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West Bank


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 West Bank in 2003 in hopes to expand communication between the people of the United States and the West Bank in order to promote mutual understanding and respect. Since then, over 400 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 the West Bank, Amideast manages the YES program in partnership with the local U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs.

  • 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 15-18.5 by the start of program (August 15, 2024);
    • Be born between February 15, 2006 and August 15, 2009;
    • Be enrolled in 9th or 10th grade at a secondary school at the time of application;
    • Have the cumulative grade of a B (80%) without any failing grades and a grade of B+ (85%) or better in English for the past three years;
    • Should demonstrate flexibility and a commitment to promoting cross-cultural understanding;
    • Meet a minimum English proficiency requirement, which will be measured by a test;
    • Must not be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or have been born in the United States;
    • Meet U.S. J-1 visa eligibility requirements (for instance, U.S. citizens are not eligible for a J-1 visa);
    • Not have spent a total of more than 90 days in the U.S. in the last five years;
    • Be a resident and citizen of the West Bank.


    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.

    The YES application process in the West Bank goes through several phases:

    • Pre-Application: Applicants fill out and submit a preliminary application form;
    • English Placement Tests: Eligible applicants are invited to take English language proficiency exams, and to sit for proctored essays;
    • Full Application: Selected applicants are invited to complete the full YES application;
    • In-person interview: Candidates who pass the English language proficiency exams are invited for in-person individual and group interviews.


    Eligible students are encouraged to review the West Bank YES program website and complete a pre-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

P.O. Box 19665
Jerusalem 91196

Street Address:
Al-Watanieh Towers, 1st floor
34 Municipality Street
El-Bireh, Ramallah District

Office Phone: +970 2 240 8023

Email Address: [email protected]