Happy 10th Anniversary Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program

About the Author: Ann Stock serves as Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Today, more than 6,000 alumni from 45 countries in every region of the world are celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program and paying tribute to the program’s founders: the late Senator Ted Kennedy and Senator Richard Lugar. Their vision in the aftermath of the 9-11 terrorist attacks in the United States was to build bridges between Americans and young people in countries with significant Muslim populations. Now in its tenth year, that’s exactly what American and international students are doing through the YES and YES Abroad programs. 

The YES program provides scholarships to almost 900 young people… more »

About the Author: Alberto Rodriguez serves as Spokesperson at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Over 35 students and their parents gathered April 17, 2011, at the National Library to kick off their pre-departure orientation for the U.S. government funded 2010-11 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program. This is the ninth group of YES students from Pakistan to go to the United States. This orientation program, which is organized by the iEARN Society for International Education, plays a key role in preparing students with the required skills, attitude, and knowledge to spend a successful year in the United States.

“I am excited to see these outstanding students go to the United States,” said Cultural Attache Brent Beemer. “They will be studying in U.S. schools, living with American families, and becoming part… more »