2010 FLEX Eligibility Requirements
About FLEX
The Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program is a US government-sponsored program for secondary school students from the 11 republics of the former Soviet Union (Eurasia). The program provides scholarship funding for students to travel to the United States, attend a US high school for a full academic year, and live with a US host family. FLEX was established in 1992 as the centerpiece of the Eurasian Secondary School Initiative under the FREEDOM Support Act. Funding is provided by the US Department of State. The goal of the program is to provide the students with experience living in a democratic society for the purpose of promoting democratic values and institutions throughout Eurasia. FLEX celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2002. Since the program’s founding, more than 17,000 students have been awarded scholarships.
American Councils is the administrative organization responsible for, among other things, recruiting and evaluating scholarship applicants, selecting finalists, arranging roundtrip travel between the students’ homes throughout Eurasia to their host families throughout the United States, providing on-program support for the students and their natural parents, as well as organizing and supporting alumni activities.
Finalists are chosen through a multi-layered, merit-based selection process that draws more than 50,000 candidates annually. Participation in the selection process is open to all students that meet the eligibility requirements, which include age limitations, satisfactory academic standing, English language training, Eurasian country citizenship, and US visa eligibility requirements. Selection is based on the evaluation of multiple factors that contribute to a positive exchange experience and provide evidence of leadership potential. All finalists undergo an extensive orientation to life in America, and pursue a full course of study at a US high school. Following completion of their program students must return to their homes in Eurasia, where numerous FLEX alumni associations sponsor activities throughout the year.
US host families and US high schools are recruited by multiple US partner organizations selected by the US Department of State. These organizations are responsible for on-program support for host families and schools, as well as for the students. For program year 2004-05 these organizations include: AFS-USA, AIFS, ASSE, AYUSA International, Academic Year in America, American Councils for International Education, ASPECT Foundation, Center for Cultural Interchange, Council on International Educational Exchange, ERDT, Nacel Open Door, Pacific Intercultural Exchange-USA, Program of Academic Exchange, World Link and International 4-H Youth Exchange Foundation.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the 2010-2011 FLEX competition, secondary students (including students with physical disabilities) should:
1. Students must be born between the dates 01 Jan 1995 and 15 July 1997 (or 15 March 1994 and 15 July 1997 - for students with physical disabilities); and currently enrolled in 9, 10, 11 grades or 1 and 2 year of lyceum or college may participate;
2. Students who have no immediate family member who has applied at any time for permission to emigrate to the U.S. or for a U.S. green card and have not lived in the United States for more than three months in the last five years;
3. Students must be a legal citizen of Kyrgyzstan with a valid Kyrgyzstan passport or birth certificate.
4. Have good academic standing, have good spoken and written command of English and meet U.S. visa eligibility requirements;
5. STUDENTS MUST BRING ID (passport or birth certificate), a passport-sized photo, and a pen to the exam.
