Participant safety is the number one priority of the FLEX Global Abroad funder and implementing partners. FLEX Global Abroad is structured to ensure the well-being of participants to the greatest extent possible and to respond to any emergencies expeditiously and with all due support and resources. Participants take part in orientations and information sessions to help prepare them to make good decisions about their health and safety while abroad – they are expected to be an active, informed partner in maintaining their personal safety. FLEX Global Abroad participants are supported in their host country by established and reputable organizations operating under a cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of State. While organizational structures vary by country, support staff in all host countries and in the United States support participants, host families, and natural parents/guardians. Your child will have regular contact with a trained coordinator in their host community who will provide support, assistance, and guidance, and who will be in regular contact with program staff in the United States. All FLEX Global students are provided with a local mobile phone or SIM card for emergency use, upon arrival to their host country.

FLEX Global Abroad implementing organizations are equipped to respond rapidly to emergencies in host countries or the United States and provide 24-hour assistance to deal with medical or other emergencies, up to and including evacuation. American Councils consults with the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. embassy, and external risk management organizations to monitor the safety of U.S. participants in the FLEX Global Abroad host countries. In addition, the U.S. embassies and consulates in FLEX Global Abroad host countries are also able to offer support services to FLEX Global Abroad participants as needed.

FLEX Global Abroad is a program of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. FLEX Global Abroad students are placed in communities selected in cooperation with the U.S. Embassies and Consulates in the host countries. The Department of State and implementing organizations continuously monitor current events in FLEX Global Abroad countries. All FLEX Global Abroad students are registered with the Office of Citizen Services at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the host country. Students will only be placed in countries that have been approved by the U.S. Department of State.

FLEX Global Abroad participants are provided with secondary medical coverage to ensure that, in the case of an emergency in the host country, students will be treated as soon and as comprehensively as possible.

One of the key ways that you can support your child’s successful participation is by providing the program with all relevant information regarding their health and family history in the application. Living and studying abroad can be a stressful and challenging experience for people of any age. Culture shock, homesickness, and stress can trigger anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions, especially in students who have struggled previously with such concerns. Your child’s medical information will be reviewed by medical professionals and considered in making country and host family assignments but will not be reviewed as part of the evaluation or selection processes. Medical review does not begin until a student is selected as a Finalist or Alternate, and timely completion of this review depends on how quickly answers to medical inquiries are received. The medical review covers topics such as physical and mental health, ongoing medical needs, past or chronic illnesses and conditions, learning disorders, allergies and dietary restrictions, and any significant changes to health. The purpose of the review is to determine whether a candidate meets the medical requirements necessary for program participation. As described in the Terms and Conditions part of the application, withholding relevant health information may be cause for disqualification or termination from the program.

The FLEX Global Abroad program provides:Round-trip airfare between the participant’s home and host communities.Comprehensive virtual pre-departure orientationIn-country support, cultural and leadership activities, mid-year orientation, and school tuition (where applicable)Room and board with a host familyEmergency accident and sickness coverage in the host countryHost country visa feesRe-entry orientation at the scheduled conclusion of the program, as well as membership in International Exchange Alumni, the Department of State’s exchange alumni networkA modest monthly stipend, reflective of typical costs for basic needs in the host countryAccess to a mobile phone or SIM card while on program FLEX Global Abroad does not provide:Fees for obtaining a U.S. passport in time for the visa application process. Passports must be valid for at least six months after the scheduled program end dateRequired medical examinations and immunizationsPocket spending money for personal expenses above and beyond basic needs

Preparation for the FLEX Global Abroad experience begins shortly after finalists are selected, with offerings for finalists and their parents that include online webinars with program staff, individual informational calls, and sometimes local events with other exchange students. Finalists will receive a Participant Handbook explaining all FLEX Global Abroad policies and rules. Participants may also – and are encouraged to! – be proactive in doing their own research into their host country. Closer to the time of departure, FLEX Global Abroad staff will hold a virtual, multi-part pre-departure orientation for finalists to cover topics such as health and safety, adjusting to a new culture and family, ways to get involved in the host community, taking initiative, and how to use the program’s chain of communication to get help and support when needed.

FLEX Global Abroad students live with host families who have been carefully screened and selected by trained staff in the host country. Host families receive a formal orientation to introduce them to cultural differences and prepare them for the hosting experience. These families may or may not speak English. American Councils, AFS, and Amideast local coordinators, who are proficient in English, provide support to participants and host families throughout the program. Students will attend a high school in their community alongside local peers.

The program’s rules and guidelines, designed based on its 15+ years of experience and in the interest of safety, are listed in the FLEX Global Abroad Terms and Conditions, which is part of the application. The program strongly urges parents/guardians to review the FLEX Global Abroad Terms and Conditions with their child before they apply for the program. In addition to these rules, participants are also expected to follow the rules and guidelines of their FLEX Global Abroad implementing organization in the host country or community.

Sharing your home and heart with a FLEX Global student from overseas is an enriching experience for your family and community. Click here to learn how to become a host family!Your decision to host a FLEX Global student is completely separate from and will have no impact on the review and selection of FLEX Global Abroad program applicants.