Deadline: 15-Aug-25
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is pleased to invite applications for the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program to strengthen national security by engaging emerging young leaders from the United States and from countries of strategic importance.
The Kennedy-Lugar YES Program: Overseas Components cooperative agreement, which is the subject of this NOFO, will fund the recruitment, selection, orientation, travel, liaison activities with natural parents, and alumni support for international and U.S. participants. This award will also fund the placement and support of U.S. participants abroad.
YES brings approximately 450 high school participants to the United States each year from approximately 30 countries of strategic importance. Participants live with volunteer Americans host families in all 50 states, study in U.S. high schools, engage in community service activities, and learn leadership skills for an academic year. YES Abroad sends approximately 60 American high school participants abroad each year to select YES countries for a similar program.
Purpose
- The Kennedy-Lugar YES program brings high school participants from approximately 30 countries of strategic importance to study for an academic year in the United States, while sending American high school participants to select YES countries, in support of the foreign policy goals of promoting civil society, leadership development, and mutual understanding between Americans and the people of participating countries.
- Participants live with host families, attend high school, and engage in leadership development and civic education activities.
Objectives
- The overall goals of the YES programs are to:
- Support U.S. national security interests by promoting increased understanding by emerging leaders from the selected countries and the United States about the host societies, institutions, values, and culture;
- Foster lasting personal and professional ties that will enhance U.S. economic development opportunities and job readiness;
- Advance participants’ leadership skills and an understanding of civil society during the exchange experience and beyond; and
- Enhance cross-cultural understanding of other countries and cultures among American host communities and improve realistic understanding of American values in host and alumni communities abroad, further supporting U.S. national security interests.
Funding Information
- Total available funding approximately: $11,761,350
- Grant amount: $11,761,350
- Duration: 36 months; September 2025 – August 2028
Expected Outcomes
- Inbound participants acquire an understanding of the key elements of American culture and society, including concepts such as volunteerism, and an awareness of and respect for the rule of law. Conversely, YES Abroad participants will acquire an understanding of their host cultures and societies;
- Participants will share their home country and cultures with their host communities;
- Participants will actively engage with their host schools and communities and develop enduring ties.
Eligibility Criteria
- The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- U.S. Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations.
- U.S. Not-for-profit Public and private educational institutions.
Application Requirements
- Obtain and retain for three years, copies of the following documents for each participant:
- Name/photo page of international passport;
- Visa page in passport; and
- DS-2019 with stamp issued at U.S. port of entry (for YES inbound participants).
For more information, visit Grants.gov.