Basic Eligibility Requirements:

• U.S. citizen
• 15-18.5 years of age at start of program (birthdate between March 5, 1997 and June 29, 2000)
• Enrolled in high school (including home school)
• For the following countries, prior French skills are required: Morocco

Additional Eligibility Information:

The Youth Programs Division of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) seeks to make youth exchange programs funded by ECA available to a wide and diverse American audience.  ECA also seeks to prevent conflict of interest issues from arising with regard to Department employees and federal award recipients who are involved in particular scholarships and exchange programs.

This eligibility policy is in addition to any program specific requirements and applies only to U.S. participants in the following programs sponsored (funded) by the Youth Programs Division, and only for programs that include travel outside of the United States:

• Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES Abroad)
• National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)
• Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX)
• American Youth Leadership Program (AYLP)
• Youth Leadership Program (participants who travelled overseas only)
• Youth Ambassadors Program

Participation in multiple programs:

Participation in more than one of the above-listed Youth Programs Division-sponsored exchange programs is permitted only in the following circumstances:

• The programs do not take place in the same calendar year.
• The first program in which the individual participated was a short-duration program of eight (8) weeks or less AND the second program is a semester or academic year program.
• Alumni of the semester and academic year programs are NOT eligible to apply for any of the programs listed above.
• Under no circumstances may an individual participate in more than two of the above-listed programs.

Family members of Department employees:

Family members of employees of the Department whose official duties involve an ECA Youth Programs Division exchange program would be precluded from applying for that program.  This is because there would be a conflict of interest or the appearance thereof if employees engage in official matters that affect the interests of their family members.  In circumstances where a family member other than a spouse or dependent child wants to participate in a program in which the employee has official duties, the appropriateness of the employee engaging in such matters should be discussed with a Department Ethics attorney.

Family members of affiliated private sector employees:

Family members of employees of ECA-funded implementers of grant programs and Department contractors whose official duties involve a particular ECA-funded youth exchange program are technically ineligible for that program.  Family members include spouse and dependent children.