Exchange Programs
As you can see, I am an exchange student. I believe that exchange programs can change lives ( it changed mine) and I believe that everybody should give it a try. Today I am going to talk about two of the exchange program options.
KL-YES (Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange Services):
Through the U.S. Department of State’s Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program, high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations live and study for an academic year in the United States. The YES program was established by Congress in October 2002 in response to the events of September 11, 2001. YES students serve as “youth ambassadors” of their home country, promoting mutual understanding by forming lasting relationships with their host families and communities. Participants live with a host family, attend an American high school, and engage in activities like volunteering to learn about U.S. society and values. These students also help educate Americans about their home country and culture. Applicants compete for YES scholarships through a rigorous, merit-based selection process.
This is the one for foreign students coming to the US, but there are also ones for American students.
YES Abroad:
The YES Abroad program was established in 2009 to provide a similar experience for U.S. students (15-18.5 years) to spend an academic year in select YES countries. For the 2021-2022 academic year, YES Abroad students may live in the following countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, North Macedonia, Philippines, Senegal, Thailand, Turkey. The YES Abroad program was initiated as a reciprocal extension of the YES program for international students. While living with a host family and attending a local school, YES Abroad students promote mutual understanding between the United States and their host country by forming lasting relationships with the local community. Participants do the exact same things as a YES student does, just not in the US. The YES Abroad scholarship covers costs related to round-trip airfare and room and board for the pre-departure orientation, in-country support, cultural activities, school tuition (where applicable), secondary medical benefits, visa fees, as well as a modest stipend.
AFS Intercultural Programs (or AFS, originally the American Field Service):
AFS is an international youth exchange organization. AFS is an international, voluntary, non-governmental, non-profit organization that provides intercultural learning opportunities to help people develop the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to create a more just and peaceful world. It consists of over 50 independent organizations, each with its own network of volunteers, professionally staffed offices, and a volunteer board of directors and website. The U.S.-based partner, AFS-USA, sends more than 1,100 U.S. students abroad and places international students with more than 2,300 U.S. families each year. More than 424,000 people have gone abroad with AFS from the beginning and over 100,000 former AFS students live in the U.S.
As of 2014, there are over 55 AFS organizations worldwide serving over 80 different countries, providing exchange opportunities for over 13,000 students and teachers annually. AFS is one of the largest volunteer-based organizations of its kind in the world with more than 440,000 volunteers worldwide and more than 5,000 in the U.S.. As a volunteer-driven organization, AFS depends on donations of time to implement and monitor the delivery of programs. Depending on the program that you choose, it can be year long or semester programs.
Exchange programs are one of the best things that people can have. If you ever consider going to another country, why don’t you try exchange programs? If you want to learn more information, you can check YES’ and AFS’ Instagram accounts and websites!
https//:www.yesabroad.org/ @yesabroad
https://www.afsusa.org/ @afs_usa
https://www.yesprograms.org/ @yes.program