Sixty-five full scholarships are available for U.S. students to study abroad for an academic year with the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad program. As YES Abroad scholars, American high school students serve as “youth ambassadors” in their overseas host countries, promoting mutual understanding by forming lasting relationships with their host families and friends.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the YES Abroad program is a component of the Kennedy-Lugar YES program, an exchange program that brings almost 900 high school students from approximately 40 countries with significant Muslim populations to the United States to study each year.

For the 2014-15 academic year, full scholarships are available through YES Abroad to live with host families and study for one academic year in countries that may include: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco, Oman, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, and Turkey. The merit-based scholarship covers the following program costs for participants: domestic and international travel; tuition and related academic preparation; accommodations with a host family; educational and cultural activities in the host country; orientations; applicable visa fees; three basic meals per day; and medical coverage.

First authorized by the U.S. Congress in the aftermath of September 11th, 2001, the YES program seeks to increase communication and understanding between the United States and countries with significant Muslim populations. YES Abroad is administered by a consortium of non-profit organizations, including American Councils for International Education, AFS-USA, AMIDEAST, and iEARN-USA.

Eligible candidates must be U.S. citizens at the time of application and be 15-18 years old at the start of the program. Additional criteria are detailed in the application.

For more information on the YES Abroad program and to access the application, visit www.yes-abroad.org.

The deadline for applying is January 9, 2014.