I went on the Australia/New Zealand trip with People to People the summer before 9th grade. It was an amazing experience! I fundraised every cent, and I think they did a good job of using the money wisely. We went to all kinds of locations, fed dolphins, stayed at a Maori village, snorkeled in the Great Barrier Reef - things you just don't do on a normal vacation. I think it's a great opportunity to have a little freedom in a very safe setting and start behaving like an adult. I will say if I could do it again, I may have waited a few years, since at 14 you're still concerned with cliques and boys - even the most mature of us.
I don't believe any credit comes out of the program, but it's a "resume-builder" until she has more experience. Also, recommendations from the leaders and building networking skills with the other students is a helpful tool for the future.
Your daughter sounds like a great candidate. The initial invite seems random, but they definitely interview you and make sure you're really mature enough to handle yourself in another continent without Mom and Dad. Good luck to your daughter!!
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