AMBASSADOR MEETS CANCELLED YES PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS

UNCLAS DHAKA 000837 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/INSB AND SCA/PPD STATE FOR R AND ECA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EDU KPAO SCUL BG SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS CANCELLED YES PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS REF: STATE 78726 Summary -------------- ¶1. (U) The Ambassador and Public Affairs Officers met August 20 with students and their parents to discuss the cancelled Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program for 2009-2010 (reftel). The Ambassador expressed disappointment that the program had been cancelled and explained the situation with the placement organization that had made this necessary. He then outlined the three options that ECA will offer cancelled YES students. The Ambassador's outreach, along with Washington's speedy decision to provide palatable options to the affected students, turned a disappointing reversal into an opportunity for positive engagement with the students, their families and our audience in Bangladesh beyond. Participants Disappointed but Determined -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) The seven YES student participants expressed disappointment with the cancellation, but appreciated the opportunity to meet the Ambassador and discuss their options. The students and parents understood that the USG was working to resolve the situation by allowing most students to defer participation until the next school year or to take part in other short-term U.S.-based academic programs in 2010. The placement organization, IEARN Bangladesh, reports that of the seven cancelled students, five plan to defer participation in YES until next year, one will take part in the semester program starting in January 2010, and one plans on attending the summer youth leadership institute next summer. Host Family Placement, Applications and Visas -------------- -------------- ¶3. (U) The students and parents raised several questions during the meeting. First, some students wanted to know if they will be placed with the same host families they were scheduled to be with this year. (Note: Some of the students appear to have developed by e-mail close relationships with their proposed host families for this year.) We said that every effort was being made to do that but could not make any guarantees at this point. Second, one student asked whether students participating in the semester program could extend their stay in the U.S. and be part of the summer program. We explained that participation was limited to one program. Third, students wanted to know if YES students need to reapply again in next year's selection process. We explained that no further application process was required. Finally, some expressed concern that the cancellation of their visas would hurt future travel opportunities. We assured the students and their parents that PA was working closely with the Consular Section on this issue and that the cancellation would not cause reflect negatively on them at all. Comment -------------- ¶4. (U) The Ambassador's initiative to meet cancelled YES participants provided a constructive and cordial outlet for their disappointment, an opportunity to discuss options, and the engagement that is the hallmark of YES. More important, Washington's speedily coming up with attractive alternatives demonstrated that the U.S. had the best interests of the student participants in mind and that the decision to cancel placements made by the troubled organization was correct. Students and parents' positive feedback confirmed that the Department is doing the right thing by promising these students another exchange experience in the U.S., a prudent goodwill investment that will benefit the reputation of the U.S. in these cases and beyond. MORIARTY