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Educational Programs and Scholarships

Youth Exchange and Study Program (YES 2009-2010)

Please note new deadline

November 7, 2008

AMIDEAST is currently accepting applications for the Youth Exchange and Study Program (YES), a scholarship program for high-school age students.  Funded by the U.S. Department of State, YES program scholarships give high school students an opportunity to study at American high schools and live with American host families for one academic year.  The program seeks to improve cooperation and mutual understanding between Americans and the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa.  YES scholarships cover all major expenses, including airfare, room and board, health insurance, pocket money, and educational supplies.

The deadline for the YES 2009-2010 preliminary application is Monday, December 15, 2008.

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT IF YOU ARE SELECTED AS A YES FINALIST, YOU MUST OBTAIN AN IRAQI G PASSPORT BY MARCH 1, 2009!

As a YES student, you will have a unique opportunity to:

  • Live with an American family
  • Study at a U.S. high school
  • Experience U.S. culture and society first hand
  • Improve your English
  • Make new friends
  • Help Americans learn about your country

Applicants to the YES program must meet the following criteria:

  • Have a record of high academic achievement with a “B” average (70-80%) or "good" for the preceding three years
  • Demonstrate maturity, flexibility and commitment to promoting cross cultural understanding
  • Must be born between August 1, 1992 and August 1, 1994
  • Must be enrolled in either grade 9 (3rd intermediate) or grade 10 (4th preparatory) in the 2008-2009 school year in Iraq
  • Meet minimum English proficiency requirement with an average of 80-90% or "excellent" in English classes for the past three years, and a score of 50 or above on the Secondary Level English Proficiency exam
  • Are nationals of Iraq and currently living in Iraq
  • Are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents, and were not born in the United States
  • Have not previously participated in an academic year or semester secondary school student exchange program in the United States

The preliminary application form for this prestigious program can be downloaded by visiting www.amideast.org and clicking the hot button with the YES logo.  The preliminary application deadline for the YES 2009-2010 is Monday December 1, 2008.

APPLICANTS CAN SUBMIT APPLICATIONS VIA HARD COPY TO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

ERBIL: The AMIDEAST Office in Ainkawa Neighborhood; the office is based at the former WFP building close to Restaurant Italiano, Bldg. #5, Street 240/4/15. E-mail: iraq@amideast.org

BAGHDAD: Babel Hotel-AMIDEAST/Iraq Drop Box, Drop box in Lobby of Babel Hotel across from the hotel reception. E-mail: iraq@amideast.org

BASRA: University of Basra- AMIDEAST/Iraq Drop Box, Bab Al-Zubair Compound-Institute of Live Languages, Drop Box near office of head of the Institute of Live Languages. E-mail: iraq@amideast.org 

OR VIA E-MAIL ATTACHMENTS TO iraq@amideast.org

Note: in addition to the preliminary application form, supporting documents such as identification documents and school certificates must also be scanned and attached to the e-mail.