Press Releases 2005

U.S. Embassy Announces New Program for Indian High School Students, 35 Scholarship Winners to Depart for U.S. this Week

08 August 2005

NEW DELHI - In a further boost to people-to-people exchanges, the United States Mission in New Delhi today announced that it is inviting and funding 35 high school students from India to study for one year in U.S. schools, beginning this month.

U.S. Embassy Charge d'Affaires Robert O. Blake honored the 35 high school students from Delhi, Pune and Ahmedabad, who have been selected to travel to the U.S. for the "Youth Exchange and Study ("YES") Program" sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by the U.S.-based NGO "American Field Service" (AFS).  Associate Director Ms. Melissa Liles represented AFS, which is reestablishing its exchange programs with India after a gap of 30 years.
 
Of the 35 students selected, 11 are from Delhi, 15 from Pune and 9 from Ahmedabad. Worldwide, the YES program will fund 675 students for travel and study in the U.S. during the 2005-06 academic year, focusing on participants from the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and South East Asia. While this is the third year of the YES program, it will be the first year for students from India.
During their stay in the U.S., the Indian students will attend American high schools, reside with a host (volunteer) family, participate in social and cultural activities, develop leadership skills and inform Americans about life in India.
 
Funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the U.S. Department of State, the YES scholarship covers all costs associated with the program including recruitment, pre-departure activities, international travel, placement of students in home-stays, enrollment in American high schools, extra-curricular activities and alumni activities with returned participants.

AFS, an international, voluntary, non-profit organization, is administering the YES program in partnership with the Cultural Affairs department of the US Embassy in New Delhi. The objective of the program is to further mutual understanding between the U.S. and India, while also enhancing the educational and career opportunities of young non-elite students from different parts of India.