Long-Term Youth Exchange Programs

A key aspect of the YES program is taking part in community service activities and volunteering in our host communities. Our YES students all completed at least 20 hours per semester, and 5 students students truly went above and beyond by completing more than 100 hours! Congrats to Meriam, Shali, Khadija, Sertaç, and Widad on this great 100+ hour accomplishment.

In total, our 8 students achieved 559.5 hours of service and impacted so many lives in their host communities in the process. What kinds of activities did our students take part in? We’ll name a few!

Ahmed (Egypt) painted a youth martial arts building.

Eid (Jordan) collected signatures and supported advocacy campaigns with his local Alzheimer’s Association.

Jonn (Malaysia) coached a youth Robotics team in their efforts to build a robot.

Our Washington, DC area students took part in a local Unity Walk together.

Khadija (Pakistan) volunteered consistently at a food pantry alongside her Local Coordinator. 

Meriam (Tunisia) assisted with after school programs and school fundraising as part of ROTC.

Sertaç (Turkey) volunteered as a librarian during a book swap and sale at his school.

Shali (Indonesia) read with elementary school students and supported their literacy development. 

Widad (Morocco) volunteered at an animal shelter.

In March, two of our YES students participated in the Workshop for Youth Leaders in English Teaching (WYLET) in Washington, DC. Widad (Morocco) and Khadija (Pakistan) joined other international students for a program that was sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and implemented by American Councils. Our 2 YES students were selected from a competitive pool of applicants for their leadership skills and commitment to teaching and education. The WYLET program included school visits, teaching practice opportunities, and instructional feedback from teachers. Learn more about Widad's experience below!

Widad explored some of Washington, DC’s famous sites, including the White House, when visiting for the WYLET conference.

My WYLET Family

By: Widad Bensat (Morocco)

It is very pleasant to go through those memories again in the WYLET Workshop in Washington DC. This short period of time was associated with pleasant memories of various kinds.

During this week, I met many exchange students from different countries, who become close friends of mine. It is true that the purpose of the workshop is learning new methods of teaching English, but we learned so much more than that. I was introduced to other cultures and societies in the world : Kurdistan, Georgia, Palestine, Senegal, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Ghana, Lebanon,... and of course, I had the big opportunity to meet wonderful and talented teachers who devote their life to help others to learn English around the globe. they inspired us to start thinking of how we can develop our communities back home and help others to learn English. This workshop gave me inspiration, motivation and a huge desire to come back to my country and serve my community.

This week In Washington, DC made me fall in love with this beautiful city. The monuments, the museums and the buildings of this city capture the heart of the history and the spirit of the American society.

By: Pam Richardson

Pam, a Local Coordinator for World Learning’s FLEX and YES Programs, was first introduced to the program on accident when she volunteered to be a host family in 2014. She had no idea how hosting a girl from India and a girl from Georgia would change her life.

“Hey, Can you think of anyone who might like to host a high school exchange student?”

This was my introduction to the high school foreign exchange student program hosted by the U.S. Department of State. A random email that has changed my life. The message was an appeal to host an exchange student from India. Who would send their high school child to America so far from home? Now as a person with no children of my own and who lives with my mother, I thought I was the least likely candidate for something like taking in a teenager, much less one from a foreign land. After all, didn’t this require a “real” family with two parents and other children? Intrigued, I read the information about the student. I knew, after reading her letter to her host family, that she would need someone to help her learn about America and make sure she had a positive experience and keep her safe while so far away from home. I could do that, couldn’t I? I checked with mom (of course I couldn’t just spring the child on her – imagine “Surprise, you’re a grandmom – again” – No that would not go well). To my surprise, she was amenable to the idea and wanted more information.  

So I sent in my interest to the contact on the form thinking “Oh well, I did my part. They probably won’t even call me”. Was the ink even dry in cyberspace before I got the call? I don’t think so. While I contemplated that, I also thought to myself, “Can I do this? What am I to do with a 15 year old child?” In a panic, I looked at the list of other students who were coming in the program that year. Maybe I could take two. Then they could keep each other company. I had room. Yeah, that’s a plan. So I contacted the program again. “Can I take two? There is a girl who says she’s a scout in her country, and as a scout leader this sounded like a good fit. “Yes”, they responded, “as long as they are from different countries and do not have the same primary language, it is fine.” So I got two – India and Georgia (the country, not the state).

Now what have I done? Where will they sleep? What will they eat? What will they need from me? Three squares, a roof and a way to school. I can handle that, sure I can. Set the rules and things will run smoothly, right? Not. To begin with, my Georgian student came in first. I almost lost her on the metro the first day. The Indian child who was supposed to come in two days later- arrived the next day. Didn’t lose her, sent her home with my mother. We sat down and went over the house rules. Piece of cake, right? No, my child from India is non-ovo-vegetarian (my description of a vegetarian who also does not eat eggs) How does one make a cake without eggs? No really? I don’t cook a lot and mom doesn’t bake without egg and it’s the child’s birthday. What to do?

Go to Whole Foods, pay three times what a box of Betty Crocker and a dozen eggs would cost, and then have a birthday celebration for the newly arrived child from India. Success. At least the child from Georgia eats with fewer restrictions, mostly. But food is not the only challenge. How do you explain to a child who is late for everything that we do things differently here? You must be on time for school or they mark you absent and I get an automated call, everyday, saying my child is not in school. How do you explain that you can’t just decide not to come straight home without telling someone first? I can’t begin to count the number of times I said “I love you but you are not my children and I don’t want to have to call your parents and say I lost you”. Not to mention the expanded grocery bill and the discussions about rule “bending” and the homework help, and extracurricular clubs to explain and griping about teachers and teenagers in the house.

On the other hand, how do you explain the love you feel for children not your own but in your heart belong to you? The feeling you get when you see them mature and branch out on their own, when they can get on the Metro and not get lost (or at least find their way back on their own). The achievement you feel when they do more than 100 hours of community service. The closeness you feel when they talk with you about their lives and their goals and how happy they are to have had the opportunity to come to America and learn about how we live, and work, and worship and celebrate. When you learn about cultures not your own and the similarities between what you do in America and how they live in their homeland. When you go to church and your child from India says they sing that song in her school and she is so happy to have heard here something she knows. When the child from Georgia, who always seems so tough and independent, cries because she must go home and she wants to stay.

By: Eid Ibdah (YES 2016-2017, Jordan)

My name is Eid Ibdah. I am from Jordan and I am hosted in Michigan. So one of the things that really made my year and made me learn a new thing and skills is woodworking class. In this awesome class I learned how to create anything I want from a piece of wood. I have never imagined that I am creating my own table or my own shelf by my own design. 

What I really like about this class is there are no rules to do your project or no limits, because you can do it in any way you like. So it’s about how creative you think or how big is your imagination. This class gave me the ability of making stuff not just at school, so me and my host dad built a bench in our house.  

Eid uses his new woodworking skills to build an entryway bench with his host family.

The most challenging thing about this class is that I have never used big machines like these. These are some pictures of what I did.  

By: Hikmatu “Shali” Shalihah (YES Student, Indonesia)

Honestly, I still cannot believe that I am here. A dream came true, people say. The YES program absolutely changed my perspective in life. I was in my comfort zone back then when I was in Indonesia where most of the people speak the same language or have the same religion. At first, I was really nervous to jump out of my comfort box but when time passed by I felt more encouraged to have a journey to be an exchange student. “It’s once in a lifetime chance to have this incredible experience,” I said.

When I arrived here, I felt my eyes were wider. Wider to see something in a much better ways. Now I can actually apply “respect,” “tolerance” and “loving diversity.” The interesting thing about this program is not only do we meet people from the US but also from around the world too! Different race, religion, language and culture. At that moment, I realized that I love what I am experiencing. I love how people say, “How are you?” or “Isn’t it a great day?” to other people in the street even though they don’t know each other. I love when people say “thank you” so many times a day and adding it with a big smile. I love when you sneeze and the whole class says, “Bless you.” Those simple things can create a big thing that all people want. Peace.

As a Muslim girl, I use hijab daily. I never thought it would be a lucky charm for me here. People will come up and say “I love your hijab so much!” or “How did you wear it so nicely?” I even teach some of my friends how to wear a hijab even though we do not have the same belief but we have something in common called love. Respect and tolerance are not something hard to do. And I absolutely believe it can make a big difference to our community. I still remember when I was celebrating Eid Adha, a big day for Muslims, some of my non-Muslim friends came to the mosque with me and see how Eid Adha is celebrated. They said they love the food, the songs and the friendly people. I also remember on Christmas, I went to my host-parents church to see how Christmas is celebrated. I met a lot of nice people and they are so interested in Indonesia. I even explained to them about the big days in Indonesia as a Muslim country. Me and my host family also exchanged presents and watched Christmas movies on Christmas day. It was so much fun! From these experiences I realize that living outside of my comfort zone is actually a great thing to do and I don’t regret it even a tiny bit.

Shali poses with her host father after seeing Christmas mass celebrated in her host community.

As we start a new, exciting year of YES in 2017, we wanted to share some of the great holiday celebrations our students took part in during 2016. Many of these included learning new traditions, trying different food, and spending quality time with host family members. Check out how our YES students celebrated throughout Fall and Winter 2016!

HALLOWEEN

Pumpkin carving time! Meriam from Tunisia creates a special KL-YES pumpkin to get in the Halloween spirit.

Why so serious? Eid from Jordan trick or treats around his neighborhood in Michigan.

THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving was a time in which many families blended the traditional turkey and mashed potatoes with new dishes from our YES students’ home countries! One student enjoyed cooking a halal lamb dish for her family and it has become a new part of the family’s tradition.

Some students traveled to share a meal with extended members of their host family while others enjoyed a meal at home. One student shared that, "It was a great dinner with even more great people [and] I had to experience the feelings of the people when they come together."

Our YES students’ first Thanksgiving was a time to meet new host family members, try new foods, and express gratitude for the people in their lives (both near and far)!

DECEMBER HOLIDAYS

Our students learned about all different religious holidays in December, such as Hannukah, Kwanza, and Christmas. Here are a few pictures of their Christmas celebrations with their host families!

Santa Claus is coming to Michigan! Widad from Morocco poses with Santa before learning about her host family’s Christmas traditions.

Our great artist, Meriam, decorates the holiday tree with a homemade YES ornament!

A new stocking was added to Khadija’s host family collection this year!

NEW YEAR’S EVE

Our YES students celebrated New Year’s all over the country, from New York City to Chicago to their host family’s backyard. So what are the New Year’s resolutions for these goal-setting, ambitious YES students? Here are a few below:

 This year, I want to work together with people who have different opinions from me.

I want to complete a First Aid Training.

In 2017, I want to volunteer more and do weekly volunteer programs.

Happy holidays from our YES team! 

We hope you enjoy a snow-filled, joyous holiday season just like Khadija, shown here in front of the Christmas tree she picked out with her host family in Michigan. 

This year, our YES students celebrated International Education Week by giving presentations about their home countries and cultures to their host communities. They certainly kept busy, as some gave as many as seven presentations in one day! Audiences included their classmates, teachers, World Learning staff, and local community members. These lucky audience members learned about our YES students’ respective cultures by eating new foods, practicing different languages, and learning about daily life in Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Tunisia, and Turkey. Let’s hear from a few students and learn more about their presentations!

Shali, Sertaç, and Meriam pose following their presentations to World Learning staff and Washington, DC community members. 

“I am very surprised all of these people came and wanted to learn something about my country. The challenging part was not to talk boring and to make the presentation as enjoyable as possible.” -Sertaç (Turkey) 

Ahmed discusses daily life for him in Egypt with a local Rotary Club in Michigan, after completing presentations to students at his school.

“The students were amazed from what they saw. The most challenging part was my responsibility to make them understand everything and explain because students asked me about many things.” -Ahmed (Egypt) 

Widad and Khadija pose with the IEW materials they handed out around their school.

“My presentation in the middle school was awesome! The students were very interested. With my high school classmates, I tried some fun activities like dress up days, donating traditional food to cafeteria, and bringing clothes to school for everyone to try.” -Widad (Morocco)

Eid gives a presentation on his home country of Jordan to his class. He even brought in some of his favorite food, which his fellow classmates were eager to try! 

Two of our YES students, Meriam and Shali, were recently invited as guests on Voice of America to talk about their international exchange experience. You can learn more about this unique opportunity by listening to the show online and by reading Meriam’s reflections below.

“A Tunisian YES student on a live radio show!

I've said before that the YES program impressed me since the first step, since the DC orientation, and here I am again to tell you that this program can't stop impressing me...it just keeps surprising me!

In October, I had the opportunity to be on a live radio show with Voice of America (VOA) to talk about the YES program and my life as an exchange student. It was my first time talking on the radio. I never knew how awesome it's to be on a live radio show until I tried it.

When I first got into the filming studio, I couldn't believe thousands of people will be listening to me and watching me on live on the radio show Facebook page, in just few minutes. I was as excited as afraid. I had to represent the YES students in the best way I can. I had to prove why exchange students are the most wonderful people.

What makes them special? And how does it look alike to be on an exchange program?

And guess what? The interview was awesome! I took part in the show and answered some listeners' questions about Tunisia, about my culture and my daily life as a Tunisian teenager.

Do you think that's all? Oh well, it’s not. The fun part starts here. We put on some Tunisian traditional music during the show and danced to one of the most wonderful Tunisian songs. That was crazy.

Now, whenever I watch again the video show, I just feel amazed! How did I do that knowing that people all around the world are watching me? Why wasn't I shy as I used to be? Why didn't I get nervous? ... It's because I'm an awesome Tunisian exchange student who's getting out of her comfort zone and jumping into the real world, the real life.

As the applications for the YES program are already open in many countries, I just wanted to say something to all of those who are thinking about applying: don't think about it twice, just go for it! I'm not saying you're going to live that American dream you see on movies or that you'll be happy every single day. You'll have bad days, you'll cry, you'll miss that one person you didn't like before. But, you'll love it!

You'll wish you can be on exchange for the rest of your life. You'll discover how powerful you are and that every step you make matters!"

-Meriam Moujahed

This autumn, many of our YES students experienced their first Homecoming Week! In Maryland, Michigan, and Virginia, students participated in spirit activities, attended football games, and learned about their host community’s Homecoming traditions. 

How do YES students celebrate Spirit Day during Homecoming Week? By wearing their school colors and “dabbing” with their classmates!

“My first homecoming-- and quite possible my last! Paw Paw High School organized its Homecoming Week sometime in early October. For me, it was the first time that I would be getting to attend something remotely akin to Homecoming, for I never had a chance to do so back home in Pakistan. We had a whole week and everyday had a different theme, with a Homecoming game closing the week. Our first day was Pajama Day and probably the happiest day for the student body, especially on a Monday! This was followed by Neon Day, Superhero Day, Career Day, and School Pride Day.

“My favorite was Superhero Day, because I didn't go as your average, monotone supey! I was decked in green and wore my country's flag as a cape. Back home, everyday people are your superheroes and my natural sister had helped me execute the idea! The last day was game day, and despite having no clue as to what was happening in the football game, I was totally sporting the red and white sweatshirt and bandanna theme. I plan to have a sort of Homecoming in my school back home, when I go back, InshaAllah!”

-Khadija Shafi, Pakistan

It’s Superhero Day! Khadija wears Pakistan’s flag to honor her favorite superheroes at home.

Although we are well into fall, we want to take a moment to say WELCOME to our 2016-17 YES students from Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, Tunisia and Turkey. Congratulations on excelling in your first two months on program, and we hope you have a fantastic year!

Congratulations Liliana Cerchez for being selected as our May Student of the Month! Liliana from Moldova is an alumna from our 2015-2016 FLEX program. During her exchange year in the US, she developed into a motivated and confident young leader.

Her host mom stated that “Lili seems always to see the ‘cup half full’ and I think this way of viewing the world enables her to make the most out of any situation.” Her cheery disposition is infectious and people just like to be around her. She is also creative and independent in her thinking. Lili is an energetic go-getter who had many accomplishments during this exchange year. It has been enjoyable to watch her tackle new challenges with her typical enthusiasm and optimistic outlook. She previously posted an article on the World Learning blog sharing expert tips on how to cure “homesickness” because it comes naturally to her to always be looking on the bright side of things.

One of World Learning’s objectives is to provide opportunities for students to explore and acquire an understanding of key elements of US civic engagement. Liliana is one of many students who has earned more than 100 volunteering hours during their stay. Among the organizations she has volunteered with include: The National Cherry Blossom team, Thai Temple, Leveling for the Play and Field, and others. One weekend she volunteered for the Color Run in Washington, DC and supported her French exchange sister who ran in the race.

After the Re-Entry Workshop, Liliana wanted to immediately begin helping her community in Moldova. She presented a fundraising idea to her school in an assembly and got all the classes involved in a “Change for Moldova” fundraising project. The project helps a group of orphaned students in her hometown to get the necessary supplies for school as well as clothing and in some cases food. She called the project a “Penny War” and challenged the classes to outdo one another by bringing in change to help the orphans. She managed to raise almost $900 to buy supplies and goods for the students at home.

In support of this same cause, she organized a “dine-out night” fundraiser at a local restaurant, with proceeds to go to help needy children in Moldova.

Moreover, Lili demonstrates the qualities of the leader. She was a winner in the Model United Nations conference. Her host mother mentioned that “Lili seeks out training and leadership opportunities, which appear to be plentiful through World Learning and FLEX. This summer, she has been helping to conduct, in partnership with FLEX Alumni 2015, the summer mentoring program for the new generation of FLEX students.”

Liliana is an excellent young ambassador and represents the best in the FLEX program and citizen diplomacy as well as civic engagement.

Congratulations Liliana Cerchez, we are so proud of proud of all you have accomplished!!

“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” –Aldous Huxley

The above quote came to mind when reading on past student’s reflections of their 10 months on exchange in America. One of the objectives of World Learning is to cultivate student understanding of US culture, diversity, and tolerance for others with differing views and beliefs. Upon leaving the exchange program, students expressed understanding diversity better or breaking stereotypes and being more accepting towards others. One student mentioned: “I have come to realize that sometimes they are similarities even between different beliefs and it is very interesting to discuss about different views.” Learning these differences or similarities proves that Huxley was right and by travelling, students learn to be accepting of people from different countries.

Listening to students speak at the end-of-year YES reception, it was inspiring hearing how much they had learned about themselves and about other cultures. Saryal Saeed from Pakistan spoke at the reception and shared his final reflection before going back home:

“The scent of wet soil after a drizzle is still the same. The sound of crickets in the silent nights is still the same. The sensation of wind blowing across my cheeks is still the same. A thousand miles from my country, the joy that a smile brings my heart is still the same. You haven’t met them, how are you going to spend a year with them, they said. Well I have an answer to that; living a year and knowing the people you are living with is indeed is the joy of it. I missed my school year. My classmates are my seniors now. I missed some family reunions. Do I miss it? Yes. Do I regret coming here? NO. Ask me and I will say it was worth it. From watching my mother swim and watching soccer with my brothers; I will never forget. What have you learned they will ask me before I can give a detailed answer. I did not learn to disrespect my elders. I did not learn to stop believing in what I believe in. I learned that the world is huge! I learned the meaning of diversity. Learned what hospitality and family truly mean. I saw possibilities and opportunities. I met people and made new ties. I took steps I shouldn’t have but then again who didn’t. Now looking back on my exchange year I knew was going to go back someday but I also knew I was here. Thank God it didn’t take me 9 months to realize what this year really means. During these 9 months I realized that I was far from my country but not far from home. Word of advice: go without fear, with your head up and stand your ground. You are the soul witness of your entire success, that chin should not go down even if it makes a mess. After all I feel I belong.

If I was a given a chance to go back in time if it was possible I will do all over again. Back to when I first sledded, back to when I first swam, back to when I scored for my team. I would do everything again. Facing the mere fact that I might not be able to see these faces again does not sit well with me apparently neither does fate. Yes I care for my family but I care for both of them.”

Creating a home on the other side of the world proves that families are the same all over the world and that opening hearts and homes to exchange students creates a sentiment of togetherness among all countries. Host families and exchange students both learn from each other and better understand each other’s countries. As Saryal beautifully said: “I realized that I was far from my country but not far from home”. Thanks to organizations like World Learning, the world can become anyone’s home.

We are proud to announce that World Learning YES student, Jarin Raisa from Bangladesh has been selected as the U.S. Department of State's YES Student of the Month! Jarin has not only exceeded expectations at school, where she ranks first in her class, but also within her community of Tulsa, OK!