Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX) in USA

Future Leaders Exchange Program is a unique opportunity for your child to learn firsthand about American life and culture by living with a volunteer host family and attending an American high school. FLEX students improve their English, learn about the world, and acquire important life skills during their year in the United States. Many parents are naturally nervous about sending their child to another country to live with a family for a year.

The FLEX Program organizations follow strict regulations and provide support to students during their program experience. If your child has a disability, this should not stop him or her from applying; since 1993, nearly 400 students with a disability have taken part in FLEX, and describe it as a powerful path to independence and increased self-confidence.

Your son or daughter will have the chance to share your home cultures with their host families and schools. Natural parents of FLEX alumni have commented on how much more mature and independent their children are once they return home, and express their appreciation at the care a U.S. host family, so far away, took with their child to nurture their personal development.

Eligibility varies from countries to countries. For eligibility questions, contact the office in your home country. Contact Your Country Office!

Eligible Nationalities

Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

Notes

• Students with disabilities are welcome and encouraged to participate in FLEX. There are over 300 FLEX alumni who are blind, deaf, or have a physical disability (for example, cerebral palsy). Staff works to accommodate students with disabilities at testing and on the program. Special testing materials are available to accommodate the needs of students with disabilities. 
• FLEX is not a language program. Finalists are selected more because they have demonstrated an ability to adapt and thrive in a new environment, rather than for their language skills. Participants are tested in their knowledge of the English language because knowledge of spoken and written English will be necessary if students are to successfully participate in school and home life in the U.S.
• FLEX is a scholarship exchange opportunity funded by the U.S. Department of State. There is no fee component with FLEX.