The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' youth programs empower the next generation and establish long-lasting ties between the United States and other countries. Exchange programs focus primarily on secondary schools and promote mutual understanding, leadership development, educational transformation and democratic ideals.

List of Youth Programs
+

American Serbia and Montenegro Youth Leadership Exchange (A-SMYLE)

A-SMYLE participants attend an American high school and live with an American host family for an academic year.

+

American Youth Leadership Program

The American Youth Leadership Program is a 3 to 4 week intensive, leadership training exchange program for U.S. high school students and adult mentors to gain gain firsthand knowledge of foreign cultures and collaborate on examining issues with global significance.

+

Benjamin Franklin Summer Institutes

The Benjamin Franklin Summer Institutes are intensive academic institutes hosted by a U.S. college or university and focus on global issues, in addition to leadership and community service.

+

Congress–Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX)

The Congress–Bundestag Youth Exchange Program (CBYX) offers American students a fully-funded academic year in Germany. Participating students develop critical intercultural skills while learning what it is like to live and attend school in Germany.

+

English Access Microscholarship Program

The English Access Microscholarship Program (Access) provides a foundation of English language skills to talented 14-18 year-olds from disadvantaged sectors through after-school classes and intensive summer sessions.

+

Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX)

The Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program provides scholarships for high school students (ages 15-17) from Eurasia to spend an academic year in the United States, living with a family and attending an American high school.

+

German American Partnership Program (GAPP)

The German American Partnership Program (GAPP) allows groups of U.S. high school students and German secondary school students to visit a each other's community and school. In both directions, students live with a host family.

+

Global Connections and Exchange (GCE)

The Global Connections and Exchange (GCE) Program supports collaboration and online linkages among students, educators, and community youth leaders from U.S. and overseas secondary schools and youth organizations.

+

Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study (YES) Abroad

American high school students in the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study (YES) Abroad program spend one academic semester or year studying abroad in select countries with significant Muslim populations. Students live with host families, attend high school, engage in activities to learn about the host country's society and values, and educate others about American culture while learning about their host country’s culture.

+

Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study

The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program provides scholarships to high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend up to one academic year in the United States. Students live with host families, attend high school, engage in activities to learn about U.S. society and values, and educate others about their home countries and cultures.

+

National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)

National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) provides merit-based scholarships to U.S. high school students and recent graduates interested in learning less-commonly studied foreign languages overseas.

+

TechGirls

TechGirls is an international exchange program designed to empower young girls to pursue careers in the science and technology sectors.

+

Youth Ambassadors

The Youth Ambassadors Program brings together high school students and adult mentors from 25 countries across the Americas to promote mutual understanding, increase leadership skills, and prepare youth to make a difference in their communities.

+

Youth Leadership Programs

Youth Leadership Programs foster mutual understanding, respect, and civic engagement among young Americans and their international peers. Exchanges are three to four weeks in duration and involve youth ages 15-18, and adults who work with youth.

In their own words

Filip posing with Bangladeshi children whle picking up garbage.
Filip K. Participant United States American Youth Leadership Program Bangladesh Read the story
6,890
Students
Have participated in the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study (YES) Program since 2002