Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad Program
The Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad program piloting in the 2009/10 academic year is the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ newest initiative to send American high school students overseas for a semester or an academic year. Students live with host families, attend high school, engage in activities to learn about the host country’s society and values, acquire leadership skills, and help educate others about American culture while learning about their host country’s culture.
The program builds bridges of understanding between Americans and peoples from Islamic cultures around the world. The 15-18 year old students who participate in this program have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich cultures of diverse countries. The 49 YES Abroad students selected for this pilot program come from 24 U.S. states and will live and study in Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco, Mali, Oman, Thailand, and Turkey.
Upon their return the American students will apply their leadership skills in the United States. In addition, alumni groups help participants continue to be involved with many community service activities, such as clothing drives and mentoring younger children.
The YES Abroad program is currently administered by AYUSA International and AFS-USA, and their in-country partners. AYUSA International implements the YES Abroad program in Mali, Morocco, and Oman. For AYUSA YES Abroad program news, please visit http://www.yesgrantprograms.org. The AYUSA International Consortium member organizations that conduct host family recruitment and placement in partner countries are AMIDEAST and iEARN.
AFS-USA implements the YES Abroad program in Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Turkey. For AFS YES Abroad program news, please visit http://www.yesprograms.org/yesabroad. AFS-USA works with its affiliate offices and representatives in each country to conduct host family recruitment and placement.