Ten alumni of the Future Leaders Exchange initiative (FLEX) from Kyrgyzstan were honored for their completion of the Exchanges to Internships Program this past September. The program selects a group of FLEX alumni each year to participate in internships with the Kyrgyz government.
The program also celebrated its sixth year in Kyrgyzstan and its growing alumni community. At the ceremony, interns discussed the opportunities and challenges of working in government with potential future applicants of the program.
Participants graduated from the program with greater respect for the role of government in improving the lives of citizens and for the contributions of civil servants. Aizhan, an intern at the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, said, "After the internship, I can say that the Ministries work hard; people spend a lot of time answering emails, organizing meetings with international organizations, and attempting to cooperate effectively."
Many interns developed an interest in continuing their career in government. Sanira, who interned with the Ministry of Economics, reflected, "I would like to go back to my agency and become an expert there."
Interns also presented the projects they completed during their internships. Two notable projects this year included a roundtable that highlighted entrepreneurial opportunities for underemployed youth and an interactive game that exposed high school students to the development of the national budget.
The FLEX Exchanges to Internships Program already has 70 alumni; most alumni are currently completing their undergrad or pursuing Masters-level studies, including a large number of students who went on to study politics and regional security at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek. Most students continue to hold an interest in spending some part of their careers working in the Kyrgyz government.
About the FLEX Program
Sponsored by the US Department of State, the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program is for secondary school students from 16 countries in Europe and Eurasia. The program provides scholarships to competitively selected students to spend the year living with a volunteer host family and attending a US high school. While in the US, FLEX students learn leadership skills, civic values, and volunteer in their local communities. To learn more, visit the FLEX community on Facebook and Instagram, or visit Discover FLEX.