About NSLI-Y: The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program was launched in 2006 to promote critical language learning among American youth. The U.S. Department of State, in cooperation with American Councils for International Education, awards and administers merit-based scholarships to high school students for participation in summer and academic year immersion programs in locations where the eight NSLI-Y languages are spoken. NSLI-Y immerses participants in the cultural life of the host country, giving them formal and informal language practice and sparking a lifetime interest in foreign languages and cultures. NSLI-Y program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.
By Annika Corinne Ganzeveld
“After six weeks in Indore. India, I know that this will be an experience that I will never forget. From learning about various religions, especially Jainism, through my host family, to experiencing the respect that is given to elders, this program was filled with cultural learning. The connections we made with our host families, local students, and friends were impactful and broke down cultural stereotypes and burners. Furthermore, the meaningful intercultural connection we made will stay with us even as this life-changing experience in Indore comes to an end.”