The U.S. Embassy in Lithuania and American Councils for International Education are inviting secondary school students to apply for the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program for the 2026-2027 academic year. The FLEX program is sponsored by the United States government and offers Lithuanian students the opportunity to live with host families and attend high schools in the United States.
According to organizers, “The FLEX program was created by the U.S. Congress in 1992. This one-year exchange program is fully funded and intended for secondary school students traveling to the United States. The goal of the program is to promote mutual understanding between the citizens of the U.S. and countries in the region, as students learn about the U.S. and share their own cultures with Americans. Each scholarship recipient will live for one year with a U.S. host family and attend an American high school.”
Students with disabilities are encouraged to apply, and expanded eligibility requirements are available for these applicants.
To be eligible, applicants must be citizens of Lithuania, born between July 15, 2008, and July 15, 2011, currently enrolled in ninth or tenth grade in Lithuania, studying English, meeting U.S. visa requirements, and not having lived in the United States for more than three months within the past five years.
The scholarship covers round-trip travel from home to the United States, monthly stipends for social activities and personal items, accommodation with a vetted host family for one year, enrollment at a U.S. high school, pre-departure orientation in Lithuania, re-entry seminar upon return, participation in local community activities while in the U.S., and medical insurance excluding pre-existing conditions and dental care.
Costs not covered include expenses related to obtaining an international passport as well as certain personal costs such as additional baggage fees or phone bills.
All eligible candidates can participate in the first round of selection until October 10, 2024. This round consists of an online application form and three essays that must be submitted within ten days of starting the application process. Selected participants will then proceed to a second round involving a short English test.
Applications can be submitted through https://discoverflex.org/apply by September 23, 2025.
After submitting applications, semifinalists and their parents will attend an information session about program details before taking part in interviews with American Councils staff members as well as standardized English tests and further essay writing assignments.
Finalists will receive information on pre-departure preparation steps including notification procedures regarding acceptance decisions; they must also ensure their passports are valid or renewed prior to departure.
American Councils for International Education manages all aspects of competition announcement, candidate selection processes, provision of requirements information, and travel arrangements associated with FLEX participation.
Further information about FLEX can be found at http://discoverflex.org or by contacting flex.lt@americancouncils.org.