Educational Exchange

High School Study

Partnerships for Learning Youth Exchange and Study Program (YES)

YES program scholarships, funded by the U.S. Department of State, give secondary school students in many Arab and Islamic countries a new opportunity to study at American high schools and live with American host families for one academic year. The program seeks to improve cooperation and mutual understanding between Americans and the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa in several ways.

Students will be enrolled in a full academic year of high school study in the United States, attending classes, labs and extracurricular programs with their American classmates. YES students will also participate in special enrichment activities, including community service, youth leadership training, a civics education program and other activities that will develop a well-rounded understanding of American culture through interaction with diverse groups of Americans. Likewise, participating students will act as cultural ambassadors to their American host communities, becoming invaluable resources for Americans, whose contact with YES students will provide them with an opportunity to learn about the rich and vibrant cultures of the Middle East and North Africa. Through these substantive, personal encounters, YES students will be able to both teach and learn, while strengthening their English communication skills.

The application deadline for the 2008-2009 competition has passed. Please check this website or visit the AMIDEAST website: http://www.amideast.org/ for further information and future competition dates.