- Through the U.S. Department of State’s Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program, high school students from countries of strategic importance around the world live and study for an academic year in the United States. YES students serve as “youth ambassadors” of their home country by forming lasting relationships with their host families and communities. Participants live with a host family, attend an American high school, acquire leadership skills, and engage in activities to… Read More
- Editor's note: In 1996, Thomas Burns decided to take his study of the Russian language to the next level by spending a semester in St. Petersburg and what is now the Russian Language and Area Studies Program. Since then, he's lived and worked in several other countries while building his career as a visual storyteller. Today, he is based in Tbilisi, Georgia. Why did you decide to study abroad in Russia?I had been studying Russian at college in the US, but I just wasn’t happy with… Read More
- For Abena Amoakuh, persistence has made all the difference. She had been studying Spanish since kindergarten but decided to switch to Chinese in college to support her interest in a business career. The language was a challenge, and when she studied abroad in China during her junior year, she often let local friends take the lead when language skills were required. Looking for a more intensive language experience, she applied for the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program that summer… Read More
- Habib Debaya, Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study student From Tunisia; Hosted in Nebraska As he waited for his meeting with a staffer from Senator Deb Fischer's office, Habib explained that he was proud to be hosted in Nebraska. He has taken five AP courses at his high school, including macroeconomics and government, and he has learned how to play American football. When the staffer asked him to describe his program, he was ready. “Everyone gets a different experience, but it’s all… Read More
- The Future Leaders Exchange program celebrated its 25th cohort of students yesterday, at a ceremony in the Kennedy Caucus Room on Capitol Hill. The reception honored the latest 200 students to complete the program.Several guest speakers, including Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, congratulated the students on their accomplishment, while challenging them to make their voices heard. Mr. Murphy, who studied abroad in college, shared that he started questioning the leaders in his community as a… Read More
- Thanks to generous American families from various backgrounds, over 40,000 students hailing from more than 50 countries have been hosted in every state through study abroad programs administered by American Councils. These international students received prestigious, merit-based scholarships through the U.S. Department of State and become connected with compassionate, globally conscious families that support immersive experiences to learn English and local cultures.While host families provide… Read More
- WASHINGTON, DC — First Lady Mirabela Grădinaru of Romania visited American Councils for International Education on March 24 as part of her official engagements in the United States capital. The visit focused on expanding cooperation between American Councils and Romania across a range of educational and exchange initiatives, including the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program and other academic, professional, and leadership programs supported by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs… Read More
- FLEX Global builds on the legacies of the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) and the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) programs by expanding participation globally. The program advances U.S. interests by cultivating a network of young leaders who understand and support U.S. culture and priorities, with a focus on entrepreneurship, technology and super intelligence (SI), and leadership. FLEX Global is a highly competitive, merit-based exchange program funded and administered by the U… Read More
- Editor's Note: This article was originally written by the YES Program. Inspired by the values of inclusion he experienced during his exchange year in the US, Nehemiah brought sign language to his hometown in Nigeria. Living for a year in the United States often provides opportunities for exchange students that would have been unthinkable in their home countries. For Youth Exchange and Study (YES) student, Nehemiah, from Nigeria, spending an exchange year in Arvada, Colorado meant… Read More
- An exchange student has many new experiences during an academic year in America: new foods, new places, new schools, and new families. For a select group of students each year, that list includes meeting elected officials in Washington D.C. through the Civic Education Workshop.This year the workshop celebrates its 25th anniversary. The weeklong event, which is funded by the U.S. Department of State, offers exchange students a closer look at how American civil society functions. Students… Read More
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