Educational and Cultural Exchanges

The American Center

The Public Affairs Section of the Embassy of the United States of America, Dhaka

The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) fosters mutual understanding between the United States and other countries through international educational and training programs. The bureau does so by promoting personal, professional, and institutional ties between private citizens and organizations in the United States and abroad, as well as by presenting U.S. history, society, art and culture in all of its diversity to overseas audiences.

The American Center, the Public Affairs Section of the Embassy of the United States of America, Dhaka (formerly USIS Dhaka) is involved in various cultural and educational exchange programs that promote improved mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States of America and Bangladesh.

• American Studies Programs
  To promote a deeper understanding of the people, society, culture, government and history of the United States.
  
• The American Center Academic and Other Exchange Programs
  
• Speakers' Bureau (NEW!)

Youth Exchange and Study (YES)

The YES is a program was established in October, 2002 and is sponsored by ECA to provide scholarships for secondary school students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend up to one academic year in the U.S. The program is vital to expanding communication between the people of the United States and the partner countries in the interest of promoting mutual understanding and respect. Students live with host families, attend high school, engage in activities to learn about American society and values, acquire leadership skills, and help educate Americans about their countries and cultures. During academic year 2006-07, 675 students will join the program from: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Egypt, Gaza, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel (Arab Community), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, West Bank, and Yemen. This will be the first year for students from Brunei, Ghana and Thailand.

Upon their return the students apply their leadership skills in their home countries. In addition, alumni groups have formed and been involved with many community service activities including clothing drives, mentoring younger children and English teaching, immunization drives, and much more.

The YES program is administered by the Bangladesh Education And Resource Network (bEARN). If you are a student interested in studying in the U.S., please click on the link next to your country.

Global Connections and Exchange Program

The Bangladesh Global Connections and Exchange Program, implemented by Relief International - Schools Online (RI-SOL), assures equal access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) including the Internet at secondary schools, builds teacher and community ICT skills through training workshops and international exchanges, and promotes cross-cultural understanding and democratic values through interactive educational projects. Twenty eight schools throughout Bangladesh provide educational opportunities enhancing civic education and peace-building. With the establishment of fourteen additional school telecenters in Bangladesh later this year, the program will train hundreds of teachers and involve thousands of students in civil society issues such as democratic processes in school and community, conflict resolution, and human rights. Educators from Bangladesh and the U.S. will have the opportunity to participate in a two-way exchange designed to share experiences and ideas and to increase communication between participants. By increasing the quality and quantity of educational resources and tools accessible through ICT, and educating and empowering youth to be active in the global community, the project will develop cross-cultural understanding between youth to increase peace and tolerance worldwide. Additional information about the Bangladesh Global Connections and Exchange Program can be found here: www.connect-bangladesh.org/ .