The Public Diplomacy Initiatives include four meaningful and rewarding programs that bring international participants to the United States and send American students abroad. These programs include Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES), Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX), National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) and Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX).
These programs offer international participants the opportunity to study in the United States, or US students the opportunity to study abroad, on full scholarships funded either by grant-making foundations or by the Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau of the U.S. Department of State. AFS Public Diplomacy Initiatives embrace the Mission of AFS, to build a more just and peaceful world through international exchange.
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Congress Bundestag
The Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange (CB) program was launched in 1983 by the U.S. Congress and the German Parliament. AFS currently provides 50 merit-based, full scholarships for U.S. students and 60 scholarships for German participants.
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NSLI for Youth
NSLI-Y encourages a lifetime of language study and cultural understanding by providing approximately 600 fully funded scholarships to high school students between the ages of 15 and 18. For more information visit the NSLI-Y homepage.
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Future Leaders Exchange
The Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program originated in the FREEDOM Support Act, which was sponsored by U.S. Senator Bill Bradley and was passed by Congress in 1992. FLEX provides full merit-based scholarships to students from the countries of the former Soviet Union.
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Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study
The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program was initiated by the Department of State in the aftermath of Sept. 11. It aims to build bridges of understanding between Americans and people in countries with significant Muslim populations.
