- In 2024, the American Councils community marked the 50th anniversary of advancing international education, cultural exchange, language immersion, professional development and work skills training, and educational innovation. From Eastern Europe and the Southern Caucasus to Central Asia, West Africa, and the Pacific, our global network came together with partners, volunteers, and alumni to celebrate half a century of fostering connections between countries and cultures. These regional… Read More
- The impact of American Councils is reflected in its global community of over 100,000 alumni. These distinguished individuals, including national leaders, ministers, members of parliament, ambassadors, and CEOs, demonstrate the organization's commitment to enhancing cross-cultural collaboration in our interconnected world.Among these dedicated alumni are those who have forged careers in international education at American Councils. Transitioning from participants to leaders within the… Read More
- WASHINGTON, DC—The United States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) recently paid tribute to the historic accomplishments of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX), Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX), and Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program, and highlighted the profound impact that alumni of the programs have had on their home and host communities.American Councils for International Education and its Center for Global Leadership (CGL) were… Read More
- Applications are now open for new volunteer evaluators to review scholarship applications of high school students from 29 countries, including the United States, on a flexible basis. Our next group of volunteers will serve between November 2021 and March 2022 to evaluate applications from prospective students in the following youth exchange programs, which are sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs:The Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX): Initiated in… Read More
- American Councils for International Education joins the international community in mourning former Senator Richard Lugar, who died Sunday at the age of 87.The longest serving senator in Indiana’s history, Mr. Lugar dedicated much of his 36-year career to foreign policy, advocating for nuclear non-proliferation and twice serving as the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.In the wake of 9/11, he and the late Senator Edward “Ted”… Read More
- On May 8, the 2023-2024 Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program and Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program cohorts were welcomed to the last webinar of the "Global Leadership Series," provided by Dr. Sam Potolicchio, Executive Director of American Councils’ Center for Global Leadership (CGL).The concluding meeting featured the former U.S. Senator and Senate sponsor of FLEX, Bill Bradley, The New York Times columnist and bestselling author of “The Man Who Broke Capitalism," Mr.… Read More
- Each year, the Civic Education Workshops (CEW) convene a cohort of participants from the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX), Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES), and Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) programs, hailing from various host communities across the United States, for an immersive exploration of American civil society in the nation’s capital. During the workshop, students engage in sessions on topics like First Amendment rights, foreign policy, and leadership, equipping… Read More
- Since FLEX began in 1992, over 30,000 students from two dozen countries in Europe and Eurasia have earned scholarships to travel to the United States and learn about U.S. culture and share their own while living with volunteer host families and attending high school. FLEX Abroad participants will likewise engage in citizen diplomacy and develop critical global leadership skills during their immersive exchange experiences. Through learning a new language, living with a host family, and attending… Read More
- Twenty years ago, a visionary step was taken by the United States Congress as they established the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program, named after Senators Ted Kennedy and Richard Lugar. Created in response to the events of September 11, 2001, YES provides opportunities for high school students from countries around the world to immerse themselves in an American high school, develop cross-cultural skills, and build lasting friendships.The YES program has profoundly… Read More
- Filling the stately Kennedy Caucus room in the Russell Senate Office Building today, 230 exuberant high school exchange students from the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program capped off their 2016-17 academic year with some well-earned fanfare. Speakers at-the-ready to congratulate the group of scholarship students included former US Senator Richard Lugar (YES program co-founder) and Mark Taplin, Acting Assistant Secretary for the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational… Read More
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