Volunteering

• Are you interested in international affairs?
• Do you want to contribute to improving intercultural communication and understanding?
• Do you believe that youth exchanges can foster the political and economic development of the former Soviet Union (Eurasia), Afghanistan, and South East Europe?
• Do you want to learn about these cultures through the eyes of their young people?

There are several ways to volunteer!

Become a Volunteer Evaluator in Washington, DC

American Councils for International Education is in search of volunteers to evaluate scholarship applications of high school students from Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kosovo, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine. Evaluation of applications will take place from November 2009 through March 2010. Training and reading will take place in our offices at Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. Only individuals living in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area can volunteer.

Youth exchange has been recognized by many as an important component of U.S. public diplomacy and foreign policy. The Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program was initiated in 1992 by the U.S. Congress to create closer relations with the emerging countries of the former Soviet Union and to provide the youth of these countries with a cross-cultural living experience and the opportunity to learn about our society and government. Based on the success of FLEX, the Congress and State Department created the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program to improve understanding between the U.S. and Muslim countries, and the A-SMYLE program to promote youth leadership in South East Europe. All these programs provide high school students the opportunity to come to the U.S. for an academic year, attend high school, and live with a host family. Since the programs’ inception, more than 20,000 students have received scholarships to participate in these programs.

Volunteer Flyer 2009