YES is an innovative high school exchange program funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. This public diplomacy initiative builds bridges of international understanding, especially between Americans and people in countries with significant Muslim populations.
About YES
The YES Program evolved out of a generalized recognition that public diplomacy efforts had been neglected in many countries around the world for many years and that the effects of this came into stark focus in the aftermath of the events of September 11, 2001. AFS took a lead in rallying the exchange community and the Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau of the U.S. Department of State to approach Congress with a coherent plan for support of meaningful opportunities for youth exchange as a key component of renewed commitment to building bridges between citizens of the U.S. and countries around the world, particularly those with large Muslim populations.
This resulted in appropriations committed by Congress in 2002, followed by a call for proposals later that same year. AFS-USA brought together AFS Partner organizations in countries with significant Muslim populations, including Brunei, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Turkey; like-minded high school exchange organizations in the U.S., including the American Cultural Exchange Service (ACES), Program of Academic Exchange (PAX), and the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) Foundation’s Academic Year Abroad (AYA); as well as the American Leadership Forum of Oregon and Mobility International to work together to provide a large number of scholarships within a compact time frame. By August 2003, the first class of 53 YES students from Egypt, Turkey, and Indonesia arrived, followed in January 2004 by 20 Malaysian YES students. In the 2004-05 academic year, the ranks of YES students grew to 163 participants, this time adding students from the Philippines. In 2005-06, the number of YES scholars was 289, inclusive of both academic cycles. For the 2006-07 and 2007-08 academic years the consortia hosted/hosts more than 300 participants. ACES, PAX, AIFS/AYA, and AFS-USA each host a portion of the YES students in communities across the U.S.
Where do YES students come from?
In the fifth year of the YES program, participating scholars from Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Turkey arrived in August, and participants from Malaysia arrive in January for a semester stay. YES students will reflect a wide range of socioeconomic, cultural, and religious affiliations within their countries, including people with disabilities.
The AFS consortium is not the only group hosting YES students. YES scholarships are also provided to students from countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, and Nigeria, through other consortia like AYUSA, Iowa Resource for International Service (IRIS), and American Councils and are hosted across the U.S.
What is the selection process for YES students?
YES participants are selected through an open, merit-based selection process established by AFS Organizations in each country within a three-tier framework. The process begins with the initial application and screening for eligibility phase; an interim phase incorporates written applications and interviews, either conducted regionally, or nationally; a final selection committee convenes nationally to select the final scholarship recipients. YES scholars are selected based on a variety of indicators, including an evaluation of their personal qualities, such as adaptability, leadership potential, and motivation for an intercultural experience. AFS Organizations attempt to reach a wide audience within each country, embracing all of the ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomic diversity within the target countries.
