About Us

Through the U.S. Department of State’s Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program, high school students from countries of strategic importance around the world live and study for an academic year in the United States.

The YES program advances U.S. priorities by developing a network of young leaders who understand and support U.S. principles. YES students share information about their home cultures and form meaningful relationships with their host families and communities, strengthening the linkages between the U.S. and YES countries at the same time. Participants live with a U.S. family, attend an American high school, gain leadership skills, and engage in activities to learn about U.S. excellence in governance, business, and innovation. Applicants compete for the YES program through a rigorous, merit-based selection process.

The YES program was established by Congress in October 2002. The YES Abroad program was established in 2009 to provide a similar experience for U.S. students (15-18.5 years) to spend an academic year in select YES countries.