Chemnitz' new ambassador: Dominic P. celebrates German-American friendship!

Chemnitz' new ambassador: Dominic P. celebrates German-American friendship!

Dominic P. was selected as the US Participant of the Month for April 2025 in the Parliamentary Sponsorship Program (PPP). The 23-year-old from Santa Rosa, California, has been living in Chemnitz, Saxony, since last summer and has specialized in deepening German-American relations. He studied international relations and German politics and his decision to take part in the PPP was influenced by a strong interest in getting to know the culture and language of Germany better. Before his stay in Germany, he only spoke a little German, but began to learn the language intensively and has now quickly made friends. Despite initial communication difficulties, Dominic greatly appreciates the “incredible friendliness and hospitality” of the Germans.

Special experiences in Germany enriched Dominic's stay. His favorite moments include a live debate at the European Parliament in Strasbourg and celebrating Thanksgiving with new friends, which is a good example of intercultural exchange. In addition to this exchange, Dominic has created a podcast called “Linguistics Behind the Scenes” in which he and Dr. Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer humorously illuminates the English and German languages.

The Parliamentary Sponsorship Program (PPP)

The Parliamentary Sponsorship Program, funded by the German Bundestag and the US Congress and implemented by Cultural Vistas gGmbH, is an important German-American exchange program that was launched in 1983. Every year, 75 German and 75 US vocational school graduates receive a scholarship that enables them to spend an international stay for further professional training and to promote intercultural competence. The program includes four months of study at a US college and six months of internship.

PPP participants live with host families and are actively involved on site, thereby acting as junior ambassadors for their countries. The goal of the program is to create a network of personal connections between the United States and Germany and promote a better understanding of shared political values ​​and different ways of life. Dominic sees himself in this role and wants to promote Germans' understanding of the USA and appreciation of German culture.

Commitment in Chemnitz

As part of his commitment to Chemnitz, which was named European Capital of Culture in 2025 by the European Union, Dominic has proposed various projects and supports their implementation. In addition, he had the opportunity to speak with members of a local political party in Saarbrücken to explain the US political and legal system.

With the goal of exploring as much as possible and making lifelong friends before the end of his stay in Germany, Dominic plans to work in the Foreign Service in the future. Thanks to his experience within the PPP, he believes he is well prepared for the challenges of international diplomacy.

For more information about the program and to apply online, please visit 40-ppp.de.

You can read more about Dominic's story in an article on Bundestag.de read up.