YES Program: A 20th Anniversary

This year American Councils for International Education celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program. Since 2003 the program funded by the U.S. Department of State brings high school students from countries of strategic importance to the United States for an academic year to advance the U.S. foreign policy goals of promoting civil society, youth leadership development, and lasting ties between Americans and the people of participating countries. 

The U.S. Congress created the Kennedy-Lugar program in October 2002 in response to the events of September 11, 2001. Since then, more than 13,000 students from 45 countries have participated. The Kennedy-Lugar YES Abroad mirror program targeting American students was launched in 2009.

The YES program in Bulgaria was officially launched in 2009 to improve communication between U.S. and Bulgarian citizens and promote mutual understanding and respect. Since then, 109 Bulgarian students have graduated from the YES program and are now participating as alumni. There are currently 16 Bulgarian students in the United States and 4 American students in Sofia on the reciprocal YES abroad program which is active in Bulgaria since 2016 with 22 American students who lived in Bulgaria and are now alumni of the program.