Exchange Programs

The Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program

The FLEX program established the first large exchange program for secondary school students from the countries of the former Soviet Union to live in the United States for a year. The program was created by the United States Congress in order to extend a hand of friendship from the people of the U.S. to the people of the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. FLEX is fully funded by the U.S. government and is administered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.

Now in its fourteenth year, FLEX will offer scholarships to secondary school students from Eurasia for the 2007-2008 academic year. Scholarship recipients will be provided with round-trip travel from their home to the United States and back, as well as an allowance for living expenses. They will be covered by medical insurance (excluding pre-existing conditions).

Scholarship recipients will also attend an orientation session prior to their departure to the U.S., which will teach them how to successfully adjust to becoming a member of a U.S. host family as well as a student at an American high school. They will learn about the United States firsthand by participating in family life, school study and extracurricular activities. Program participants will also participate in activities in their local communities or areas, and will also have the opportunity to share their own culture with others.

FLEX scholarship recipients must return home in May-June 2008 on the date assigned by the program. Students will not be allowed to remain in the U.S. after their assigned travel date. Scholarship recipients will not likely return home in time to take school exams. Students who have studied as a part of the FLEX program are not eligible to receive a U.S. resident or work visa for two years after returning to Turkmenistan.

Recipients of FLEX scholarships are selected by an independent panel of experienced educators in the United States on the basis of merit demonstrated in application materials. Merit is determined by evaluating the written application, recommendations, English language proficiency and an applicant's demonstrated preparedness for a year-long exchange experience. We invite all students to participate in the competition who are presently studying in the 8th and 9th grades; have not lived in the United States for more than three months in the last five years and speak English well. Applicants must also receive a clearance on health status. This program is open to all high school students who meet requirements of the program including students with disabilities. Over 170 disabled students have already studied in the U.S. on this program.

The competition for scholarships is administered by the American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ ACCELS. Representatives of ACTR/ACCELS will visit many regional (oblast) centers to conduct testing in the fall and winter of 2006-2007. All eligible students are invited to take part in the first of three rounds. They must bring proof of eligibility (their passport or original birth certificate) and one recent photograph (3x4 cm). Students who pass Round One (a short test of English) will be invited to Round Two, which consists of a comprehensive test in English and written essay. Only applicants who pass Round Two will receive application materials and will be invited to an interview.

Please contact ACCELS office in Ashgabat or American Corner Office in your welayat.

ACCELS office in Ashgabat:
Tatiana Minaeva
Gorogly 48A, 2nd Floor,
Ashgabat Turkmenistan
Tel: (993-12) 33-10-15/16/20/21; 33-06-96
E-mail: flexashgabat@online.tm