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1. FutureLeadersFutureLeaders
ExchangeExchange
Compiled by
Nastia Kononiuk
Form 10-A
School 11

2. FutureLeaders Exchange(FLEX)is aFutureLeaders Exchange(FLEX)is a
scholarshipstudentexchangescholarshipstudentexchange
programadministeredbytheU.S.programadministeredbytheU.S.
Departmentof StatethroughfundingDepartmentof Statethroughfunding
fromtheFreedomSupportAct.fromtheFreedomSupportAct.

3. Theprogramprovides opportunities forhighschoolTheprogramprovides opportunities forhighschool
students (ages 15–19)fromformerSovietUnion(fromstudents (ages 15–19)fromformerSovietUnion(from
2015includingBaltic states), initiallyincluding2015includingBaltic states), initiallyincluding
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan,Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Tajikistan,Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, andUkraine, tospendayearintheTurkmenistan, andUkraine, tospendayearinthe
UnitedStates, livingwithahostfamilyandattendingUnitedStates, livingwithahostfamilyandattending
anAmericanhighschool. Theprogramseeks toanAmericanhighschool. Theprogramseeks to
developtheleadershipabilities andculturaldeveloptheleadershipabilities andcultural
awareness.awareness.

4. Thecompetitionis intense. OnlyaboutoneinfiftyapplicantsThecompetitionis intense. Onlyaboutoneinfiftyapplicants
areultimatelyselected.areultimatelyselected.
Theselectionof winners anindependentCommissionintheTheselectionof winners anindependentCommissioninthe
UnitedStates thatconsists of highlyqualifiedprofessionals.UnitedStates thatconsists of highlyqualifiedprofessionals.
Selectionwillbebasedonthesubmitteddocuments, aletterSelectionwillbebasedonthesubmitteddocuments, aletter
of recommendationfromateacherandstudent's readiness toof recommendationfromateacherandstudent's readiness to
stayayearinUSAas exchangestudent. Students mustalsostayayearinUSAas exchangestudent. Students mustalso
providemedicalrecords thatshowthattheirhealthconditionprovidemedicalrecords thatshowthattheirhealthcondition
allows youtoparticipateintheprogram. Theselectionallows youtoparticipateintheprogram. Theselection
process, whichbegins inthefall, usuallycompletedintheprocess, whichbegins inthefall, usuallycompletedinthe
springof nextyear. Knowledgeof Englishis importantbutspringof nextyear. Knowledgeof Englishis importantbut
notthemostimportantselectioncriterion.notthemostimportantselectioncriterion.

5. Theprogramwas createdin1992afterformerSenatorTheprogramwas createdin1992afterformerSenator
BillBradley’s conviction"thatthebestwaytoensureBillBradley’s conviction"thatthebestwaytoensure
long-lastingpeaceandunderstandingbetweentheU.S.long-lastingpeaceandunderstandingbetweentheU.S.
andEurasiais toenableyoungpeopletolearnaboutandEurasiais toenableyoungpeopletolearnabout
democracyfirsthandthroughexperiencingit“.Sincedemocracyfirsthandthroughexperiencingit“.Since
its inceptionin1993, morethan18,000highschoolits inceptionin1993, morethan18,000highschool
students from12Eurasiancountries (twomorestudents from12Eurasiancountries (twomore
countries whichusedtoparticipateintheprogramarecountries whichusedtoparticipateintheprogramare
Belarus andUzbekistan)havestudiedintheU.S.Belarus andUzbekistan)havestudiedintheU.S.
undertheprogram.undertheprogram.

6. TheFLEXprogramis freeforall, andpays forthefollowing:TheFLEXprogramis freeforall, andpays forthefollowing:
1 . The jo urney fro m their home to wn in Ukraine to the city o f U.S. residence1 . The jo urney fro m their home to wn in Ukraine to the city o f U.S. residence
and back;and back;
2.2. AAcco mmo datio n party in an American family for one year;cco mmo datio n party in an American family for one year;
3.3. EEnro llment in a U.S. seco ndary schoo l;nro llment in a U.S. seco ndary schoo l;
4.4. HHealth insurance, which gives the possibility to treat diseases that appearedealth insurance, which gives the possibility to treat diseases that appeared
during yo ur stay in Americaduring yo ur stay in America
5.5. AAmo nthly stipend o f $ 1 25, which allo ws the student to participate in publicmo nthly stipend o f $ 1 25, which allo ws the student to participate in public
life;life;
6.6. OO ne-time financial assistance in the amo unt o f $ 300, whichis needed tone-time financial assistance in the amo unt o f $ 300, whichis needed to
purchase necessities such as scho o ltextbo o ks.purchase necessities such as scho o ltextbo o ks.
7 .7 . TThe pro gram also pro vides support to participants thro ugho ut the year.he pro gram also pro vides support to participants thro ugho ut the year.
TheFLEXprogramwillnotpayforthefollowinTheFLEXprogramwillnotpayforthefollowing:g:
1 . Costs in o btaining a passpo rt and permissio n from parents o n departure o f1 . Costs in o btaining a passpo rt and permissio n from parents o n departure o f
the child abroad;the child abroad;
2. Personal expenses, the mo nthly stipend2. Personal expenses, the mo nthly stipend
3. Pho ne calls to Ukraine and Internet costs.3. Pho ne calls to Ukraine and Internet costs.

7. Students whoparticipateintheFLEXprogramwilllivewithStudents whoparticipateintheFLEXprogramwilllivewith
Americanfamilies. Americanfamilies hoststudents onaAmericanfamilies. Americanfamilies hoststudents ona
voluntarybasis anddonotreceivecompensationforit. Thevoluntarybasis anddonotreceivecompensationforit. The
selectionof hostfamilies is alongandcomplexprocess,selectionof hostfamilies is alongandcomplexprocess,
whichresembles theselectionprocess of thestudentswhichresembles theselectionprocess of thestudents
themselves. Hostorganizations areresponsibleforfindingthemselves. Hostorganizations areresponsibleforfinding
families andthefamilies andthe enrollmentof students inAmericanschools.enrollmentof students inAmericanschools.

8. BecomeapartytoFLEXeachstudent. So,BecomeapartytoFLEXeachstudent. So,
learnEnglish, beinterestedinAmericanlearnEnglish, beinterestedinAmerican
historyandexploretheworldforthebenefithistoryandexploretheworldforthebenefit
of themselves.of themselves.
I wishyousuccess!I wishyousuccess! ^_^^_^