Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study Program Is Now Open to Form 3 Students

Are you interested to spend a semester studying in an American high school? Are you willing to be a young ambassador for Malaysia and share our wonderful Malaysian culture to the Americans?

The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study (YES) Program is now open for application. This high school exchange program is a full scholarship which covers round-trip airfare from Malaysia to the United States, placement with an American host family for a semester, a modest monthly stipend, health insurance as well as cost of program activities and materials.

Image Source: AFS Malaysia, 2016

The YES Program was established by the U.S. Department of State in October 2002 in recognition of the importance of youth exchange in bridging American citizens and the countries around the world. Funded by the U.S. government, this program provides scholarship to high school students from significant Muslim-populated countries for a semester exchange in an American high school. Scholars will be hosted by American host families and serve as young ambassadors for their home countries.

It was first launched in Malaysia in 2004. Since then, more than 550 Malaysian students have participated in the YES Program and became part of the YES and U.S. Embassy Alumni communities.

The program, which usually took place in January the year after the scholars sat for their SPM, have been rearranged due to the postponement of the national exam. The upcoming YES program has been restricted to Form 3 or other equivalent grade students only. Successful applicants who are selected to be YES scholars will be spending one academic semester in the United States from August to December 2021.

Program Details

• Program Name: YES Program
• Cost: Full Scholarship
• Program Date: August – December 2021
• Placement: Hosted by host family in the U.S.
• Duration: 1 Semester
• Application Deadline: 30 September 2020

The competition for the scholarship is merit-based and open at no cost to all applicants who meet the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in Form 3 or other equivalent grade at the time of application. Students with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
• Applicant’s date of birth must be between August 1, 2004 and August 1, 2006.
• Have the equivalent of a B average or better and strictly NO failing grades.
• Be a citizen of Malaysia.
• Demonstrated leadership, community involvement in extracurricular activities.

The YES program is administered in partnership with non-profit organizations. In Malaysia, YES program is manged by AFS Malaysia in partnership with the U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur. YES seeks to ensure diverse participation in the program, representing all of Malaysian society.

For more information, kindly visit AFS Malaysia KL-YES Program.