The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study ( YES) program, founded by the U.S. Department of Stat, Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, allowed secondary school students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend one academic year in the United States and U.S high schools to spend one year abroad. Coordinated by American Councils for International Education, YES also provided follow up activities and support for their growing alumni network.
The last spring and summer 2014, the Salam Institute for Peace and Justice joined American Councils and its partner organizations to offer a Transformational Leadership Workshop and Online Training to empower around 50 YES alumni from around 25 countries tackle pressing problems in their communities through a transformational approach. Salam led two three-days workshops in Morocco and Jordan imbedded in eight weeks of online training sessions on such themes as power, conflict, trauma and personal growth, empathy, community organizing, negotiation, non-violence and public outreach.
YES also will implement “Transformative Leadership Training” project over a period of five months with two four-day workshops in Jakarta, Indonesia and August 22-25 and August 27-30, 2015, and in Sarajevo, Bosnia in November 22-25 and November 27-30, 2015, preceded and followed by weekly training and dialogue sessions held remotely via a real-time online platform.
This project seeks to build on the international network, personal growth, and inter-cultural exposure offered by American Councils alumni. The project will engage approximately 40 American Councils alumni – in two cohorts of 20 individuals – who bring a demonstrated commitment to and track record of working for conflict transformation and social change in their communities.
