German American Partnership Program - GAPP

We open hearts, minds, and borders by enabling cultural exchanges between schools and students. Since 1972, the German American Partnership Program (GAPP) supports short-term educational exchanges. Annually, more than 4,000 American and 5,000 German students go abroad with a GAPP exchange. Stays of three to four weeks help students to build confidence and independence, gain first-hand experience of another culture, discover shared values, and form what often become life-long friendships.

Our belief is that when travel is paired with community, truly incredible things can happen. GAPP is based on sustainable, long-term partnerships between schools. This makes GAPP one of the few truly bilateral student exchange programs. We work not only to bring students together with host families, but also to build lasting partnerships with schools and the wider community.

GAPP is supported by the German government as well as the U.S. Department of State. In the US, the program is implemented by GAPP, Inc., a 501(3)(c) located at the Goethe-Institut New York. In Germany, GAPP is implemented by the Pädagogische Austauschdienst (PAD) of the Kultusministerkonferenz der Länder.