The FLEX /Future Leaders Exchange/ program is a US government sponsored program that provides 9 th and 10 th graders from Armenia to spend a year in the United States, living with a family and attending a US high school. The competition is free and open to all eligible students.

To apply for the program the students must.

• Be in the 9th or 10th grades (not in the graduating class) born after January 1, 1994 and before 15 July 1996
• Have an academic standing of “good” or better; have previously studied English and demonstrate English language ability at the time of registration
• Meet U.S. visa eligibility requirements and be a citizen of Armenia and able to receive a Armenian passport.

The applicants must submit the following for registration:

• Birth certificate or passport (original)
• 1 photo (size 3?4) and a pen

For the 2011-2012 program year, testing will take place as follows:

September 6, 2010: Hrazdan (9:00 AM at School 13)
September 6, 2010: Ijevan (9:30 AM at School 4, Galik Krtaran)
September 7, 2010: Martuni (9:30 AM at School 2)
September 7, 2010: Vanadzor (9:00 at the Pedagogical Institute)
September 14, 2010: Yeghegnadzor (9:00 at the Youth Center in the Culture House), Sisian (5:30 PM at School 3--Round 1 ONLY. Round 2 will be held the following morning.)
September 14, 2010: Talin (9:00 at Talin High School)
September 15, 2010: Goris (1:30 PM at Teachers' House at Gusan Ashot 32)
September 15, 2010: Gyumri (9:00 AM at Shirakatsi University)
September 16, 2010: Kapan (9:00 AM at School 1)
September 16, 2010: Yerevan REGISTRATION (9:30 at Brusov University) September 20, 2010: Vanadzor (9:30 at the Pedagogical Institute)

The FLEX scholarship provides the following:

• Round-trip domestic and international travel (from home to the United States and back)
• Monthly allowance to help students participate in social activities and buy necessary personal supplies
• Placement with a selected U.S. host family for one year
• Enrollment in a U.S. secondary school
• Program orientation activities including pre-program preparation and re-entry preparation
• Program activities arranged in local U.S. communities
• Medical insurance, excluding pre-existing conditions and dental care.

The FLEX scholarship does NOT cover the following costs:

• Acquisition of an international passport
• Personal expenses not covered by the monthly stipend
• Excess baggage costs
• Telephone calls made from the U.S. to home or an e-mail account.

How Will I Benefit from the Exchange Experience and What Are Some of the Possible Disadvantages?

The FLEX Program offers students an opportunity to learn about the people and culture of the United States. FLEX scholars are also young ambassadors who teach Americans about the people and culture of Eurasian countries. Students gain an appreciation for and develop sensitivity to other cultures, experience personal growth and independence, and become better prepared for an increasingly interdependent world. Students form strong ties with their American host families and U.S. communities, building relationships that often last a lifetime. Many alumni have attended prestigious universities upon their return home, and later find exciting jobs that use skills learned during their stay in the United States.

Possible disadvantages

Students who are interested in this program should consider the possible negative effects of this program:

• You may not return home in time to sit for university/institute entrance examinations.
• Your university or institute may not defer your admission if you have already been accepted.You may not return home in time to take your final school examinations, instead you would have to take extern exams
• You may be required by your country to serve in the military upon return.
• You may have to repeat a year of school.
• You may not be eligible to receive a gold medal at your home school.
• Although students participate in an academic program in the U.S., the school curriculum is substantially different than that in your home country.

For more information please visit: http://www.americancouncils.am/?language=1&page=3