Former Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), April 4, 1932 – April 28, 2019

With the passing of former Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), former Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, it seems appropriate to post this brief video of him talking about the YES Program's 15th Anniversary back on January 26, 2018.



From the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program website:

The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program was established by Congress in October 2002 in response to the events of September 11, 2001. The program is funded through the U.S. Department of State and sponsored by the Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs (ECA) to provide scholarships for high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend up to one academic year in the United States. Students live with host families, attend high schools, engage in activities to learn about American society and values, acquire leadership skills, and help educate Americans about their countries and cultures. Starting in 2009, the YES Abroad program was established in order to provide a similar experience for U.S. students (15-18 years) to spend an academic year in select YES countries.

More on the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study (YES) available at https://www.yesprograms.org/

Senator Lugar talks about the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program (YES)

(Transcription)

"In 2002, former Senator Ted Kennedy, of Massachusetts, and I felt it was very important, in the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy in the United States, to get to know students in Muslim countries and for them to know us, so we worked with the State Department and others to institute this program. This is the tenth anniversary of that; the graduating class has grown from roughly 400 to well over 900 this year. We have had some very exciting students and experiences which we all celebrate. High school students are quick learners, they are well able to adapt to new conditions, and they are our future leaders. We are most hopeful that this experience will be a part of this leadership background. I have no doubt having this visit with six students who attended Indiana high schools that these students are destined to take on many more leadership opportunities, and eventually in their homelands will offer significant service to people. This will be a celebration of the YES program."