By Brijesh Pansuriya, Hosted in Bedford, from Anand, Gujarat
“I love traveling and exploring new things. I went to the Ohio Renaissance festival on 16th September. Our coordinator took me and other exchange students there where I also got to meet exchange students from different areas. It was a great experience overall. We learned many things about the festival and pirates. Exploring cultural aspects of America is something I enjoy a lot. Thank you YES Program and AFS!”
About YES Program: The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program was established by Congress in October 2002 in response to the events of September 11, 2001. The program is funded through the U.S. Department of State and sponsored by the Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs (ECA) to provide scholarships for high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend up to one academic year in the United States. Students live with host families, attend high schools, engage in activities to learn about American society and values, acquire leadership skills, and help educate Americans about their countries and cultures.