U.S. Consul General Brian Heath welcomed 40 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and
Study Program (YES) students back to the country. Also present was Farah Kamal,
executive director, iEARN — the U.S. State Department’s YES program implementing
partner in Pakistan.
“The YES program is at the heart of what we try to do through our exchange and
cultural programs – connect Pakistani people to American people to promote
dialogue and find common ground,” said Mr. Heath. “There is no better way to
build connections than through programs like YES, which allow people to discover
for themselves what the United States is like.”
Volunteerism is a big part of the YES program, said Mr. Heath. “We believe that
service to one’s community and country is essential to make societies strong.
Now, that you have returned home, I hope that you take your experiences and
share them with your family and community and that you continue to be active in
community service projects here in Pakistan.”
The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program — funded by the U.S.
Department of State — provides scholarships for secondary school students aged
15-17. Students spend up to one academic year in the United States.
In 2012-2013, 107 students from Pakistan participated in YES. The program
includes extracurricular activities, community service projects, leadership
training and other activities that develop an understanding of American culture
through interaction with diverse groups of Americans.