Programs: KL-YES Program
About the KL-YES Program
The KL-YES Program is a scholarship program created in 2002 by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
It was developed to help young Africans understand that Christians and Muslims can live in peace, respect one another’s religion and develop common goals for community improvement in their home countries.
It also exposes students who do not normally have the opportunity to travel outside their own region to experience other parts of the world. KL-YES scholars are chosen from countries with significant Muslim populations to participate in an academic-year program funded by Congress and administered by the Department of State
In addition to attending school, students live with volunteer host families and engage in volunteer service and participate in activities to learn about American society, acquire leadership skills and help educate Americans about their country and culture.
To learn more about the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program, visit the KL-YES website.
IRIS is pioneering an effort to help students from the African countries of Nigeria and Tanzania to participate in a traditional high school exchange program.
Since becoming affiliated with the KL-YES program in 2003, IRIS has made it possible for more than 230 African students to live and study in Iowa!
Why Nigeria and Tanzania?
The YES program focuses on countries with significant Muslim populations.
In addition, the program provides an opportunity to stimulate interactions between East and West Africa.
Nigeria is located in West Africa.
The country has the largest population in Africa - with one of every five Africans being Nigerian - and the largest mix of Christians and Muslims of any country in the world.
Tanzania represents the largest Muslim population in East Africa. The country has a growing tourism industry fueled by safaris and visitors to Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain.
Iowa Resource for International Service ● 600 5th St., Suite 301, Ames, IA 50010
info@iris-center.org ● phone: 515-292-7103 ● fax: 515-292-7105
IRIS is a nonprofit, non-religious 501(c)3 organization.
YES7: 2009-2010
For the 2009-2010 academic year, IRIS selected 60 African high school students to participate in the YES Program: 30 from Nigeria and 30 from Tanzania. The students lived throughout Iowa, Nebraska and Illinois, attending school and learning about the Midwest with their host families.
YES: 2011-2012 -- Changes in program structure
In an effort to build a stronger KL-YES family and an even stronger KL-YES Program, the State Department saw it fit to have all the organizations working with KL-YES form a consortium. The organizations in the consortium will work together, sharing their experiences with the KL-YES Program in order to ensure that the best students are recruited and that the selected participants have a good program during their time in in the U.S. and once they return.
Another change deals with placement. While IRIS has not yet been offered the opportunity to place students for the 2011-2012 school year, we are still hopeful that we will receive that chance.
In January 2011, IRIS recruited and selected 19 students from each Nigeria and Tanzania. They will come to the U.S. this fall and stay throughout the 2011-2012 academic year.
