Department of State Grants

As experts in cultural exchange, over the past 30 years AYUSA has been recipient to over  50 prestigious grants sponsored by the U.S. Department of State totaling over $35,000,000. We offer exchange opportunities to students from around the world with the aim of empowering, inspiring and preparing them to work toward understanding and respecting global cultures. AYUSA aims to create a peaceful international community, starting with the world’s most promising youth.

Today, AYUSA administers four grant programs funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State.

Mexico Youth Leadership Program (Jóvenes en Acción) is a pilot program launching this summer and welcoming 50 high school students from Mexico, many from areas impacted by drugs and violence, to the U.S. on a five-week youth leadership program.

Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX) enables over 1200 high school students from the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union to live with families and attend school in the United States each year.

The Youth Exchange and Study Program (YES) allows qualified high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend one academic year in the United States.

The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program (CBYX) is the premiere direct exchange program between American and German high school students. Developed by the German Gongress in conjunction with the U.S. Department of State, CBYX provides full scholarship exchange programs for high school students between Germany and the U.S.

The Emerging Youth Leaders Program (EYL) provides a 7-week direct exchange experience for American and Senegalese urban and minority youth with a focus on Democracy and Governance in Civil Society.