The public diplomacy initiatives include three meaningful and rewarding programs that bring international participants to the U.S. and/or send American students abroad. Programs include Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES), Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX), and the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX). All three are programs of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program was initiated by the Department of State in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. It aims to build bridges of understanding between Americans and people from countries of strategic importance to the United States. Scholarships are also available for U.S. high school students to go abroad through the YES Abroad program.
Initiated in 1983, the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) program is jointly funded and managed by the U.S. and German governments. CBYX provides 300 scholarships for U.S. high school students, recent high school graduates with interests in vocational fields, and young professionals for an academic year home-stay program. 300 CBYX scholarships are available for German students and young professionals to travel to the U.S. for an academic year program.
Established in 1992, the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program strives to improve mutual understanding and develop and strengthen long-term relationships between citizens of the United States and citizens of the countries of Eastern Europe and Eurasia. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and supports the exchange of high school students from 21 Eastern European and Eurasian countries to the U.S. for a year long, academic home stay experience.
CBYX, YES Abroad, and FLEX are programs of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
