Greater Kansas City Chapter of People to People International

Background Information for International Military Students at Fort Leavenworth

Three-pronged sponsorship

The Greater Kansas City chapter of People to People International (GKCPTP) is one of three organizations that support international military students. GKCPTP provides volunteer sponsors for international military students (and their families) while in training at Fort Leavenworth's Command and General Staff College (CGSC). Sponsorship is fundamentally a hospitality program that fosters cross-cultural exchange through friendship and social interaction. Sponsors provide a warm welcome, a measure of home hospitality, and exposure to American family and community life. Participants repeatedly mention how the relationship is mutually rewarding and beneficial. Sponsor groups for international military students include:

Fort Leavenworth Sponsors

The Fort Leavenworth sponsor is usually a military or federal employee from Fort Leavenworth. Generally speaking, they help international military students acquire a military ID, secure housing, obtain furniture, turn on utilities and similar support functions.

Leavenworth-Lansing Sponsors

A Leavenworth-Lansing civilian, volunteer sponsor is recruited and assigned by the Operation International Committee of the Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce. In addition to befriending, the Leavenworth/Lansing sponsors might also assist the international military students find "off-post," civilian housing, locate shops, restaurants, schools, medical care, etc., and help them set up accounts with power, water and communication utilities.

Greater Kansas City Chapter of People to People International

GKCPTP is a cultural and educational exchange organization dedicated to advancing international understanding and friendship through the exchange of ideas and experiences directly among people of different countries and cultures.

Sponsorship of international military students is a core program of GKCPTP. Since most of our members reside in the Kansas City area, we are less likely to be involved in the more hands-on efforts of setting up international military students and their families with housing, utilities, etc. Our primary role is to introduce the students and their families to the Kansas City community and the American way of life. We do this by befriending and socializing with you as is convenient and desired by you as guests of our country.

More About People to People International

Founded by Dwight D. Eisenhower as a government agency in 1956, People to People International (PTPI) moved into the private sector in 1961. Through the relationship between Eisenhower and Joyce Hall, founder of Hallmark Cards, the international office was relocated to Kansas City, Missouri. Since that time, hundreds of thousands of people have participated in PTPI chapter activities, worldwide conferences, adult exchange programs, or student exchange programs.

The Greater Kansas City chapter is one of more than 200 PTPI chapters located throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Mideast and the United States. Chapters create community action by bringing international relations to students and adults interested in the various cultures and peoples in the world. Chapters think globally and act locally!

Individuals and members that join GKCPTP are automatically also members of the parent organization, PTPI.

01/2010