ASSE International Student Exchange Programs (ASSE), in cooperation with your local high school, invites families in the area to host U.S. State Department sponsored scholarship students from a variety of countries, including Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Romania, India, Indonesia and Turkey, to name a few. These young scholars who will be arriving in August are merit-based scholarship finalists on the FLEX and YES programs that are sponsored by the U.S. State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX) brings in students from countries that were once part of the former Soviet Union. The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program (YES) provides scholarships for high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations.
While most student exchange programs are fee-based, the YES and FLEX programs provide full scholarships for participants. These young ambassadors, who were selected after a rigorous and competitive testing process, look forward to learning firsthand about American democracy and to experience life as an American high school student.
ASSE students are enthusiastic and excited to experience American culture; they are ages 15-18, and have full insurance coverage and their own spending money. Host families welcome these students into their family, not as a guest, but as a family member, giving everyone involved a rich cultural experience. ASSE host families are asked to provide students with meals, a place to sleep and study, and a warm, supportive environment. All types of families are welcome to apply, including single parents, couples, and retirees.
Supported by a local representative during their U.S. home-stay, each student will see America at work. They will attend town meetings, meet community leaders, visit local newspapers, observe small businesses in action and participate in community service projects, as they learn about American society and values, acquire leadership skills, and help educate Americans about their countries and cultures.
ASSE International Exchange Programs is a non-profit, public benefit organization. For information about ASSE visit the organization’s website at host.asse.com. For information about sharing your home with a new “son” or “daughter”, contact Tiffany Wilson at 816-807-2765.
