FLEX: An Exchange Program for High School Students

Now in its eighteenth year, FLEX will offer scholarships to secondary school students from Turkmenistan for the 2010-2011 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.
 
Scholarship recipients 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.
  
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 Fall/Winter 2009 competition who:

• were born in the period between January 1, 1993 to July 15, 1995;
• have not lived in the United States for more than three months in the last five years;
• and who speak English well. 

This program is open to all high school students who meet requirements of the program including students with disabilities. More than 200 disabled students have already studied in the U.S. on this program.
 
Representatives of American Councils will visit many regional centers in the fall and winter of 2009. Testing will be conducted in Ashgabat, Tejen, Turkmenbashi, Turkmenabat, Dashoguz, Balkanabat, and Mary. 

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.  Applicants who pass Round Two will receive application materials and will be invited to an interview.  

For more information about the program or testing in your area, please contact:

American Councils for International Education (ACCELS)
Gorogly Street 48a
Telephone/Fax: (993-12) 33-10-16/21/22, (993-12) 33-06-96
Email: flexashgabat@mail.ru