On May 20th, the YES Alumni Club in Bahrain held a special gathering to mark the 20th anniversary of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study program in collaboration with Amideast/Kuwait. Seven alumni attended the event at the Lilou Patisserie in Adliya, Manama. The alumni came together to highlight and celebrate the program’s achievements and its alumni. 

During the event, the alumni reminisced about their time in the United States, discussing the experiences and lessons that have shaped their personal and professional lives. They emphasized the importance of the YES program in building a sense of cultural openness in their lives. As alum Noor Ali ’17 put it, "The YES program helped me explore new avenues in my life. I currently work in customer service in addition to being a full-time student. My time on the YES program taught me how to empathize and communicate with others. The program equipped me with skills to thrive in my career by helping me develop a global mindset. It was truly a life-changing experience." 

Following lunch, the alumni recorded videos reflecting on the program's impact on their lives and encouraging prospective applicants to apply for this life-changing opportunity. The messages underscored the importance of fostering empathy and understanding across different communities. Mohammed Ali ’17 shared, "The YES program helped me build long-lasting connections with the community I lived in, changing my personality and outlook on life. I still visit my host family every few years in the United States. I think of YES as a bridge that helped me expand my cultural horizons." 

The event was a testament to the program's impact and served as a reminder of the importance of exchange programs in fostering cross-cultural understanding and cooperation among future generations – contributing to a more interconnected world. 

Noor Ali (YES 2016-2017, Bahrain, placed by AYUSA in Bonney Lake, WA) 

Mohammed Ali (YES 2016-2017, Bahrain, placed by CIEE in Midlothian, TX)