Dayton and Sarajevo have shared a sister city relationship since 1999. In 2015, the City of Dayton hosted the 20th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords, which were negotiated at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and helped bring an end to the Bosnian War. During this multi-day event, the mayors of Dayton, Sarajevo, Banja Luka, and Mostar signed a cooperative agreement to strengthen collaboration across government, business, and education sectors. 

 

In 2016, a Dayton delegation traveled to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to build upon that agreement. The BiH/Dayton Exchange program was established as a result of this visit.

 

The Dayton Sister City Committee, in partnership with the Entrepreneurs' Center and City of Dayton, is proud to support the Youth Leadership Program, a three-week immersive experience that will bring 18 students and three teachers from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Dayton in November 2025.

 

The Youth Leadership Program offers Bosnian students and teachers a hands-on opportunity to explore the values of democracy, dialogue, conflict management, community engagement, and volunteerism, while learning alongside their American peers. 

 

A core element of the exchange is the homestay experience, which allows Bosnian participants to live with local families and gain firsthand insight into American culture and daily life.

 

The program is organized annually, and the committee is always seeking new host families, individuals, and partner organizations for internship locations.

 

Timing: The group is scheduled to arrive October 30 and depart November 19, 2025.

 

To learn more about past years of the exchange, check out this story from WYSO.

If you are interested in serving as a host family, please fill out this form.