Future Leaders Express vol.1(2)

AMERICAN COUNCILSF O R I N T E R N A T I O N A L E D U C A T I O N A C T R s A C C E L S

Future Leaders ExchangeVolume I, Issue 2

Spring, 2013

Official Newsletter of FLEXThe FLEX Program is sponsored by:

The United States Department of State, Bureau for Educational and Cultural Affairs

Website: www.exchanges.state.govThe FLEX program is administered by: American Councils for International Education

1828 L St. NW, Suite 1200 / Washington, DC 20036Telephone: 202-833-7522 Fax: 202-833-7523

www.americancouncils.orgflex.americancouncils.org@FLEXProgram

Happy 20th, FLEX!

FLEX continues to celebrate its 20th anniversary, and will mark the occasion with a special event on June 6th. Stay tuned for information on how to celebrate with FLEX from wherever you are throughout the year!

AMERICAN COUNCILSF O R I N T E R N A T I O N A L E D U C A T I O N

June 6, 2013

Save the Date!

FLEX is celebrating its 20th anniversary and YOU are invited!Questions? Contact Cheryl FitzGerald at [email protected].

Alena (Merritt Island, Florida / Bryansk, Russia) at the VIP event where the shuttle Atlantis was signed over to the Kennedy Space Center.

Yan (Lockport, New York / Tomsk, Russia), located back, center, helps with yardwork for a family who built their home with Habitat for Humanity.

Tinatin (Franklin, Virginia / Kaspi, Georgia) presents about her country.

Inna (Chelmsford, Massachusetts / Engels, Russia), located right, visits a State Senate candidate while she campaigns.

Zhansaya (Woodland, California / Shymkent, Kazakhstan) visits the state capital.

Page 11

Send us more photos of your year in the U.S. to: [email protected]

Future Leaders EXpressAnniversary Edition

AMERICAN COUNCILSF O R I N T E R N A T I O N A L E D U C A T I O N A C T R s A C C E L S

Volume I, Issue 2

Esma (Florida / Georgia) reads a quotation in braille at the Roosevelt Memorial during Civic Education Week.

1st Place: FLEX Civic Education Week Photo ContestPhotographed and submitted by: Anton (Minnesota / Russia)

Please send your ideas or suggestions for upcoming issues of Future Leaders EXpress to:[email protected]

Page 10

Sofiya (Lexington, Virginia / Zboriv, Ukraine) attends a political rally.

Kateryna (New Salem, North Dakota / Dniprodzerzhynsk, Ukraine) and Irina (Center, North Dakota / Sarov, Russia) tour the state capital and meet with Governor Jack Dalrymple.

Madina (Tulare, California / Aktobe, Kazakhstan, right) volunteers at a Red Cross center.

Sofya (Millville, Minnesota / Magnitogorsk, Russia) volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House.

Azniv (Visalia, California / Gyumri, Armenia) volunteers at a Veterans’ Hospital.

In Pictures:Your year across the U.S.

Page 9

Watch Sonya Gorya’s video! Use your Smart Phone to scan the QR code above.

Alumni Update

• Sonya Gorya ‘04 created a fantastic video, “A Charmed Year,” about her experience on the FLEX Program with the support of a FLEX Alumni grant. • Elena Milashina ’94 was named a 2013 International Women of Courage Award recipient for her work in journalism. • Dmitry Dudanov ’09 served as an interpreter for the movie crew of Oscar-nominated Anna Karenina while it was filming on Lake Oneg in northwest Russia last year.• Vasyl Myroshnychenko ’97 was named one of Ukraine’s “Top 40 Under 40 Emerging Leaders.”

Read about these and more inspiring alumni stories at:

http://www.bradleyherald.com/

Please visit our @FLEXProgram Twitter page and tweet your greetings and support with our anniversary hashtag #FLEX20. On May 15th, we’ll be holding a Twitter/social media party, and we would be grateful if you could join in and tweet hello!

is Celebrating 20 Years - on Twitter!

“Like” our page to stay informed about FLEX Program activities: www.facebook.com/FLEXProgram.

FLEX is also on Facebook

Page 8

February: Khrystyna, a World Link student from Ukraine, spends all of her spare time engaged in school and community service projects. In January alone, she completed 31 hours of service. She is actively involved with the American Red Cross where she participated in this year’s blood drive and Fire Training Project. Khrystyna also volunteers at the Happy Trails Riding Academy for children with disabilities. During the holiday season, she helped her host family’s church distribute 508 food boxes and toys to 712 children throughout her host community. This spring, with help from friends and classmates, she plans to collect donations of clothing, toiletries, food and special treats to deliver to children in need. Khrystyna is so appreciated by her host community that one of the community’s leaders wrote to World Link thanking the FLEX program for “bringing Khrystyna to the community and allowing her to be involved in efforts to aid the needy.” Congratulations, Khrystyna!

FLEX Student of the Month CompetitionEach month the FLEX program sponsor, the U.S. Department of State, names a “Student of the Month” to highlight on-program success stories. The student of the month receives a certificate and is featured on the ECA FLEX website.

March: Raushan, a World Learning student from Kyrgyzstan, has a very demanding schedule: dance class, debate club, community service, daily Tae Kwon Do classes and a challenging course load. Despite such an arduous schedule, Raushan is enjoying her FLEX experience. On weekends she helps deliver meals to elderly residents of her community. In her Tae Kwon Do class she trains with “White Belt” students and hopes to continue Tae Kwon Do upon her return to Kyrgyzstan. As a member of her school’s Debate team, she works hard on improving her research

and public speaking skills; she participated in a city-wide debate tournament where her team placed second. Raushan is proud of her Debate team accomplishments. She remembers her very first time [debating], “It was just awful, but I can see changes for the better now.” As a FLEX alumna she hopes to create debate clubs and competitions in local high schools when she returns to Kyrgyzstan. Congratulations, Raushan!

Congratulations to the additional winners of the Student of the Month competition, October through January: Anna (Kazakhstan) Sanira-Begim (Kyrgyzstan) Yelyzaveta (Ukraine) Nodari (Georgia)

“I Have Seen War” with Asror (Texas / Tajikistan) and

Umedjon (Alabama / Tajikistan)2nd Place in the FLEX CEW Photo Contest

Submitted by: Asror (Texas / Tajikistan)

“Remembering the ones who had fallen for our News

System” at the Newseum with Violeta (Wisconsin /

Moldova) and Valentina (Utah / Moldova)3rd Place in the FLEX CEW Photo Contest

Photographed and Submitted by: Olga (Missouri / Moldova)

Page 7

Students Participate in Two New Workshops

FLEX students had the opportunity to apply for two new workshops in 2013. Both are sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).

WYLTE: The Workshop for Youth Leaders in

Teaching of English is an intensive, week-long

training program in Washington, D.C, April 14-20.

The Workshop cultivates skills specific to teaching

English. Participating students also develop and

practice important skills including public speaking,

team-building, and goal-setting. Workshop alumni

are expected to return to their countries and

organize English teaching opportunities in their

home communities.

Global New Media Lab is designed to nurture

international high school students from around the

globe as young digital activists, skilled in the use of

innovative online and mobile tools in communities

worldwide. These students will be able to actively

engage in and teach others in the use of social

media and other forms of information technology.

Students dance together at the MLK Memorial. Sanira-Begim visits the Capitol. Mariam meets MT Senators and Congressman.

March 17-23, 2013. Washington, DC

Selected FLEX students from across the United

States flew to Washington, DC to participate in the

19th year of the Civic Education Week (CEW). These

100 students spent the week learning about “first

freedoms,” universal rights, leadership, grassroots

engagement, and many other valuable concepts.

These ideas were explored through a series of

engaging and interactive activities and meetings

with special guest speakers including:

• Visit to the Newseum including a Media

Ethics Seminar: Students explored the impact

that media has had in history around the

world, and learned about the ethical issues that

journalists face. • Alumni Leadership Discussion: FLEX alumni

Marina Buciuc ’07 (Wisconsin / Moldova), Anna

Safronova ’09 (South Dakota / Russia),

and Yerasyl Toleugazinov ’12 (Washington /

Kazakhstan) spoke to the students throughout

the week about their successes as alumni and

how to become engaged in their communities.

• Inside C-SPAN: Brian Lamb, the founder and

executive chairman of C-SPAN, discussed the

tension between government officials and the

media and why it is important to provide public

access to the political process.

• Visit to the Woodrow Wilson International

Center for Scholars: Students had the

opportunity to ask William Pomeranz, Acting

Director of the Kennan Institute for Russian

Civic Education WeekStudies, and Lauren McCarthy, Assistant

Professor of the University of Massachusetts

- Amherst, questions about human and

labor trafficking in Eurasia. This session was

moderated by the Wilson Center’s Dialogue host

John Milewski.• U.S. Department of State Briefing and

Panel Discussion: The students enjoyed the

opportunity to ask questions of Eurasia policy

experts, and also to engage in a lively discussion

with Ambassador Adam Ereli about their

experiences in their host families, schools, and

communities. They also asked questions about

future funding for exchange programs like FLEX

and the Department of State’s role in developing

and implementing U.S. foreign policy.

• “Hill Day:” Students spent the day on Capitol

Hill meeting with senators, representatives, and

their staffers who represent the students’ host

communities. Topics of conversation at these

meetings included:

• Grassroots Project Development: Students

divided into ten groups and came to consensus

on choosing a problem they encounter in

their home communities. Each group then

outlined options to address the problem along

with potential outcomes, and developed a

corresponding action plan. Working as a team,

students developed realistic and creative ways

to market their plans and make them a reality.

• Holocaust Memorial Museum: The Holocaust

Museum opened students’ eyes to issues of civic

apathy, racism, gender bias, and tolerance in a

way few other experiences can. Students were

moved by the museum’s mission to “never

forget.”

gun control • Russia’s adoption ban • veterans’ rights

• rules against corruption in the U.S. government • U.S.

national debt • personal responsibility in a society • the

role of international exchange programs • how to

encourage companies to sell peanut butter in Eurasia

Page 6

Return Travel Season is Here!You will be receiving your return travel packets soon! If you don’t receive a return travel packet ONE WEEK prior to your sched-uled departure date, you MUST contact your placement organiza-tion and ask them for informa-tion. You can also find all the necessary return travel informa-tion on our FLEX website at: http://flex.americancouncils.org.

Page 5

Your return travel packet includes:

• Your electronic ticket• Three FLEX baggage tags• A check for your second checked bag*• FLEX travel brochure• A memo to your host family• A letter from the Alumni Coordinator in your home country• Alumni brochure• Home addresses of students from your country

*FLEX does not pay for a third checked bag or any overweight/oversize charges

1. Leaving home without your PASSPORT

2. Leaving home TOO LATE and missing your flight

3. Missing your flight and LEAVING THE AIRPORT

without getting a new flight assignment. (Do not leave

the airport! Call us at 800-841-6460 for rebooking help!)

TOP 3 FLEX TRAVEL

MISTAKES

DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!!!

Time flies! You have already been living and studying in the U.S. for eight months, and soon you will return home. At the same time, students across Eurasia are now being notified that they will be members of the 2013-14 FLEX class. In just a few short months, they will be attending a Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) to prepare for their year in the U.S., just like you did almost one year ago. Think back on your time in America...What have you learned that might be helpful, constructive advice to share with these new FLEX-ers? Send your thoughts to [email protected].

Advice from You

ASSE host mother Ann, FLEX student Vera, and

host brother Brendan talk about the exchange

experience from their own perspectives.

Ann: “Vera is the daughter I have always wanted. It

has been fun being able to go dress shopping and having

girl talks over morning coffee or before we go to bed. A

fun girl adventure was preparing for Lamar’s Christmas

Pageant; I think I was more nervous than Vera...”

Vera: “I am honestly blessed to have such a wonderful

host family as the Kelleys. Mike, Ann and Brenden

have made my American experience so special. I have

lots of “firsts” like my first rollercoaster, first hiking

experience, first beauty pageant and even a first taco.”

Brenden: “One of my most favorite things is to eat and

Vera likes to try any type of food, so we get along pretty

well. Any time I am hungry, I whisper to Vera to see if

she is hungry; regardless of whether Vera is or isn’t, I

always tell my mom that Vera is hungry, so having Vera

along has actually worked-out to my advantage.”

Read the full article online at: http://www.asse.com/news/Winter_13/articles/article1.html

Brenden Kelley with host sister Vera Lytnova

(FLEX Ukraine) enjoy a roller coaster ride

Page 4

GYSD:

April 26-28, 2013

Global Youth Service Day is

approaching quickly! How are

you participating in the largest

service event in the world? Visit

www.gysd.org and learn about

projects in your area. You can

also post and share your own

story, recruit volunteers, and be

included in GYSD regional and

global project totals.

Exchanging Perspectives

Page 3

“I bring you my deepest gratitude for this chance to experience America first hand through the

FLEX program! I knew that it would be an outstanding opportunity, but never could I have

imagined the depth of this life-changing adventure. ... I am residing with a family of five in the

lovely state of South Carolina. One special aspect of my relationship with my host family is

that their oldest child has Down’s syndrome. He and I have become special friends and I have

gained an education I never could have anticipated. My relationship with my host parents and

host sisters has greatly enriched my domestic life.

…My American Government teacher…created a series of lessons “Politics in the Palmetto

State Speaker Series.” That give us opportunity to interact with politicians from South

Carolina. Some of the politicians we have been able to meet are:

Ronnie Cromer - Republican member of the South Carolina Senate

Amanda Loveday - Executive Director at South Carolina Democratic Party

Shane Massey - Republican member of the South Carolina Senate (pictured below)

Chad Connely - the chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party

Bakari Sellers - Democratic member of the South Carolina House of Representative”

Edvard, Lexington, South Carolina / Odesa, Ukraine

“I have been to state capital with my exchange

student group in St. Paul, MN. We were

given a tour and a lecture about history of

state and state legislature. Also I have visited

City Hall in St. Paul, MN with my liaison.

She told me some interesting stories about the

city.”Dmitriy (Stillwater, Minnesota /

Rudnyy, Kazakhstan)

“November 6 last year was a special

day for all Americans, [and] for the

students from Waupun High School too.

The student council organized student

elections and the exchange students got to

vote. [Being given] “the symbolic right to

vote” was a superb experience.”

Violeta (Waupun, Wisconsin /

Lapusna, Moldova)

“I’m ready to share this experience

[volunteering] with my friends, family

and community in Russia. I have

volunteered for many different activities

in many different places like 4-H,

school, church (photo: church nursery),

nursing home, and sport activities.”

Nikita (Cole Camp, Missouri /

Volgograd, Russia)

Page 2In Your Own Words: Community Impact

“Coming to America has been such an amazing experience, that I want to keep everything I did here in

my heart forever, without forgetting any moment. However, it’s impossible to keep every moment. Luckily

we have pictures and journals that help us keep the memories that mean so much to us. One of the most

impressive memories I had was going to Jefferson City, the capitol of my host state, Missouri …The building

itself was amazing, and had a museum in it, and the offices of the house representatives and governors.We

[also] visited and witnessed the Missouri Catholic Conference, where we could witness how the Catholic

leaders gather and discuss their issues.

One of my favorite parts was the scavenger hunt we had, where we could get to know the building and

the history of the state Missouri. [There] we could be in the place of the governors and discuss some of the

important issues. Overall, we were able to meet a lot of people that basically take care of our country, and be in

their place for just a minute. It was an amazing experience and I don’t think I will ever be able to forget it.”

Olga, Lee Summit, Missouri / Chisinau, Moldova

“I was really proud to

volunteer in NYC with

people that were in a difficult

situation after Hurricane

Sandy. We helped to clean

and to sort out stuff…

Volunteering brings a lot

in my American experience:

friends, joy and a lot of fun.”

Gulzhan (LaFargeville,

New York / Aktobe,

Kazakhstan)

“In January of this year, as member of FLEX Capital

Club, I had a chance to attend the inauguration of

the 44th president of the USA. Inaugurations of the

president in Russia are not public events, and common

citizens can’t attend them. Therefore, it was a great,

unusual, and important experience for me and my

Russian friends to participate here. We believe that

one day people of our country will have a chance to

experience the same feelings as Americans do in such a

great day.”Leyla (Heathsville, Virginia /

Blagoveshchensk, Russia)

“I [went to] the CANDLES Holocaust museum

[and met] three survivors of different WWII

Nazi death camps. They screened “Escape From

Sobibor” and chatted with us all afterwards.

[Above] is a picture of me (on the far right)

with my host siblings and Thomas “Toivi”

Blatt - one of five living survivors of the largest

extermination camp escape in WWII, and as a

teenager one of its chief architects. This evening

kind of puts your own difficulties in perspective.”

Alesya (Carmel, Indiana /

Baku, Azerbaijan )

FLEX students have left their mark on their many U.S. host communities.

Here are some of the wonderful contributions they have made.

inside 2 Community Impact4 GYSD5 Return Travel6 Civic Education Week8 Student of the Month9 Alumni Update10 In Pictures12 Happy 20th, FLEX!

Page 2

In Your Own Words: Community Impact

“Coming to America has been such an amazing experience, that I want to keep everything I did here in my heart forever, without forgetting any moment. However, it’s impossible to keep every moment. Luckily we have pictures and journals that help us keep the memories that mean so much to us. One of the most impressive memories I had was going to Jefferson City, the capitol of my host state, Missouri …The building itself was amazing, and had a museum in it, and the offices of the house representatives and governors.We [also] visited and witnessed the Missouri Catholic Conference, where we could witness how the Catholic leaders gather and discuss their issues.

One of my favorite parts was the scavenger hunt we had, where we could get to know the building and the history of the state Missouri. [There] we could be in the place of the governors and discuss some of the important issues. Overall, we were able to meet a lot of people that basically take care of our country, and be in their place for just a minute. It was an amazing experience and I don’t think I will ever be able to forget it.”

Olga, Lee Summit, Missouri / Chisinau, Moldova

“I was really proud to volunteer in NYC with people that were in a difficult situation after Hurricane Sandy. We helped to clean and to sort out stuff… Volunteering brings a lot in my American experience: friends, joy and a lot of fun.”

Gulzhan (LaFargeville, New York / Aktobe,

Kazakhstan)

“In January of this year, as member of FLEX Capital Club, I had a chance to attend the inauguration of the 44th president of the USA. Inaugurations of the president in Russia are not public events, and common citizens can’t attend them. Therefore, it was a great, unusual, and important experience for me and my Russian friends to participate here. We believe that one day people of our country will have a chance to experience the same feelings as Americans do in such a great day.”

Leyla (Heathsville, Virginia / Blagoveshchensk, Russia)

“I [went to] the CANDLES Holocaust museum [and met] three survivors of different WWII Nazi death camps. They screened “Escape From Sobibor” and chatted with us all afterwards. [Above] is a picture of me (on the far right) with my host siblings and Thomas “Toivi” Blatt - one of five living survivors of the largest extermination camp escape in WWII, and as a teenager one of its chief architects. This evening kind of puts your own difficulties in perspective.”

Alesya (Carmel, Indiana / Baku, Azerbaijan )

FLEX students have left their mark on their many U.S. host communities. Here are some of the wonderful contributions they have made.

Page 3

“I bring you my deepest gratitude for this chance to experience America first hand through the FLEX program! I knew that it would be an outstanding opportunity, but never could I have imagined the depth of this life-changing adventure. ... I am residing with a family of five in the lovely state of South Carolina. One special aspect of my relationship with my host family is that their oldest child has Down’s syndrome. He and I have become special friends and I have gained an education I never could have anticipated. My relationship with my host parents and host sisters has greatly enriched my domestic life.

…My American Government teacher…created a series of lessons “Politics in the Palmetto State Speaker Series.” That give us opportunity to interact with politicians from South Carolina. Some of the politicians we have been able to meet are: Ronnie Cromer - Republican member of the South Carolina Senate Amanda Loveday - Executive Director at South Carolina Democratic Party Shane Massey - Republican member of the South Carolina Senate (pictured below) Chad Connely - the chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party Bakari Sellers - Democratic member of the South Carolina House of Representative”

Edvard, Lexington, South Carolina / Odesa, Ukraine

“I have been to state capital with my exchange student group in St. Paul, MN. We were given a tour and a lecture about history of state and state legislature. Also I have visited City Hall in St. Paul, MN with my liaison. She told me some interesting stories about the city.”

Dmitriy (Stillwater, Minnesota / Rudnyy, Kazakhstan)

“November 6 last year was a special day for all Americans, [and] for the students from Waupun High School too. The student council organized student elections and the exchange students got to vote. [Being given] “the symbolic right to vote” was a superb experience.”

Violeta (Waupun, Wisconsin / Lapusna, Moldova)

“I’m ready to share this experience [volunteering] with my friends, family and community in Russia. I have volunteered for many different activities in many different places like 4-H, school, church (photo: church nursery), nursing home, and sport activities.”

Nikita (Cole Camp, Missouri / Volgograd, Russia)

ASSE host mother Ann, FLEX student Vera, and host brother Brendan talk about the exchange experience from their own perspectives.

Ann: “Vera is the daughter I have always wanted. It has been fun being able to go dress shopping and having girl talks over morning coffee or before we go to bed. A fun girl adventure was preparing for Lamar’s Christmas Pageant; I think I was more nervous than Vera...”

Vera: “I am honestly blessed to have such a wonderful host family as the Kelleys. Mike, Ann and Brenden have made my American experience so special. I have lots of “firsts” like my first rollercoaster, first hiking experience, first beauty pageant and even a first taco.”

Brenden: “One of my most favorite things is to eat and Vera likes to try any type of food, so we get along pretty well. Any time I am hungry, I whisper to Vera to see if she is hungry; regardless of whether Vera is or isn’t, I always tell my mom that Vera is hungry, so having Vera along has actually worked-out to my advantage.”

Read the full article online at: http://www.asse.com/news/Winter_13/articles/article1.html

Brenden Kelley with host sister Vera Lytnova (FLEX Ukraine) enjoy a roller coaster ride

Page 4

GYSD: April 26-28, 2013Global Youth Service Day is approaching quickly! How are you participating in the largest service event in the world? Visit www.gysd.org and learn about projects in your area. You can also post and share your own story, recruit volunteers, and be included in GYSD regional and global project totals.

Exchanging Perspectives

Return Travel Season is Here!You will be receiving your return travel packets soon! If you don’t receive a return travel packet ONE WEEK prior to your sched-uled departure date, you MUST contact your placement organiza-tion and ask them for informa-tion. You can also find all the necessary return travel informa-tion on our FLEX website at: http://flex.americancouncils.org.

Page 5

Your return travel packet includes:

• Your electronic ticket• Three FLEX baggage tags• A check for your second checked bag*• FLEX travel brochure• A memo to your host family• A letter from the Alumni Coordinator in your home country• Alumni brochure• Home addresses of students from your country

*FLEX does not pay for a third checked bag or any overweight/oversize charges

1. Leaving home without your PASSPORT

2. Leaving home TOO LATE and missing your flight

3. Missing your flight and LEAVING THE AIRPORT without getting a new flight assignment. (Do not leave the airport! Call us at 800-841-6460 for rebooking help!)

TOP 3 FLEX TRAVEL MISTAKES

DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!!!

Time flies! You have already been living and studying in the U.S. for eight months, and soon you will return home. At the same time, students across Eurasia are now being notified that they will be members of the 2013-14 FLEX class. In just a few short months, they will be attending a Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) to prepare for their year in the U.S., just like you did almost one year ago. Think back on your time in America...What have you learned that might be helpful, constructive advice to share with these new FLEX-ers? Send your thoughts to [email protected].

Advice from You

March 17-23, 2013. Washington, DC

Selected FLEX students from across the United States flew to Washington, DC to participate in the 19th year of the Civic Education Week (CEW). These 100 students spent the week learning about “first freedoms,” universal rights, leadership, grassroots engagement, and many other valuable concepts. These ideas were explored through a series of engaging and interactive activities and meetings with special guest speakers including:

• Visit to the Newseum including a Media Ethics Seminar: Students explored the impact that media has had in history around the world, and learned about the ethical issues that journalists face.

• Alumni Leadership Discussion: FLEX alumni Marina Buciuc ’07 (Wisconsin / Moldova), Anna Safronova ’09 (South Dakota / Russia),

and Yerasyl Toleugazinov ’12 (Washington / Kazakhstan) spoke to the students throughout

the week about their successes as alumni and how to become engaged in their communities.

• Inside C-SPAN: Brian Lamb, the founder and executive chairman of C-SPAN, discussed the tension between government officials and the media and why it is important to provide public access to the political process.

• Visit to the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars: Students had the opportunity to ask William Pomeranz, Acting Director of the Kennan Institute for Russian

Civic Education WeekStudies, and Lauren McCarthy, Assistant Professor of the University of Massachusetts - Amherst, questions about human and labor trafficking in Eurasia. This session was moderated by the Wilson Center’s Dialogue host John Milewski.

• U.S. Department of State Briefing and Panel Discussion: The students enjoyed the opportunity to ask questions of Eurasia policy experts, and also to engage in a lively discussion with Ambassador Adam Ereli about their experiences in their host families, schools, and communities. They also asked questions about future funding for exchange programs like FLEX and the Department of State’s role in developing and implementing U.S. foreign policy.

• “Hill Day:” Students spent the day on Capitol Hill meeting with senators, representatives, and their staffers who represent the students’ host communities. Topics of conversation at these meetings included:

• Grassroots Project Development: Students divided into ten groups and came to consensus on choosing a problem they encounter in their home communities. Each group then outlined options to address the problem along with potential outcomes, and developed a corresponding action plan. Working as a team, students developed realistic and creative ways to market their plans and make them a reality.

• Holocaust Memorial Museum: The Holocaust Museum opened students’ eyes to issues of civic apathy, racism, gender bias, and tolerance in a way few other experiences can. Students were moved by the museum’s mission to “never forget.”

gun control • Russia’s adoption ban • veterans’ rights• rules against corruption in the U.S. government • U.S.national debt • personal responsibility in a society • therole of international exchange programs • how toencourage companies to sell peanut butter in Eurasia

Page 6

“I Have Seen War” with Asror (Texas / Tajikistan) and Umedjon (Alabama / Tajikistan)2nd Place in the FLEX CEW Photo ContestSubmitted by: Asror (Texas / Tajikistan)

“Remembering the ones who had fallen for our News System” at the Newseum with Violeta (Wisconsin / Moldova) and Valentina (Utah / Moldova)3rd Place in the FLEX CEW Photo ContestPhotographed and Submitted by: Olga (Missouri / Moldova)

Page 7

Students Participate in Two New Workshops

FLEX students had the opportunity to apply for two new workshops in 2013. Both are sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).

WYLTE: The Workshop for Youth Leaders in Teaching of English is an intensive, week-long training program in Washington, D.C, April 14-20. The Workshop cultivates skills specific to teaching English. Participating students also develop and

practice important skills including public speaking, team-building, and goal-setting. Workshop alumni are expected to return to their countries and organize English teaching opportunities in their home communities.

Global New Media Lab is designed to nurture international high school students from around the globe as young digital activists, skilled in the use of innovative online and mobile tools in communities worldwide. These students will be able to actively engage in and teach others in the use of social media and other forms of information technology.

Students dance together at the MLK Memorial. Sanira-Begim visits the Capitol. Mariam meets MT Senators and Congressman.

Page 8

February: Khrystyna, a World Link student from Ukraine, spends all of her spare time engaged in school and community service projects. In January alone, she completed 31 hours of service. She is actively involved with the American Red Cross where she participated in this year’s blood drive and Fire Training Project. Khrystyna also volunteers at the Happy Trails Riding Academy for children with disabilities. During the holiday season, she helped her host family’s church distribute 508 food boxes and toys to 712 children throughout her host community. This spring, with help from friends and classmates, she plans to collect donations of clothing, toiletries, food and special treats to deliver to children in need. Khrystyna is so appreciated by her host community that one of the community’s leaders wrote to World Link thanking the FLEX program for “bringing Khrystyna to the community and allowing her to be involved in efforts to aid the needy.” Congratulations, Khrystyna!

FLEX Student of the Month CompetitionEach month the FLEX program sponsor, the U.S. Department of State, names a “Student of the Month” to highlight on-program success stories. The student of the month receives a certificate and is featured on the ECA FLEX website.

March: Raushan, a World Learning student from Kyrgyzstan, has a very demanding schedule: dance class, debate club, community service, daily Tae Kwon Do classes and a challenging course load. Despite such an arduous schedule, Raushan is enjoying her FLEX experience. On weekends she helps deliver meals to elderly residents of her community. In her Tae Kwon Do class she trains with “White Belt” students and hopes to continue Tae Kwon Do upon her return to Kyrgyzstan. As a member of her school’s Debate team, she works hard on improving her research

and public speaking skills; she participated in a city-wide debate tournament where her team placed second. Raushan is proud of her Debate team accomplishments. She remembers her very first time [debating], “It was just awful, but I can see changes for the better now.” As a FLEX alumna she hopes to create debate clubs and competitions in local high schools when she returns to Kyrgyzstan. Congratulations, Raushan!

Congratulations to the additional winners of the Student of the Month competition, October through January: Anna (Kazakhstan) Sanira-Begim (Kyrgyzstan) Yelyzaveta (Ukraine) Nodari (Georgia)

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Watch Sonya Gorya’s video! Use your Smart Phone to scan the QR code above.

Alumni Update

• Sonya Gorya ‘04 created a fantastic video, “A Charmed Year,” about her experience on the FLEX Program with the support of a FLEX Alumni grant.

• Elena Milashina ’94 was named a 2013

International Women of Courage Award recipient for her work in journalism.

• Dmitry Dudanov ’09 served as an interpreter

for the movie crew of Oscar-nominated Anna Karenina while it was filming on Lake Oneg in northwest Russia last year.

• Vasyl Myroshnychenko ’97 was named one of Ukraine’s “Top 40 Under 40 Emerging Leaders.”

Read about these and more inspiring alumni stories at:

http://www.bradleyherald.com/

Please visit our @FLEXProgram Twitter page and tweet your greetings

and support with our anniversary hashtag #FLEX20. On May 15th, we’ll

be holding a Twitter/social media party, and we would be grateful if you

could join in and tweet hello!

is Celebrating 20 Years - on Twitter!

“Like” our page to stay informed about FLEX Program activities:

www.facebook.com/FLEXProgram.

FLEX is also on Facebook

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Sofiya (Lexington, Virginia / Zboriv, Ukraine) attends a political rally.

Kateryna (New Salem, North Dakota / Dniprodzerzhynsk, Ukraine) and Irina (Center, North Dakota / Sarov, Russia) tour

the state capital and meet with Governor Jack Dalrymple.

Madina (Tulare, California / Aktobe, Kazakhstan, right) volunteers at a

Red Cross center.

Sofya (Millville, Minnesota / Magnitogorsk, Russia) volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House.

Azniv (Visalia, California / Gyumri, Armenia) volunteers at a Veterans’

Hospital.

In Pictures:Your year across the U.S.

Alena (Merritt Island, Florida / Bryansk, Russia) at the VIP event where the shuttle Atlantis was signed over to the

Kennedy Space Center.

Yan (Lockport, New York / Tomsk, Russia), located back, center, helps with yardwork for a family who built their

home with Habitat for Humanity.

Tinatin (Franklin, Virginia / Kaspi, Georgia) presents about her country.

Inna (Chelmsford, Massachusetts / Engels, Russia), located right, visits a State Senate candidate while she campaigns.

Zhansaya (Woodland, California / Shymkent, Kazakhstan) visits

the state capital.

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Send us more photos of your year in the U.S. to: [email protected]

AMERICAN COUNCILSF O R I N T E R N A T I O N A L E D U C A T I O N A C T R s A C C E L S

Future Leaders ExchangeVolume I, Issue 2 Spring, 2013Official Newsletter of FLEX

The FLEX Program is sponsored by: The United States Department of State,

Bureau for Educational and Cultural AffairsWebsite: www.exchanges.state.gov

The FLEX program is administered by: American Councils for International Education

1828 L St. NW, Suite 1200 / Washington, DC 20036Telephone: 202-833-7522 Fax: 202-833-7523

www.americancouncils.orgflex.americancouncils.org

@FLEXProgram

Happy 20th, FLEX!

FLEX continues to celebrate its 20th anniversary, and will mark the occasion with a special event on June 6th. Stay tuned for information on how to celebrate with FLEX from wherever you are throughout the year! AMERICAN COUNCILS

F O R I N T E R N A T I O N A L E D U C A T I O N

June 6, 2013

Save the Date!

FLEX is celebrating its 20th anniversary and YOU

are invited!Questions? Contact Cheryl FitzGerald at [email protected].