The Public Diplomacy Initiatives include four meaningful and rewarding programs that host international participants in the United States. These programs include Youth Exchange Study (YES), Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX), the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange program (CB) and the Youth Leadership, Engagement, Activism and Democratization Program (Youth LEAD). These programs offer international participants the opportunity to study in the United States on full scholarships, funded either by grant-making foundations or by the Educational and Cultural 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.
Congress Bundestag
The Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange Program (CB) 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.
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.
Youth Exchange and Study
Youth Exchange and Study (YES) 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.
Youth LEAD
Through a collaboration with the Idaho Human Rights Education Center (IHREC), the Youth LEAD Program will provide project-based opportunities for students and educators from Israel, Jordan, the West Bank and the U.S. to develop leadership skills and learn firsthand about one another’s culture with an emphasis on civic responsibility and commitment to community development.
