Photo: Kareem Khayal (incoming YES 2016-2017 student), Reim Essayed (YES 2014-2015, hosted by PAX in Charlotte, NC), Yasmeen Khayal (YES 2014-2015, hosted by Ayusa in McKinney, TX) and Siraj Belgasium (YES 2013-2014, hosted by AYA in Pottsiville, PA).

After a year of deferral, seven students from Libya are preparing to join the YES program for 2016-2017! To get ready, they have been busy with several Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) events and have been getting some great tips from local YES alumni who are excited to share their stories.

Six of the incoming students recently gathered in Tripoli to meet with alumni Siraj Belgassium, Reim Essayed, and Yasmeen Khayal. The alumni answered questions and engaged with the new YES students as peers. They shared their experiences with the incoming students and their parents to help them to prepare for what lies ahead.

Photo: Back row, incoming YES 2016 -2017 students Kareem Khayal, Anas Ali, Moones Hussein, Jehad Oumer and Suleiman Latrsh; Front row, alumni Yasmeen Khayal, Reim Essayed, and Siraj Belgasium

Incoming YES students from Libya are also required to participate in volunteer projects before departure, so at the PDO, the alumni helped them identify community service opportunities. Two new YES students have already started helping out by participating in an English Language seminar that YES alumni held in May!