Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program
Building Bridges of Understanding
What is YES Program?
The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program was established in October 2002. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, along with the U.S. exchange community, recognized the importance of youth exchange as a key component to building bridges between citizens of the United States and countries around the world, particularly those with significant Muslim populations.
The program officially launched in the Philippines in 2004 in hopes to expand communication between the people of the United States and in order to promote mutual understanding and respect. Since then over 545 Filipino students have completed the YES program and now participate as alumni.
YES Program supports students with disabilities and encourages their participation. The U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs (ECA) works with a separate organization to provide students with disabilities with leadership-building workshops and appropriate information and support as needed to enhance their experience in the United States.
Philippine citizen residing in the Philippines, at the time of application, selection and
preparation for travel. Participants must have spent more than 50% of the last 5 years in the Philippines and have current family plans of returning to the Philippines after the program.
Must be born between August 2, 2002 and – August 1, 2005.
Be enrolled in 8 th , 9 th , 10 th , or 11 th grade at the time of application; have not completed more than 11 years of primary education nor received a high school diploma (senior high school) by the start of the program.
Be among the top 25% of academic performance in their grade level.
Have an equivalent of a B average or better without failing grades.
Strong academic and social skills, openness, and flexibility.
Demonstrated English language ability sufficient to study in a native English-medium setting.
Sufficiently healthy to participate in the program.
No previous significant travel to the U.S. on a U.S. government – sponsored program.
Committed to cultural immersion in the U.S through a home-stay experience.
Able to meet cross-cultural challenges with maturity, humor, and an open mind.
Meet U.S. J-1 visa eligibility requirements (for instance, U.S. citizens are not eligible for J- 1 visa).
Plans to share his/her experience with his/her home community upon return.
Important Note: Applicants who have family members (father, mother, sister or brother)and cousins within the first degree who have participated in the previous ECA-DOS sponsored programs and other AFS Philippines-administered sponsored programs are regretfully automatically disqualified to participate in this program. This restriction applies as well to AFS Philippines staff and board members up to the third degree.
The YES Program covers the following for the selected finalists:
U.S. J-1 Visa
International travel ticket between home country and the U.S., including only one
checked-in luggage.
Domestic Travels during the following:
– U.S. In-Person Visa Interview and English Enhancement Workshop, from and to your hometown
-Immediate Pre-Departure Orientation, from and to your hometown
– Immediate Re-Entry/Return Orientation, from and to your hometown
– Arrival Orientation, from and to your host community in the U.S.
– End of Stay/Program Orientation, from and to your host community in the U.S.
Placement in a host family and U.S. High School
Orientations in home country and in the U.S. (English Enhancement Workshop, Pre- Departure Orientation, Arrival Orientation, Mid-Stay Orientation, End of Stay/Program Orientation and Re-Entry/Return Orientation)
Program Enrichment Activities
Medical Insurance
Monthly Stipend
Important Note: Any kind of pre-existing conditions will not be covered by the provided Medical Insurance.
List of documents and requirements that not covered by the YES program and has to prepared by the program candidates:
Passport
DSWD Travel Clearance for Minor
Medical Examinations, including but not limited to TB Skin Test (see list of accepted TB skin testing).
Immunization and vaccinations that are mandatory (see list of vaccinations required by the program).
Pre-existing medical conditions and allergies, dental care and eye care.
Excess or overweight baggage cost.
Personal expenses and trips during program.
Important note: AFS Philippines will only notify those selected candidates in due course.
Submission Policy
All applications must be received by AFS Intercultural Programs Philippines NO LATER than 4:00pm on July 12, 2019.
Applications can be submitted to AFS Philippines as printed or scanned copies.
If submitting an application as soft/scanned copies, all pages and requirements must be scanned clearly with 100 dpi resolution, in PDF format and sent to [email protected] with the email subject:
YES2020-21 Application_Surname_First Name (i.e. YES2020-21 Application_Ali_Fatima)
And if submitting as printed copies, direct it to AFS PHILIPPINES PROGRAMS at the
complete address below:
AFS Intercultural Programs Philippines
Unit 1607, 16F Antel Global Corporate Center
No.3 Doña Julia Vargas Avenue, Ortigas Center
1600 Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines
TeleFax: (02) 584 2002
Email: [email protected]
OR printed applications can be submitted to the following authorized drop off points location listed here.
Other Important Notes:
Pre-Application is provided free of any charges and can be photocopied.
AFS/U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Staff and YES Alumni do not collect any fees from YES applicants or schools.
U.S. Host School do not provide an official Transcript of Grade nor a Diploma.
U.S. Grade Accreditation will be the participant’s school (Philippine school) discretion; all concerns regarding grade placement/accreditation in the Philippines is not covered by the YES Program. Thus, participants are highly encouraged to communicate this kind of concern to their school in the Philippines.
