The American Center at the U.S. Embassy Dhaka is pleased to announce the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (K-L YES) Program for the academic year 2018-19.
The K-L YES program is a high school exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The program is administered in Bangladesh by the International Education and Resource Network – Bangladesh (iEARN-BD), a non-profit organization, with the support of U.S. Embassy Dhaka.
The program enables exemplary Bangladeshi high school students from grades eight through eleven to spend one academic year at an American high school. Its purpose is to provide promising high school students with a deeper understanding of the United States, while simultaneously enhancing their leadership skills. In addition to their coursework, participants are also expected to become active members of their local communities by participating in extracurricular activities and volunteer projects. Participants will be placed with an American host family for the duration of the program, and will also help Americans to learn about Bangladesh’s culture. YES provides scholarships for secondary school students to spend up to one academic year in the United States.
Currently, K-L YES program has more than 9,300 alumni from more than 40 countries. The program has started in Bangladesh on 2004, since then, over 330 Bangladeshi students have completed the YES program and now participate as alumni members.
The International Education and Resource Network – Bangladesh (iEARN-BD) facilitates the YES program in Bangladesh. iEARN-BD is a nonprofit organization dedicated towards better education, sustainable life and peace in Bangladesh.
Core principles of the program are:
- To promote international security and peace by educating American and foreign participants about each other.
- To acquire an understanding of American values.
- To attain the qualities of leadership.
- To learn about the concepts of civic responsibility and volunteerism.
- To work together upon returning home and share what they have learned and to make a difference in their home communities by initiating activities that built on acquired skills and experience.
Goals of YES program are to engage participating youth, their teachers and classmates and community leaders in an exchange effort that promotes increased understanding and tolerance between cultures. YES program encourages exchange of ideas, values, and experiences among young people by exposing these young scholars to leadership belief systems, civil society principles, and community service involvement.
Location:
OnlineBenefits
- The U.S. Department of State sponsors the whole program and covers all major expenses including airfare, U.S. visa fee, boarding and lodging in the United States, school tuition and monthly stipend of $125
- Spend a year in the United States
- Live with an American host family
- Study at a U.S. High School
- Participate in a youth leadership program
- Experience U.S. culture and society
- Improve your English
- Make new friends
- Help Americans learn about your country
Eligibilities
- Be Bangladeshi citizens and not dual citizens or permanent residents of the U.S, or any other country.
- Have a date of birth between August 1, 2001 and August, 1, 2003. Be 15-17 years old on 1 August 2018.
- Be currently enrolled in grade 8,9,10 or 11 in high schools and colleges of Bangladesh. Bangladeshi citizen studying in foreign countries are not eligible to apply.
- Have equivalent of a B average or better without failing grades in current and last two academic years.
- Demonstrate sufficient English language ability to speak and to study in English.
- Meet the U.S. visa eligibility requirements.
- Not have applied for U.S. immigration through family or relatives.
- Not have any or both parents currently employed by the U.S. Mission (U.S. Embassy, USAID) in Bangladesh.
- In addition, students health records will be reviewed by a U.S. medical team to ensure that they are sufficiently healthy to participate in the program.
Candidates are also expected to:
- Be able to accurately present Bangladeshi culture in American schools and communities;
- Be committed to returning to Bangladesh upon completion of the program;
- Have demonstrated leadership skills;
- Have had little or no prior study or travel experience in the United States or elsewhere outside of their home country;
- Be willing and able to fully participate in an intensive academic program, community service, and educational travel for one academic year;
- Be prepared to adapt to American high school life and to live with an American host family;
- Be mature, responsible, independent, confident, open-minded, tolerant, thoughtful and inquisitive;
- Be willing and able to fully participate in an intensive academic program, community service, and educational travel program; and, be comfortable with campus life, prepared to share living accommodations, and able to make adjustments to cultural and social practices different from those of their home country.
The program can support students with disabilities and encourages their participation. The Department of State and the YES program work with Mobility International (MIUSA) to provide students with disabilities leadership-building workshops, appropriate information and support as needed to enhance their year in America. Students with disabilities must also meet the above eligibility requirements.
Eligible Regions: BangladeshApplication Process
Apply Online.
Please read the eligibility criteria, application and selection process and FAQ before applying.
Application Deadline: November 16, 2017
Application ClosedOfficial link
