Deadline: 15-Aug-25
The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is excited to announce an open competition for cooperative agreements for the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program: Placement Components.
YES is a merit-based program that brings approximately 450 emerging leaders to the United States each year from 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 develop leadership skills for an academic year. The program promotes U.S. national security and strengthens the global competencies of American youth and host families across the country, mainly in small and rural communities, through their interaction with international participants.
Purpose
- The program promotes U.S. national security and strengthens the global competencies of American youth and host families across the country through their interaction with international participants. POs facilitate activities in host communities that will enhance participants’ understanding of American democracy and civil society.
Objectives
- The overall goals of the YES program are as follows:
- Support U.S. national security interests by promoting increased understanding of the United States, including its society, institutions, values, and culture by emerging leaders of strategically important countries and in alumni communities abroad;
- Foster lasting personal and professional ties between participants and U.S. citizens;
- Advance participants’ leadership skills and their understanding of civil society during the exchange experience and beyond;
- Enhance cross-cultural competencies of American youth and host community members through interaction with international students.
Funding Information
- Total available funding: $21,726,750
- Grant amount: Awards may range from a minimum of $250,000 for the FY2025 base year and $250,000 for each NCC year to a maximum of approximately $7,242,250 in FY 2025 base year, $7,242,250 in FY 2026 first NCC year, and $7,242,250 in FY 2027 second NCC year
- Duration: 48 months; September 2025 – August 2029
Role and Responsibilities
- Recipient responsibilities are as follows:
- Participant Materials: Prepare participant materials specific to your organization to be distributed by the Overseas Components recipient during the Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO).
- Marketing: Develop organization-specific promotional and marketing materials. All official documents and marketing materials must clearly identify YES as a U.S. Department of State program.
- Host Families: Recruit, screen, select, and secure host families prior to the participants’ departures from their home countries.
- Host Schools: Secure enrollment in accredited secondary educational institutions for the students prior to departures from their home countries.
- Clustering: ECA encourages placements in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in a wide range of rural, urban, and suburban settings.
- English and Academic Tutoring: POs should anticipate that a small percentage of students may require English or other academic tutoring to support them in their educational requirements.
- Students with Disabilities: The YES program provides special assistance to approximately 10 to 15 participants with disabilities each year. Participants with disabilities go through the same selection process as other YES participants.
Expected Outcomes
- Through participation in the program, YES participants will do the following:
- Acquire an understanding of the key elements of U.S. culture and society, including concepts such as volunteerism and an awareness of and respect for the rule of law;
- Share information about their home countries and cultures with American communities;
- Actively engage with their host schools and communities and develop enduring ties;
- Develop leadership skills by participating in community service and civic education training in the United States; and
- Share and apply the experiences, knowledge and leadership skills gained through the program in their home communities as YES alumni.
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. public and private educational institutions.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.