June 22, 2015
Ambassador Uyehara, PAO Ison and American Councils Regional Director Dana cut the #ASMYLEDecade anniversary cake
Ambassador Uyehara hosts a reception to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the State Department’s A-SMYLE program
On June 22, Ambassador Margaret A. Uyehara hosted a reception to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the State Department’s American Serbia and Montenegro Youth Leadership Exchange (A-SMYLE). In the last decade, more than 150 high-school students from Montenegro have spent an academic year in the United States attending school and living with American host families in this program, which is implemented by American Councils for International Education. While in the United States, A-SMYLE participants also had the opportunity to learn about youth leadership, community activism, democracy, and American society, as well as to educate Americans about their country and culture.
More than 100 alumni, program partners and other guests gathered at the Ambassador’s residence to mark this anniversary. In her remarks, Ambassador Uyehara said: “As a former exchange student myself, I know how important and transformative an exchange experience can be. Living in another culture makes us see ourselves, our culture, and the world more clearly. It helps us conquer the prejudices we might have about others and others might have about us.”
