Tanzanian Secondary Students Return from Academic Year in the United States

Nineteen Tanzanian secondary school students who recently completed a year-long academic exchange in the United States visited the U.S. Embassy this week and met with Deputy Chief of Mission Virginia M. Blaser.  The students attended U.S. secondary schools through the Department of State’s Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program.  The participants came from Pwani, Tanga, Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar.  While abroad, they attended schools in the states of California, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The YES program was established by the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in October 2002 and more than 150 Tanzanians have participated since 2007.  The YES program provides scholarships for high school students, (ages 15-17 years) to spend up to one academic year in the United States.  Students live with host families, attend high school, engage in activities to learn about American society and values, acquire leadership skills, and educate Americans about their countries and cultures.  Approximately 900 students worldwide travel to the United States through the YES program each year.

Tanzanian secondary school students who recently returned from a year-long academic exchange in the United States share a light moment with U.S. Embassy Regional English Language Officer Scott Chiverton.  The students, who come from Pwani, Tanga, Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar, were participants in the Department of State’s Youth and Exchange Study program, and attended secondary schools in the states of California, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.