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People to People

Not everyone is unhappy with People to People. Below are some of the reports we've received from parents and children who were happy with the experience.

Lauren of Ball State University (12/24/07):
I do not work with People to People Student Ambassadors, but I have travelled with the organization in the past. ... Your articles on this subject are completely biased, not to mention incorrect. You honestly should be totally ashamed of what you have done. The people who are complaining about this do not have any sort of knowledge because they did not travel with People to People. Yes, it is more of a travel organization, but there is much more, and anyone with half a brain could figure that out from the beginning.

I highly doubt that this organization would still be here if everything you write about it were true. These incidents which you are referring to about "dead people" being contacted were totally out of the ordinary. The organization apologized profusely and this happened only twice in over fifty years. Also, with the mailing list, I attended a very well-respected high school, a four-star school, in a nationally-recognized town, where over 3,000 students attend as well, and hardly anyone I knew received a People to People letter. It is obvious that this mailing list is compiled from students who score high on standardized tests.

Also, your articles contain incorrect information as well. In one, you state that People to People is classified as a non-profit organization, but you then mislead consumers by saying that is as for-profit organization. No, that is not correct, the travel-booking company they contract to organize the itineraries is a for-profit organization. Obviously, this is the way things are done, just as high-school study-abroad and exchange programs are done. As for the individual who claimed that they could do this all independently with a travel company for a cheaper price.

Please educate yourself, and don't embarrass yourself by posting comments like this on a website that is meant to educaate consumers. Yes, this program is an expense, but it is also ! an incredible educational experience. Oh, and by the way, I attended a trip on which we travelled to London, and we met a member of Parlaiment. You are unfair and incredibly biased on the subject of People to People Student Ambassadors.

Dea of killeen, TX September 27, 2009

OKay, so i'm an alumni for P2P. Totally worth everythig. i did fundraisers to help for the cost and learned numerous personal experiences no one else could ever do unless on this trip. i traveled the year 2007 and NEVER heard of this death everyone talks about. The leaders NEVER drank liquor! they ALWAYS had us in eye site. everywhere we went we had a count up. either it was geting on/off the coach. going to the hotel. leaving places. before we moved on some where else. and ect. This is a GREAT program and i HIGHLY recemend that anyone who has the chance to go should go! Your child will grow with great excpetance and come back more respectful than ever. Some kids do have a mind of their own and wander off, but then again that will be their fault and they KNOW what to do if lost. we have meetings before each trip to learn everything we can before we depart out of the country. some kids dont make it past the interview and DO NOT get accepted for being eeither not mature enough yet or they just dont think you will take this seriously. Trust me. it was totally worth it! and im traveling again this coming summer in 2010 =]

Shirley of shepherdsville, KY September 16, 2009

I had a great experience. The cost is high but they offer fundraisers to help and I worked hard to raise alot of the money, so did my mother, we covered the price of the trip and 650 of spending money for me. I went on the European Discovery program and don't regret any of it. I learned alot, and experienced more than anyone could if they just stay in their hometown. There is so much to learn! I met a holocaust survivor, seen our president in Austria, stayed with a very loving family who showed me that teenagers there aren't much different from us.

I only had minor issues with my leaders, who sometimes were more interested in shopping than us actually getting us to our destinations, however I still learned alot and if I had the money or resources, I would go again. The supervision was effective, we had nightly checks and were told meeting spots if we were allowed to wander around, but not far and it had to be in groups.

We had a few try to sneak out but were caught by the hotel security, and one girl's credit card was ate by a machine in Italy and one of our leaders arranged for money to be wired over and they stayed with her in Italy while she waited for approval to head back to the U.S. I think the experience will differ, it all depends on who is responsible for the children. If the people who are the leaders are not responsible, it is their fault, but my experience was not in any way a negative one.

We of Tarzana, CA July 9, 2009

Our 14 year old daughter is a dedicated club swimmer. She swims 6 days a week for 2 1/2 hours a day. She is a member of USA Swimming and it is through that organization that she was contacted to participate in the People to People Sports Ambassador program. The program is expensive... > 6,000, so if you can not afford that or you can not raise that from your community, do not apply. However, our daughter is highly motivated and raised part of the money and we (her parents) paid for the rest. She is now in Vienna, Austria and says she is having the time of her life. She is thrilled to be training with Lenny Krayzelberg, a former Olympic swimming medalist, to be meeting swimmers from all over the world and to be touring in an historic city. We had nothing but professional and courteous interactions with the People to People staff in person, by telephone and email. In short, if you come to this website to get complaints, you will find them. I just wanted to let you know there are happy customers too.

Jared of Johnson City, NY February 27, 2009

Jared of Johnson City NY (02/27/09)
I can't believe you parents who say you care about your kids but are to overprotective to let them do anything that can help them later in life. People 2 People is a great program my son went for 3 years to Hawaii, Europe, and China yes it was pricey but what isn't. Don't give me this oh they are a scam my son is now well aware of the world and the cultures around it. You parents are just jealous that you didn't get to go your self!

Connor of North Vernon, IN November 5, 2008

Connor of North Vernon IN (11/05/08)
I am a student and all of the experiences my parents and I have had with People to People Student Ambassador Programs are all positive ones. Whether chosen by academic achievement or a mailing list this program provides a great opportunity to experience the world. This program is definitely a great program even if it has its glitches. Doesn't every program designated for special trips like this have glitches? Nothing is perfect and parents need to realize that. This is an opinion from an actual student who has had the HONOR of going on the Treasures of Japan Student Ambassador trip.

This program has not caused ANY problems WHATSOEVER to my family or me as an individual.

Dawne of Pompano Beach, FL October 16, 2008

Dawne of Pompano Beach FL (10/16/08)
My daughter went on a student ambassador trip with People to People in the summer of 2005. It was an incredibly great experience for her. She met other students who she is still friendly with, got to stay with a host family in France, see a play in London's West End Theatre District, visit Monaco, see the Mona Lisa at the Louvres on a special private tour just for their group, see Cannes. . . it was an amazing trip. I'm sorry to hear that people have had bad experiences. My daughter was required to attend meetings at least monthly for a year before her trip, learn about the countries they were to visit, and turn in written individual and group assignments. She was also able to earn high school credit for her experience. I hope that the unfortunate incidences noted are isolated events.

Georgi of Park Ridge, IL November 5, 2007

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