Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study

The Kennedy-Lugar YES Abroad program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is offering American high school students and recent graduates full scholarships to study for one academic year in countries with significant Muslim populations.

For the 2014-2015 academic year, YES Abroad students may live in the following countries:
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Ghana | India | Indonesia | Macedonia l Malaysia | Morocco | Oman | Philippines l South Africa | Thailand | Turkey |
The YES Abroad program was initiated as a reciprocal extension of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study program for international students from countries with significant Muslim populations. The first group of Americans participated in YES Abroad in the 2009-2010 academic year, living and studying in ten select YES countries. The program now offers 65 full scholarships to American students nationwide.
YES Abroad students serve as “youth ambassadors” of the United States, promoting mutual understanding by forming lasting relationships with their host families and communities. Participants live with a host family, attend a local high school, acquire leadership skills, and engage in activities to learn about the host country’s society and values; they also help educate others about American society and values. For specific details, click on any of the participating countries in the list above.
The YES Abroad scholarship covers costs related to: room and board for the In-Person Selection Event (for semi-finalists); round-trip airfare, room and board for the Pre-Departure Orientation; round-trip airfare between the participant’s home region and community abroad; in-country support; cultural activities; school tuition (where applicable); room and board with a host family; secondary medical benefits; visa fees; and a modest stipend.
The YES Abroad program is administered in partnership with the U.S. Department of State by a consortium of non-profit organizations led by American Councils for International Education and including AFS-USA, AMIDEAST, and iEARN-USA.