Recruitment for the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program Well Under Way

2008 saw the addition of five new countries—Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kosovo, and Macedonia—to the over thirty other YES countries that currently send high school students (ages 15-17) to spend up to one academic year in the United States. While on program, students attend American high schools and live with American host families.

Recruitment in these countries—at thirteen different locations—started in early October with testing in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Recruitment is expected to reach completion by mid-December.

The program, whose goal is to promote cultural understanding and respect, was established by Congress and is sponsored by the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). American Councils has administered YES Afghanistan since the program began in October 2002.

For more information on YES in South East Europe, visit http://www.ac-see.org/.

For more information on ECA and the YES program, visit http://exchanges.state.gov/youth/programs/yes.html.