40 Pakistani students head to US for further studies

Karachi

United States Consul General in Karachi Brian Heath on Wednesday welcomed home 33 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program (YES) students from Sindh and Balochistan who just returned from one-year study programmes in the US.

He also gave his best wishes to 40 students who will soon set off for similar programmes in the US. “The YES programme, by connecting Pakistani and American students in an environment that fosters shared experiences and open dialogue, is at the heart of what we try to do through our exchange and cultural programs,” said Consul General Heath. “There is no better way to promote friendship and understanding than through programs like YES, which allows young Pakistanis to discover more about themselves, the United States, and the world while also serving as ambassadors of Pakistan.”

Volunteerism is a big part of the YES program, he said. “We believe that service to one’s community and country is essential to make societies strong. Now, that you have returned home, I hope that you take your experiences and share them with your family and community and that you continue to be active in community service projects here in Pakistan.”

The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program — funded by the US state department — provides scholarships for secondary school students aged 15 between 17 who opt to spend up to one academic year in the United States.

The US State Department has sponsored the Youth-Exchange Study Program since 2003. Through YES, more than 900 Pakistani young people have had the opportunity to spend a year of high school in the United States, living with American families.