Please note that this message is internal and for reference by AFS-USA Volunteers regarding the NSLI-Y program.
Warm greetings and we hope this message finds you well!
Thank you so much for your support of the NSLI-Y program! The NSLI-Y and YES Abroad interview season concluded in February and American Councils has completed selection and notifications for NSLI-Y Finalists and Alternates. Staff at AFS have been working to prepare the summer programs implemented by AFS.
NSLI-Y NH22 Summer Program
AFS NSLI-Y will implement 5 summer programs: Hindi (India), Turkish (Turkey), and Indonesian (Indonesia) will be delivered in-person; Russian (Russia) and Chinese Mandarin (China) will be implemented virtually. We are working with 94 participants in total, including 55 virtual participants and 39 in-person participants.
While we wish conditions would permit in-person programming in Russia and China, we are excited to again offer the NSLI-Y summer virtual program, called the Virtual Summer Intensive (or VSI). You can learn more about our 2021 VSI programs here and here.
NSLI-Y NH22 Year Program
AFS is glad to support the current overseas NSLI-Y Turkish participant on program in Ankara, Turkey. Several participants began this program virtually and one was able to travel for the spring semester in-person. Mid-program language testing showed that even with the virtual start, participants were able to make intense language gains, with one participant starting as novice and placing as intermediate mid in December 2021!
Unfortunately, given current visa restrictions, the NSLI-Y program is not able to offer in-person programming in China for the NH22 cycle, and the U.S. Department of State has not approved a virtual program for the year-long NSLI-Y program.
Finalist Sections
We appreciate the work done by volunteers to conduct the 2021-2022 interview season. American Councils has informed AFS that we can expect information about Finalist selections in late May. Once we have that data, we’ll share it with volunteers who worked on the season, so you can identify the selection status of the candidates you interviewed.
Local PDO Events
Since AFS will not be implementing any NH22 NSLI-Y year programs, no NSLI-Y participants are required to attend local in-person or virtual PDO activities.
While you are welcome to invite AFS-implemented NSLI-Y in-person summer participants to your local PDO activities (which may occur in-person or virtually), the participants must be reminded that their attendance is optional. You do not need to be concerned if these participants do not attend –staff will cover all key pieces of information from PDOs with all students during their NSLI-Y-specific pre-departure webinars.
Kindly note that NSLI-Y summer virtual participants should not be invited to PDO activities.
We would like to again thank all volunteers who have assisted with the NSLI-Y NH22 program, and we look forward to sharing highlights from our summer programs with you in the coming months. Please reach us with any questions and concerns about NSLI-Y at 646-751-2238 or NSLIforYouth@afsusa.org.
With our appreciation and warm regards,
Melissa, Nicolas, and Allen
Melissa Rossi, NSLI-Y Specialist
Nicolas Smith, NSLI-Y Coordinator
Allen Evans, Manager, Outbound Sponsored Programs