As I
mentioned in my previous post, I will be studying abroad for a year in Morocco
through the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad Program. The
YES Abroad program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs. The original YES program was created after
9/11 in pursuit of creating peaceful relationships between the U.S. and
countries with significant Muslim populations. Through the YES program, high
school students from these countries are given the opportunity to study abroad
for a year in the U.S.
In 2009,
the YES Abroad program began as a reciprocal extension of the original YES
program, offering scholarships for American high school students to study
abroad in host countries for a year. These students act as “youth ambassadors”
of the United States, forming mutual understanding and lasting relationships
with their host families and communities. YES Abroad students live with a host
family and attend a local high school where they learn the local language and
actively engage in the country’s society and values, all while helping to
educate others about American cultural values.
The YES and
YES Abroad Programs are eye-opening and life changing; they give students from
around the world opportunities to immerse themselves in new cultures while
simultaneously teaching others about their own culture. I can honestly say that
receiving the YES Abroad scholarship has changed my outlook on other cultures
and life in general. I hope to make the most of this fantastic opportunity to
delve into Moroccan culture, better my French, and learn Arabic. For more
information on YES Abroad, visit their website at: http://yesprograms.org/
Countdown
to Morocco: 44 Days!!!
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