Department of State Activities & Community Service
Every year in November International Education Week (IEW), initiated by the US Department of State and US Department of Education, takes place. Throughout the week students make presentations of their countries to their school and/or their host community. Before departing their countries, students are asked to prepare a presentation and to bring props such as flags, crafts, costumes, music, etc. with them. These presentations are often given to a social studies class, a school assembly, town council meeting or a civic group. Before IEW, ARs will be provided with a letter from Elizabeth Davis, Chief of Youth Programs Division at DOS, alerting the host school administrator of the student’s forthcoming presentation. If the student is presenting in school, ARs should send this letter to the designated school official with whom the student plans to present. After their presentations, students are asked to complete a CCI IEW report to submit to their ARs.
"I did my presentation in my 2 classes, in my English class and my theater art class. It was really good. I thought it will be hard but it wasn't. It was good. My classmates liked my presentation, they asked a lot of questions… and I made bread they liked it they said that I must prepare for them every day. I showed a lot of pictures I talked about schools, traditions, teenagers, sports and everything about my country." - Takhminakhon
FLEX students will have an opportunity to apply for an all expense paid trip to Washington DC in February. The week focuses on the concepts of democracy and the federal system of government (civil society). Students win places through competing in an essay contest and supplementary documentation including confirmation of their status on the program and letters of recommendation from teachers and volunteer organizations. Students will compete with students within their own placing organization.
GYSD is an annual, springtime global event organized by Youth Service America. Students are asked to plan and organize a GYSD event. This project should be planned by the students, but should have guidance from their AR. Students are welcome and encouraged to involve AYP students, friends, host family members and members of the community.
YES Cyberdiaires Forum
Through the YES Cyberdiaires Project students enter into an “Interactive Forum”, taking part in discussions happening within the YES program. Students are expected to post a new message before the end of each month on the listed topic. They are also free to post more frequently and to respond to other students’ entries. Through the YES Cyberdiaires Project students enter into an “Interactive Forum”, taking part in discussions happening within the YES program. Students are expected to post a new message before the end of each month on the listed topic. They are also free to post more frequently and to respond to other students’ entries.
YES Leadership Mentoring Project
The Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program provides high school students from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia with the opportunity to live and study in the United States for an academic year. This Program is sponsored by the U.S. State Department, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and jointly administered by the Center for Cultural Interchange as a consortium member led by AYUSA International.
YES students were selected for their academic excellence, commitment to community service and desire to share their countries and cultures with Americans and, in turn, share their experiences upon returning home. Cross-cultural exchange, interpersonal development and civic education are important components of the YES experience.
As part of their scholarship, all YES students are required to identify and interact with a mentor on a regular basis; this interaction adds depth and breath to the student exchange experience. We realize that you are very busy and if you are able to be a YES student mentor, we ask only that your interaction be consistent throughout the year. Meeting monthly either in-person, or over the phone, and communicating via email would add a lot to a YES student’s exchange year.
Your encouragement is a valuable component of student growth. Together, mentors and students can discover and cultivate talents and interests. As you discuss career opportunities, you will likely help your student to develop long term plans and build self-confidence. Mentoring is especially beneficial to exchange students. As they navigate their way through a foreign world of language, culture and ideas, exchange students are introduced to educational and career opportunities they might not have previously thought possible.
YES Youth Leadership Summit
The YES Youth Leadership Summit consists of three days of challenging and interactive activities designed to help students find the leader within them. The 2009 Leadership Summit will be held in Boulder, CO in March 2009. Application information for attending the summit will be available for students to complete and submitted in November, 2008. Along with the application, students will writ and essay and obtain one recommendation from a teacher or community service leader/mentor.