Scholarship details
This is a scholarship program that has gone on to change the rules on what respect means from country to country. This scholarship has allowed thousands of students to reach across the world to engage and fully understand their peers from a different nation and background. Actually to be more precise it was titled the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Yes program, high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations live and study for an academic year in the United States.
Applicants compete for YES scholarships through a rigorous, merit-based selection process. While on program, participants live with American host families, attend high school, and engage in community service and civic education activities.
The program currently accept students from the following countries:
Albania | Bahrain | Bangladesh | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Bulgaria | Cameroon | Egypt | Gaza | Ghana | India | Indonesia | Israel (Arab Communities) | Jordan | Kenya | Kosovo | Kuwait | Lebanon | Liberia | Libya | Malaysia | Mali | Morocco | Mozambique | Nigeria | North Macedonia | Pakistan | Philippines | Saudi Arabia | Senegal | Sierra Leone | South Africa | Suriname | Tanzania | Thailand | Tunisia | Turkey | West Bank.
The age limit for this is under 18 years of age. And the individuals must be from countries that have prime Muslim demographics, these high school student will live and study for an academic year in the United States through the U.S. Department of State’s Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program. What happens is that the students who are chosen as the recipients for this incredible program scholarship while practically be world ambassadors for the country they originate from. Participants live with a host family, attend an American high school, acquire leadership skills, and engage in activities to learn about U.S. society and values. This education exchange was created to bridge the gap between two countries and their differences, but have found how the similarities at home are truly the same.
At the beginning of 2010, South Africa became the eye of this scholarship quest. This way the hopes that all communication fronts could finally be bridged between students who found that they share a lot of the same values that everyone has grown up with. What was understood was the amount of respect shown between students and their host families when they had visited South Africa. Since then, over 100 South African students have completed the YES program and now participate as alumni.
Eligibility
- Both male and female students may apply for this ambassador role.
- The age limit is to keep in place that only high school students can be awarded this role.
- Essentially everyone can apply for this, even if a student is from a different part of the world, they can apply.
- Students must understand that their previous leadership skills and listening skills will be seen as assets in who wins this scholarship program.
- This program is highly competitive and while most students receive the go to become an ambassador, some have been turned down.
- If a student has had an previous criminal offenses, they cannot apply or their application will be ignored.
- Anyone as young as 15 years old can still apply but with a guardians signed signature.
- Now, students will have to live no less than half a year’s time in the destined country they wish to be present in. This means if a student decides to drop out or go home, they may have to pay back the scholarship amount that has been used.
Requirements
All applicants must have a general good grade point average of no less than 3.0. Along with this, school grades will be shown in effort to see where the students may have trouble in and how this can be helped before the student is sent abroad.
How to Apply
Students can only apply through the website link provided which will take all viewers to the United States partnered website.
From there all applicants need to read through the outline that states eligibility, requirements, how to apply, deadlines available and what necessary things students will need to do to gain appropriate documentation to travel abroad and for a year span.
Reward – Extra Benefits
The huge benefit is that several students will be able to travel to a destination, learn the lives of their host families and of the that nations traditional settings. Not only does this help students to become better human beings but to open their eyes to just how big the world is and what they can do to take part in helping.
Travel expenses are paid for, along with month allowance that is given to the host family to help provide for the student while they live in the home.
This scholarship is a full coverage one that covers the students entire time and any needs that may be met in that full year.
Deadline
The next official government deadline for this scholarship program is the Fall of 2022. So far, the rest of the 2021 study abroad students are finishing their times in other countries, and then the next batch of selected students will be sent out in the Fall.
Open Submission Window Time Frame
While the submission window is closed for the beginning of 2022. That means the next opening date will happen in June and will last until the first of November.
All applicants should consider reading through the website and apply with the consent of a family member or guardian.
Applicants should check the website to see if any cancellations have occurred, delays, or if deadline dates have been postponed for any given reason. This did happen last year and since all the terms have concluded, it is a safer bet to check than assume that the deadline date has not changed.
Annual
This is an annual scholarship that is awarded to many students each year. This only happens once a year so students can spend a full school year in another country and living life with their host families.
Anywhere from 50 to 100 students can be chosen per year, but since this is a highly popular scholarship program, thousands of students compete each year to win a spot.
All students should follow the guidelines and rules that are presented on the website.
