youth exchanges, domestic organizations that conduct exchanges, public service organizations that provide information on exchanges, and selected publications and references. (LP)