2003 Press Releases
Turkmenistan and the U.S. Celebrate 10 Years of FLEX Program
Aug. 12, 2003
The Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX), an academic and cultural exchange program for secondary school students, turned ten in Turkmenistan. On August 7, 2003, the U.S. Embassy and American Councils for International Education (ACCELS) celebrated the 10th anniversary of the beginning of exchanges under this program. This year the eleventh group of 8th and 9th-grade girls and boys from Turkmenistan are leaving for the United States.
Speaking at the occasion, U.S. Embassy Charge d'Affaires Robert J. Tansey wished success to the departing group of FLEX finalists and said that from the beginning the government and people of the United States have sought to support independent Turkmenistan in various ways. "One really important way is people-to-people exchanges. I am very proud to say that we have now completed ten years of exchanges under the FLEX program," he said. Chargé Tansey informed the exchange participants that this was a unique opportunity for them to develop themselves as future leaders of Turkmenistan. He added that they are also cultural ambassadors and should help the American people learn about the wonderful land, people, history and culture of Turkmenistan. Chargé Tansey expressed sincere appreciation to President Niyazov for his personal support of this exchange program and thanked the government of Turkmenistan for their continued cooperation on this student exchange program. Turkmen Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative, Batyr Annanurov wished departing FLEX winners a year of successful studies and exchanges with American youth.
The Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) is a U.S. government-sponsored program for secondary school students from the 12 republics of the former Soviet Union. The program provides scholarship funding to travel to the U.S., attend a US high school for a full academic year and live with a U.S. host family. FLEX was established in 1992 as the centerpiece of the Eurasian Secondary School Initiative under the Freedom Support Act. Each year the program awards scholarships to high-school students based on the results of a selection process that includes testing, interviewing and essay writing. In Turkmenistan the FLEX program is administered by the American Councils for International Education. Over the past 10 years over 300 students from Turkmenistan went to the U.S. on this program. Returned FLEX students have worked with the Turkmen government, international organizations and private businesses and contribute to positive developments in their home communities. You can get more information about the FLEX program and other U.S.-Turkmenistan exchange programs at the U.S. Embassy Ashgabat Internet site.
