Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study Program

Program Description

Fostering a global community of shared interests and values via high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations spending an academic year or semester in the United States.

The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program is designed to foster a global community of shared interests and values developed through better mutual understanding via first-hand participation of high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations in academic year or semester exchanges to the United States. The program seeks to select students with leadership potential, to develop their leadership skills while in the U.S., and to support them in alumni activities after they return home.

Annually, World Learning places approximately 8-10 of the 1,000 high school students, who have the opportunity to live in the United States with American host families and attend high school during the academic year.

YES high school students are between the ages of 15 and 18.5 and are from the following countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Egypt, Gaza, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Israel (Arab communities), Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Suriname, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, and Yemen.

Program Cycle

YES students study and live with American host families from August through June of an academic year.