Deadline: Testing during the Autumn (12 October start in Macedonia)
Open to: YES countries
Funding: The program is funded by the US Government
A program of the US Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Administered by American Councils for International Education
Youth Exchange and Study (YES) is a program that was established in October, 2002 and sponsored by ECA to provide scholarships for high school students (15-17 years) 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.
The goals of the program are:
* to promote a better understanding among youth from selected YES countries about American society, people, institutions, values, and culture;
* foster lasting personal ties;
* engage the exchange participants in activities that promote mutual understanding, respect for diversity,
leadership skills, and an understanding of civil society during their exchange in the US;
* enhance Americans’ understanding of foreign students’ countries and cultures;
* increase the capacity of organizations in participating countries to engage youth in activities that enhance mutual understanding, respect for diversity, leadership skills, and an understanding of civil society through alumni activities.
With these goals in mind, this program provides scholarships for secondary school students from YES countries to spend up to one academic year in the United States, living with U.S. host families and attending high school. Programmatic activities introduce students to the principles of civic education, civil society, rule of law, community service, and youth leadership as they are practiced in the United States. Simultaneously, American students learn about their classmates’ lives in the YES countries. 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 program is funded by the US Government.
The scholarship provides the following:
* Round-trip international travel (from home to the United States and back)
* Monthly allowance to help students participate in social activities and buy necessary personal supplies
* Placement with a selected U.S. host family for one year
* Enrollment in a U.S. secondary school;
* Program orientation activities including pre-program preparation and re-entry preparation;
* Program activities arranged in local U.S. communities;
* Support for alumni as they implement projects in their home communities
* Medical insurance.
The scholarship does NOT cover the following costs:
* Acquisition of an international passport;
* Personal expenses not covered by the monthly stipend;
* Excess baggage costs;
* Telephone calls made from the U.S. to home or an e-mail account.
This scholarship program is fully funded by the United States Government and administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State. ECA fosters mutual understanding between the United States and other countries through international educational and training programs by promoting personal, professional, and institutional ties between private citizens and organizations in the United States and abroad, as well as by presenting U.S. history, society, art and culture in all of its diversity to overseas audiences. The program is supported at the local level by U.S. citizens and local secondary schools that voluntarily host, educate, and support students with no financial compensation.
In keeping with the U.S. Government-sponsored initiatives dedicated to democratic reform the competition for the Youth Exchange and Study scholarship is merit-based and open at no cost to all applicants who meet the following requirements:
Eligible applicants must:
* Be currently enrolled in the first or second year of secondary school;
* Meet J-1 visa/SEVIS age requirements for high school students;
* Have an academic standing of “good” or better;
* Have previous English language studies (applicants must demonstrate English language ability at the time of registration);
* Meet U.S. visa eligibility requirements;
* Be a citizen of the YES country where he/she applies.
Students are ineligible to apply if:
* S/he does not meet the above criteria;
* S/he has stayed in the U.S. for three (3) months or more during the past (5) years;
* His/her family:
o has applied or is applying to emigrate to the United States
o has made plans to emigrate or has already emigrated to the United States
Students with Disabilities
The program can support students with disabilities and encourages their participation. ECA works with Mobility International (MIUSA) to provide students with disabilities with leadership-building workshops and appropriate information and support as needed to enhance their year in America.
Students with disabilities born between 15 March, 1992 and 15 July, 1992 and who have not yet graduated from secondary school are eligible to apply for YES.
The selection process will be completed in spring, and all applicants will receive notification of their status by mid-May. English-language proficiency is important but not the sole element in selection.
Upon notification, finalists, alternates and their parents will receive orientation materials to prepare them for departure. They must officially notify American Councils that they accept the scholarship and provide any additional documentation requested. Students must begin the process of applying for an international passport and U.S. visa immediately upon acceptance to the program.
From May through August, American Councils and its partner organizations will match finalists with qualified U.S. host families and arrange for enrollment in local secondary schools. In June and July, scholarship recipients will participate in a pre-program orientation in their home countries. Students will then travel to their U.S. host families and communities to begin the exchange experience in August.
Students must return to their home countries at the end of the program on the date assigned by American Councils. The U.S. visa issued for program participants will not be amended or extended beyond the program end date for any reason.
Representatives of American Councils for International Education will visit cities to conduct testing during the Autumn. Applicants must bring to the testing center proof of eligibility (birth certificate) and one recent 3x4 cm photo at the time of initial registration. Testing center locations will be announced as soon as possible through press and radio announcements and information can be accessed via Internet at the website or here . Applicants may participate at only ONE test center each fall.
All applicants will take a short English test (Round 1). Those who pass the first test will take a longer English-language proficiency test and write a composition in English (Round 2, which usually takes place on the day after Round 1). Candidates must successfully complete the first two rounds of the competition before they receive final application materials and are interviewed. After successful completion of Rounds 1 and 2, English language ability is no longer considered as a basis for selection.
Students who are interested in this program should consider the possible negative effects of this program:
* You may not return home in time to take your final school examinations;
* You may have to repeat a year of school;
* Although students participate in an academic program in the U.S., the school curriculum is substantially different than that in your home country, and you may not learn the same subject material.
The recruitment, selection, orientation, travel arrangements, and alumni activities for the program are organized by the American Councils for International Education, a not-for-profit organization leading the development and exchange of knowledge between the U.S. and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, and the Balkans.
Its mission is to foster independence and democratic development by advancing education and research, cultivating leadership, and empowering individuals and institutions through learning. Over the past 30 years, American Councils has developed into one of the premier education and training organizations working in the region. It administers more than 30 exchange and training programs, including several U.S. government programs for secondary school students, university students and graduates students, teachers, and professors.
Other private, non-profit organizations in the United States, such as World Link, PAX, and ASPECT also support YES. The U.S. government has asked these organizations to match participants with U.S. host families and to organize local activities during the year-long program.
From the American Councils office in Skopje:
Ul. "Karpos" 2 BB
Nova zgrada na Masinski fakultet 3-ti sprat
1000 Skopje Macedonia
+389 70 755 083
skopje@americancouncilssee.org
From the American Councils office in Belgrade:
Kraljice Natalije 68, I floor, Apt. 8
11000 Belgrade
Serbia
+381 11 2657 354
belgrade@americancouncilssee.org
From the American Councils office in Sarajevo:
Fra Andjela Zvizdovica 4/1
71000 Sarajevo
Bosnia and Herzegovina
+387 33 222 252
sarajevo@americancouncilssee.org
From the American Councils office in Pristina:
Str. Fehmi Agani 46/3
Pristina, 10000 Kosovo
+381 38 226 255
pristina@americancouncilssee.org
From the American Councils office in Tirana:
(Located inside the American Chamber of Commerce)
Rruga "Deshmoret e 4 Shkurtit"
Pallati 1, kati 2
Tirana, Albania
+355 4 235 347
tirana@americancouncilssee.org
From the American Councils office in Sofia:
(Located in the Bulgarian Reading Association)
11 Slaveikov Square
Sofia 1000 Bulgaria
+359 2 980 97 40
sofia@americancouncilssee.org
Inquiries also may be made at the U.S. Embassy, Public Affairs Section, or at an American Corner.
More information can be found HERE.
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