FLEX Program Announces the 2019 Competition

High school students will again have the opportunity to live in the U.S. free of charge

Dushanbe, September 17, 2019 – Testing for the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) scholarship exchange program will begin September 21. The scholarship offers competitively selected high school students the opportunity to study in the United States for free. Beginning on Saturday, recruiting teams will travel to 11 cities across Tajikistan to conduct the first two rounds of testing for the FLEX Program.

American Council Deputy Country Director Nona Lambert Majidi explains, “Anyone is welcome to purchase a ticket and visit the U.S., see a few monuments, and try some American food, but the FLEX program allows students to experience the U.S. as more than just a tourist by living with an American host family and attending a U.S. high school for a full academic year – and for free!”

Over 35 finalists will be chosen from Tajikistan to take part in the program for the 2020-2021 academic year. Finalists will be placed with a screened U.S. host family, enrolled in a U.S. high school, and attend an orientation. The program also includes round-trip travel to and from their home to the United States, a monthly allowance for living expenses, and medical insurance (excluding any pre-existing conditions).

“What makes this program so special is that not only are dozens of students from Tajikistan learning more about American culture and how Americans live on a day-to-day basis, but American families and communities are also learning about different cultures in Tajikistan by hosting a student in their homes,” says Majidi. “Every year families enjoy learning how to make plov and about traditional holidays observed in Tajikistan, such as Navruz.”

The FLEX program was created by the United States Congress to help people in the United States and Tajikistan learn more about one other. Now in its 28^th year, the program is fully funded by the U.S. Government and administered by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Testing is also conducted in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Georgia, Greece, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine.

Testing for the FLEX program is open to all high school students who:

are citizens of the country where they are tested;
are enrolled in 11^th grade;
were born on or after February 15, 2002;
have not lived in the United States for more than three months in the last five years;
are eligible to receive a U.S. visa; and
speak English well.

We also welcome all high school students with disabilities; over 400 students with disabilities have already studied in the U.S. as part of this program.

Those who meet the eligibility criteria are invited to participate in the first round of testing, which consists of a 15-minute English test. Applicants must bring proof of eligibility (their passport or birth certificate) and one recent photograph (3x4cm). There are three rounds of testing all together. The second round generally takes place one day after the first round.

Test Schedule

21 September