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The YES Program evolved out of a generalized recognition that public diplomacy efforts had been neglected in many countries around the world for many years and that the effects of this came into stark focus in the aftermath of the events of September 11, 2001. The Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau of the U.S. Department of State, along with the US exchange community, recognized the importance of youth exchange as a key component of renewed commitment to building bridges between citizens of the U.S. and countries around the world, particularly those with significant Muslim populations.
This resulted in appropriations committed by Congress in 2002, followed by a call for grant proposals later that same year. Like-minded high school exchange organizations in the U.S., including AFS- USA, the Program of Academic Exchange (PAX), American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) Foundation’s Academic Year Abroad (AYA) and ACES (American Cultural Exchange Service); as well as Mobility International worked together with AFS Partner organizations in several countries, including Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Turkey to provide a large number of scholarships within a compact time frame.
By August 2003, the first class of 53 YES students from Egypt, Turkey, and Indonesia arrived, followed in January 2004 by 20 Malaysian YES students. In the 2004-05 academic year, the ranks of YES students grew to 163 participants, this time adding students from the Philippines. In 2005-06, the number of YES scholars was 288, growing to over 300 in 06-07, inclusive of both academic cycles. PAX, AIFS/AYA, and AFS-USA each host a portion of the YES students in communities across the U.S.Learn more about hosting a YES student!>>
