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Suriname


The application period for YES 2024-25 has concluded. Please visit this site again in fall 2024 for information on how to apply to the 2025-26 YES program.

High school students from countries with significant Muslim populations 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. YES students serve as “youth ambassadors” of their home country, promoting mutual understanding by forming lasting relationships with their host families and communities. 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; they also help educate Americans about their home country and culture.

The program officially launched in Suriname in 2008 in hopes to expand communication between the people of the United States and Suriname in order to promote mutual understanding and respect. Since then, 74 Surinamese students have completed the YES program and now participate as alumni.

The YES program is administered in partnership with the U.S. Department of State by a consortium of non-profit organizations led by American Councils for International Education. In Suriname, the iEARN Suriname Foundation manages the YES program in partnership with the local U.S. Embassy, Public Affairs Office.

  • Eligibility

    In keeping with the U.S. Government-sponsored initiatives, dedicated to democratic reform, the competition for the Youth Exchange and Study scholarship is merit-based and open at no cost to all applicants who meet the following requirements:

    • Be between the ages of 15 and 17 by the start of the program (August 15, 2024);
    • Be currently enrolled in 3rd or 4th grade of junior high school in Suriname;
    • Have the equivalent of a B average or better without failing grades;
    • An average score of 8 (A) for the English language subject during the past three school years;
    • Meet U.S. J-1 visa eligibility requirements (for instance, U.S. citizens are not eligible for J-1 visa);
    • Have not previously traveled to the United States for more than two weeks;
    • Must have resided in Suriname over the past five consecutive years;
    • Must have Surinamese nationality;
    • Be a resident and citizen of Suriname.


    Students with Disabilities

    The program can support students with disabilities and encourages their participation. The Department of State and the YES program work with Mobility International (MIUSA) to provide students with disabilities leadership-building workshops, appropriate information and support as needed to enhance their year in America. Students with disabilities must also meet the above eligibility requirements. Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to contact their YES office for information on eligibility.

  • ​Application and Selection

    There are multiple rounds to the YES application and selection process. All applicants are required to take an English proficiency exam, write a proctored essay, complete a YES program application, and participate in group and individual in-person interviews. All finalists are selected on the basis of merit.

    See below for country specific application and selection guidelines:

    • Step 1: Students meeting the eligibility criteria apply by filling out a three-page Preliminary Application. These applications are screened in order to filter out students who do not meet the following criteria: age, grade and academic scores.
    • Step 2: Students who are eligible are invited to take the ELTIS test. Tests are conducted at a test center in Paramaribo. Students living outside of the capital will be transported to the capital. In addition to taking the ELTIS test, applicants will be required to write a proctored essay.
    • Step 3: The qualified students (who have passed the ELTIS test) are invited to an in-person interview event, which consists of a group and individual interview, as well as a group activity. The students will be interviewed by a panel of three judges, and will be scored based on ten factors that are considered critical for exchange students.
    • Step 4: The highest scoring applicants will be asked to complete a final application.

  • For Parents

    Studying abroad in high school is an exciting journey for both you and your child. We have compiled the information below to help answer some of the questions you may have about the YES program experience. For further information, please e-mail the YES office in your country.

    Who will support my child’s well being while abroad?
    YES participants are placed in volunteer host family homes and into host schools in the United States by established and reputable placement organizations that have competitively been awarded grants by the U.S. Department of State to implement the placement portion of the YES program. While on the program, your child will have regular contact with a trained coordinator in his or her community who will provide support, assistance, and guidance, and who will be in regular contact with the placement organization’s national headquarters.

    As the consortium lead on the grant for YES operations, also competitively awarded by the U.S. Department of State, American Councils has a national office in Washington, DC, which cooperates with all placement organizations nationwide and with all overseas recruiting offices. Each country participating in the YES program has an in-country office with at least one permanent employee in each YES country. These staff, who are the main contacts for the parents of YES students, in turn communicate with all organizations placing YES students in host communities.

    As a parent, how can I help promote the well-being of my child?
    One of the ways you can help YES plan for your child’s successful participation in the program is by providing all relevant information regarding your child’s personal health and family history on the requested application forms. This information will not be evaluated as part of the selection process, but is considered when making host community assignments. Relevant information includes, but is not limited to, a diagnosis of or treatment for an illness, a physical disability, a learning disability, a behavioral or emotional disorder, a dietary restriction, or drastic changes in weight. Recent traumatic experiences or significant changes in the student’s natural family, including serious illness, death, divorce, incarceration, or custodial changes, can also influence a student’s experience. Living and studying abroad can be a stressful and challenging experience for people of any age. These stresses can be compounded by any existing physical or mental health issues or concerns at home that arise prior to the start of the program. In order to help YES organizations and their staff to make appropriate decisions about your child’s experience, please inform us of relevant situations as quickly as possible throughout the application process and program.

    What is the involvement of the U.S. Department of State?
    The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Organizations implementing the YES program report to the U.S. Department of State.

    Where will my child be living?
    All YES students live with host families who have been carefully screened and selected. Host families receive formal orientation and training to introduce them to cultural differences and to prepare them for the hosting experience. Local coordinators provide support to participants and host families throughout the program. Students attend a school in their community alongside American peers.

    What happens in the case of an emergency?
    YES implementing organizations are prepared to respond to emergencies in the United States. Each organization provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency and facilitates appropriate medical treatment, including evacuation, if necessary. YES consults with the U.S. Department of State and external risk management organizations to monitor the safety of participants while in the United States.

    Will my child have medical coverage while abroad?
    YES participants are provided with accident and sickness medical coverage to ensure that, in the case of an emergency, students will be treated as soon as possible.

    What costs are covered?
    The YES scholarship covers costs related to:
    • round-trip airfare from your home country to the United States;
    • the cost of a Pre-Departure Orientation;
    • placement with a U.S. host family for 10 to 11 months;
    • a modest monthly stipend;
    • health insurance; and
    • the cost of program activities and materials.

    What costs are not covered by the scholarship?
    Some costs that you can expect to incur from your child’s participation in the program include costs associated with obtaining a passport, required medical examinations and immunizations, and extra pocket money while on program.

    How will YES help my child prepare to go abroad?
    YES provides a wide variety of support mechanisms for students preparing to go abroad. Preparation for the YES experience begins shortly after the finalists are selected, with weekly follow up by each YES program country office. Additionally, all YES finalists are required to attend a Pre-Departure Orientation where they cover relevant topics that they will face during the program year. At the Pre-Departure Orientation, they are given a student workbook and handbook, which is theirs to keep and contains the material covered in the Pre-Departure Orientation. Lastly, upon arrival to the United States, YES students attend an orientation in Washington, D.C. with YES students from other countries, where critical information is reviewed before the students depart for their host communities.

CONTACT INFO

Nila Pershad
YES Suriname Program Assistant
Email: [email protected]