Future Leaders Exchange Program

The FLEX program for secondary school students was established in 1992 as the centerpiece of the NIS Secondary School Initiative with FREEDOM Support Act funding from the State Department and USAID. Its goal is to provide an opportunity for high school students from the countries of the former Soviet Union to experience life in a democratic society in order to promote democratic values and institutions in Eurasia. Over 14,000 students from the former Soviet Union have spent one academic year attending schools and living with host families throughout the United States. The recruitment and selection process for this program is conducted by American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS.

Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program

The YES program was established in October, 2002 and sponsored by ECA to provide scholarships for secondary school students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend up to one academic year in the U.S. The program is vital to expanding communication between the people of the United States and the partner countries in the interest of promoting mutual understanding and respect. Students live with host families, attend high school, engage in activities to learn about American society and values, acquire leadership skills, and help educate Americans about their countries and cultures. During the coming academic year 2007-08, over 750 students will join the program from: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gaza, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel (Arab Community), Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, West Bank, and Yemen.

Upon their return the students apply their leadership skills in their home countries. In addition, alumni groups have formed and been involved with many community service activities including clothing drives, mentoring younger children and English teaching, immunization drives, and much more.

The YES program is administered by the following organizations and their counterparts in each country. If you are a student from one of the countries listed below and interested in studying in the U.S., please click on the link next to your country. If you are a family in the U.S. interested in hosting a student from one of the countries listed below, please click on the link to the organization next to the country to find out more about this opportunity.

AYUSA International in Algeria, Bangladesh, Gaza, Iraq, Israel (Arab Community), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Syria, Tunisia, West Bank, and Yemen

AFS-USA in Brunei, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Turkey

American Councils for International Education in Afghanistan

IRIS, Inc. in Nigeria

Mobility International USA

Mobility International USA (MIUSA) provides technical assistance and support to FLEX and YES students with disabilities, placement organizations and host communities to:

• Prepare FLEX and YES students with disabilities to successfully adjust to life in the US as individuals with disabilities, and to successfully meet challenges of reentry to home countries related to access and inclusion.
• Provide FLEX and YES placement organizations with information, resources and recommendations to address issues of access and inclusion and to enhance the experience of FLEX and YES students with disabilities.
• Provide FLEX and YES students with disabilities with tools, resources and experiences that will enrich their FLEX/YES year and equip them to conduct outreach and service work in support of the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities in their home countries.
  

FLEX and YES Newsletters:

• 2007-2008 FLEX/ YES e-newsletter
• 2006-2007 FLEX / YES e-newsletter
• 2005 - 2006 FLEX e-newsletter 

MIUSA’s FLEX  and YES programs include:

• Leadership and Reentry Workshops for FLEX Students with Disabilities
• Preparatory Workshop for FLEX Students with Disabilities
• On-going support services to FLEX and YES students and placement organizations

"My dream is that 15%-20% of all FLEX and YES students will be students with disabilities."
-- A message from Susan Sygall, Founder and CEO of Mobility International USA. Please click here to read the entire message.

FLEX Program / YES Program / Students / Placement Organizations