What do you know about "People To People"?

[CookingWithGas]

I got a letter today addressed to The Parents Of Little Gas inviting her to join a sports delegation to Austria to play soccer. Now, my 10-year-old daughter played soccer a couple of seasons ago and she's not particularly good.

Is this a legit organization? How could a mediocre player get selected to be a Sports Ambassador? :dubious:

They want to promote Peach Though Understanding, although I always thought our relationship with Austria was pretty peaceful. . . . :confused:

[tbdi]

They want to promote Peach Though Understanding, although I always thought our relationship with Austria was pretty peaceful.

It's pretty peachy as well! (sorry, couldn't resist - don't know about the organization but it sounds at best like a bit of a sham and a worst like a total scam)

[CookingWithGas]

Peace :smack:

Peach Through Understanding would be the group from Georgia. . . .

[Yeah]

Go here for a history of People to People International: http://www.ptpi.org/about_us/history.jsp and here for People to People Sports Ambassadors http://www.sportsambassadors.org/

As far as I know, it's neither a sham nor a scam but an upscale tour operator. Very nice if you have the money.

[CookingWithGas]

As far as I know, it's neither a sham nor a scam but an upscale tour operator. Very nice if you have the money.OK, that sounds like it might be about right. This letter says, "Student-athletes are invited. . . Your local delegation. . . ." They make it sound like they have hand-picked people to participate in some kind of sponsored program and make no mention at all of costs.

Although it may not be a scam, it's definitely a come-on to flatter you into being interested. They say it was founded by Eisenhower and list every past president from Kennedy as an Honorary Chairman. It also carries Adidas's logo as a sponsor.

They mention the Vienna Ambassador Games in Austria--I am thinking now that is just an event they put on themselves.

[alphaboi867]

I went to Australia and New Zealand with People to People as a Student Ambassador when I was 15. It was alot of fun. It's like a tour group (despite how many times they said "You're not tourists".) We got to do an overnight homestay in each country and in NZ I shadowed my host brother at his high school.

[Tastes of Chocolate]

My nephew visited England this summer through this group. It was a 2 or 3 week tour. No home stay, but lots of sight seeing. My nephew is 12, and I believe he was on the younger end of the group.

[susan]

I just came back from one of their adult professional programs. Well worth it if you can afford it. A lot of folks I've talked to who went on one of their programs as teens call it "life-changing." I'm waiting for my post history to come up in another window so I can link you to an earlier discussion. Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Threatening hampsters.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting.... Waiting....
Here (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=380700) you go. That only took 25 minutes and 4 tries.