Honoring the Anniversaries of Transformative Youth Exchange Programs

The United States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) recently paid tribute to the historic accomplishments of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX), Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX), and Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program, and highlighted the profound impact that alumni of the programs have had on their home and host communities.

American Councils for International Education and its Center for Global Leadership (CGL) were honored to work with the Department of State and numerous partners to support the anniversary activities.

Over 170 distinguished alumni representing 62 countries traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend a week-long landmark event designed to strengthen their professional networks, reconnect them with peers, and promote collaboration with exceptional leaders in international development, business, and diplomacy.

Read about the anniversary celebration of these historic exchange programs.

KAEF Program Receives Grant from Rockefeller Brothers Fund

American Councils for International Education is grateful to announce that the Kosovo American Education Fund (KAEF) has received a $49,000 grant from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) as a commitment to advancing the development of Kosovo through quality higher education.

Founded in 1940, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, a private family foundation rooted in the Rockefeller tradition of philanthropy, works to build lasting solutions to challenges facing today’s increasingly interdependent world through grantmaking, convening, and mission-aligned investing. RBF has been engaged in grantmaking in the Western Balkans since 2001, supporting efforts of civil society groups, governmental institutions, and other partners to work toward strengthening democratic practices and sustainable development in the region.

Learn more about KAEF and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund grant it received.

Calling Talented Youth

to Apply for Rise

Do you know an exceptional 15-17 year old? American Councils for International Education is proud to partner with Rise, a global initiative by Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust designed to empower tomorrow’s leaders.  

Rise selects up to 100 Winners each year to whom they offer an extensive list of benefits that may include a Residential Summit for Winners to meet peers in their cohort, needs-based higher-education scholarships, opportunities for funding on a competitive basis, access to the Rise global network, starter technology packages, as well as mentorship opportunities. 

Visit this link to learn more about joining Rise’s global community of young leaders from 170 countries.

Alumni in the World

Joslyn Felicijan went on a life-changing journey to Lithuania through the American Councils Overseas Professional and Intercultural Training (OPIT) program. The Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Fund facilitated her exploration of history and heritage, demonstrating the importance of supporting exceptional students in their pursuit of international education.

Read more about Joslyn's OPIT experience and the scholarship she received. 

Sasha Ustinova, a 2002 Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) alumna, was recently featured in an article by The Hill. Support for further Ukraine aid has weakened in Congress, and Oleksandra “Sasha” Ustinova is working to increase funding. Sasha is a member of the Ukrainian parliament and is making regular five-day visits to Washington, DC to convince lawmakers to approve additional funding for her war-torn country. 

Read the full article about Sasha in The Hill. 

Do You Believe International Education is for Everyone?

Recent Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Recipients

Candy Zheng, Joseph Batta, Joslyn Felicijan, and Ashlyn Darling.

Please keep in mind the Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Fund this giving season and help American Councils increase access to study abroad programs for underrepresented communities. Many of our scholarship recipients are first generation college students or from low-income households and could not participate without this support.

Since 2016, these need-based scholarships have created life-changing educational opportunities for over 150 students in languages and cultures not widely served by other educational institutions. Scholarship recipients go onto careers in academia, the government, and international leadership roles that are essential to America's future.

Your tax-deductible donation—regardless of the amount—will help prepare the next generation of international leaders and ensure study abroad opportunities are accessible to Americans from traditionally underserved and disadvantaged communities of the United States.

American Councils

is Hiring

Do you have a passion for international education, language learning, or public diplomacy? American Councils is a diverse international nonprofit with numerous open vacancies at all levels of experience in our Washington, DC headquarters and offices throughout the world.

Click here to find out more about this position and other American Councils employment opportunities.

Volunteer with

American Councils

Help make study abroad and international exchange possible by volunteering with American Councils! American Councils seeks U.S.-based volunteers to evaluate scholarship applications of high school students from 29 countries, including the United States. Volunteer evaluators support youth exchange programs, which empower the next generation of global citizens and establish long-lasting ties between the United States and other countries. To volunteer, you must participate in a training workshop (virtual or in-person). Subsequently, hours are flexible, and evaluation can be done remotely. 

Upcoming Application Deadlines

December 6: The Future Leaders Exchange Abroad (FLEX Abroad) program provides a unique fully funded exchange experience for American high school students to build global awareness and intercultural competency. This experience positively impacts students’ personal growth and ensures global mutual understanding through direct interaction with another culture.*

December 6: U.S. high school students who want to experience another culture can apply for full scholarships to study abroad next school year through the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad program. As YES Abroad scholars, American high school students promote mutual understanding between the U.S. and the host country by forming lasting relationships with the local community.* 

January 19: Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) alumni, are you interested in becoming a leader who can excel in an ever-evolving global context? Apply to participate in the Global Village 2024! In the Village, participants work in cross-cultural teams on real leadership challenges for organizations across the globe, develop a leadership vision and plan, and build a lifelong network of global colleagues, mentors, and friends! Participants are eligible for a tuition scholarship to attend this 5-week program in the summer of 2023.

Ongoing: Host an International Exchange Student. Welcome a high school scholarship student (aged 15-18) into your home for an academic year (August to June). Students from more than 50 countries spend the year at local high schools, eagerly sharing their cultures, contributing to their new communities, and joining school activities.* 

*These initiatives are programs of the U.S. Department of State.

Thanks for being part of our world.