American Councils Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States. During this period, the nation pays tribute to the extraordinary achievements, deep-rooted history, and invaluable contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities. In the same spirit, American Councils honors and celebrates the Latinx alumni who have participated in the diverse array of study abroad programs we administer. 

Read about the experiences of these accomplished Hispanic and Latinx alumni.

Ukrainian FLEX Alumni

Receive Grants to Continue

Education in the U.S.

American Councils continues to stand in solidarity with Ukraine against Russia’s brutal and unjustified war. Our support involves several ongoing programs directed towards refugees and internally displaced people, including the Visiting Fellowship Awards for Ukrainian Displaced Scholars, activities from hundreds of alumni, and the Emergency Support for Ukraine Initiative that has raised $70,000 to support humanitarian causes throughout the country. 

Through the generous support of a single donor, American Councils was able to provide grants to 17 Ukrainian Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program alumni who recently completed a year studying at an American high school and will soon continue their education as university students despite Russia’s war against their homeland. Given the unsafe conditions in Ukraine, the grants will help provide a secure environment and financial assistance for these ambitious young leaders who have devoted their academic pursuits towards building a peaceful future.  

Learn more the Ukrainian FLEX alumni who received the grants.

YES Abroad Perspectives

on the 20th Anniversary

of the YES Program

The establishment of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Abroad (YES Abroad) program during the 2009-2010 academic year marked a pivotal moment in the worldwide influence of YES. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the YES Abroad program is a component of the Kennedy-Lugar YES program.  

YES Abroad is a transformative program designed to offer secondary school students in the United States the remarkable opportunity to spend an academic year in YES countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, North Macedonia, Senegal, Thailand, and Türkiye. By residing with host families and enrolling in local high schools, participants gain a unique cross-cultural experience beyond textbooks.  

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the YES program, which laid the foundation for the inception of YES Abroad, program staff had the opportunity to speak with alumni Shruthi Venkata and Maxwell Myers. These distinguished U.S. participants have seen their careers and perspectives profoundly influenced by their overseas experiences. 

Read more about Shruthi and Maxell's YES Abroad journeys.

Calling Talented Youth

to Apply for Rise

Do you know an exceptional 15-17 year old? American Councils for International Education is proud to partner with Rise, a global initiative by Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust designed to empower tomorrow’s leaders.  

Rise selects up to 100 Winners each year to whom they offer an extensive list of benefits that may include a Residential Summit for Winners to meet peers in their cohort, needs-based higher-education scholarships, opportunities for funding on a competitive basis, access to the Rise global network, starter technology packages, as well as mentorship opportunities. 

Visit this link to learn more about joining Rise’s global community of young leaders from 170 countries.

American Councils

is Hiring

Do you have a passion for international education, language learning, or public diplomacy? American Councils is a diverse international nonprofit with numerous open vacancies at all levels of experience in our Washington, DC headquarters and offices throughout the world.

Click here to find out more about this position and other American Councils employment opportunities.

Volunteer with

American Councils

Help make study abroad and international exchange possible by volunteering with American Councils! American Councils seeks U.S.-based volunteers to evaluate scholarship applications of high school students from 29 countries, including the United States. Volunteer evaluators support youth exchange programs, which empower the next generation of global citizens and establish long-lasting ties between the United States and other countries. To volunteer, you must participate in a training workshop (virtual or in-person). Subsequently, hours are flexible, and evaluation can be done remotely. 

Upcoming Application Deadlines

October 1: Funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Program for Research and Training on Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union (Title VIII), the American Councils Combined Research and Language Training (CRLT) Program provides full support for U.S. graduate students, faculty, and independent scholars seeking to conduct in-country, independent research in Russia, Eurasia, and Eastern Europe, while increasing proficiency in regional languages.*

October 1: Funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Program for Research and Training on Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union (Title VIII), the American Councils Research Scholar Program provides full support for U.S. graduate students, faculty, and independent scholars seeking to conduct in-country, independent research for three to nine consecutive months throughout Russia, Eurasia, and Eastern Europe.*

October 15: One of the longest-running and most respected Russian language and cultural immersion programs, Advanced Russian Language and Area Studies Program (RLASP) combines intensive classroom instruction with a wide range of extracurricular activities, including internships and community service, regional field studies, conversation partners, and discussion groups with local students. RLASP serves both graduate and undergraduate students as well as working professionals. 

October 15: The Balkan Language Initiative (BLI) offers intensive highly-individualized academic programming with structured overseas immersion, enabling students to make rapid gains in language proficiency and knowledge while living and studying in Southeast Europe. Through homestays, conversation partners, in-class instruction, and extracurricular activities, participants enjoy an unprecedented opportunity to immerse themselves in daily local life in a region largely unserved by study abroad programs. 

October 15: The Eurasian Regional Language Program (ERLP) provides high-quality language instruction, specially designed cultural programs, and expert logistical support to participants studying the languages of Central Asia, the South Caucasus, Ukraine, and Moldova. 

October 15: The Taiwan Intensive Semester Language Program (TISLP) enables dedicated students of Mandarin to make impressive language proficiency gains through a combination of intensive study at Taiwan’s premier universities and immersion in local Taiwanese society and culture.

Ongoing: Host an International Exchange Student. Welcome a high school scholarship student (aged 15-18) into your home for an academic year (August to June). Students from more than 50 countries spend the year at local high schools, eagerly sharing their cultures, contributing to their new communities, and joining school activities.* 

*These initiatives are programs of the U.S. Department of State.

Thanks for being part of our world.