High School Students from Macedonia say YES to a year in the USA

On Thursday, August 12, Public Affairs Officer Angela Aggeler hosted a large reception for high school students from Macedonia about to depart for the United States for a year-long high school exchange program. The program is called YES -- the Youth Exchange and Study program -- and is supported directly by the U.S. State Department.

We greatly enjoyed hosting the event -- and enjoyed even more the individual stories of the departing and returning students.

Also invited were the parents of the departing students as well as the returning high school students from last year's YES program. The beautiful weather and relaxed ambience set the stage for the departing students and their proud parents to learn more about the experience.

YES was established in 2002 to provide scholarships for high school students to spend an academic year in the United States. Macedonia joined the program in 2009. Students live with host families, attend high school, engage in activities to learn about American society and values - and help educate Americans about their countries and cultures.

The goals of the program are:
• to promote a better mutual understanding between cultures
• to learn leadership skills
• to foster lasting personal ties and

Upon their return, students apply their now leadership skills in their home countries. Many students become involved in community service activities including clothing drives, mentoring younger children and English teaching and much more.

This scholarship program is fully funded by the United States Government. The program is supported at the local level by U.S. citizens and local secondary schools that voluntarily host, educate, and support students with no financial compensation.

Selection, orientation and travel arrangements for the program are organized by the American Councils for International Education, a not-for-profit organization leading the development and exchange of knowledge between the U.S. and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, and the Balkans.

Category:

Education

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• educate