FLEX Calendar of Events

Host Family Orientations
This must be held before students arrive to explain the program and their involvement.

MIUSA Arrival Workshop
Mobility International USA provides independence skills training to FLEX students with disabilities. The training seeks to give FLEX students the skills they need to have a successful program year. MIUSA will assess students’ abilities and special needs and send reports to appropriate POs. For more info, visit www.miusa.org.

Post Arrival Orientations for Students
This orientation familiarizes the students with placement organization policies, procedures and rules and with information about FLEX activities in which they will be participating throughout the year.

Civic Education Workshop
This program brings approximately 120 FLEX students to Washington, D.C., for one week, where they are introduced to the concepts of democracy and the federal system of government (civil society). Students win places through competing in an essay contest, and they must provide supplementary documentation including confirmation of their status on the program and letters of recommendation from teachers and volunteer organizations. The competition is open to all students.

International Education Week (IEW)
This is a joint U.S. Department of State and Department of Education initiative whose purpose is to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange and to promote programs such as FLEX that increase Americans’ exposure to the global community. During IEW, FLEX students should plan to make presentations about their home countries to their classmates, to elementary school students and possibly to other groups in their host communities.

Return Travel Request Forms
You will receive a “Return Travel Request Form” in the mail. It will show the available return dates for your student’s home country. You should select the date together and take into consideration whether the student must take exams in his or her home country.

Mid-Year Orientations
The purpose of the mid-year orientation is to assist students in assessing their progress in achieving personal and FLEX program goals and to set objectives for the remainder of the year. Placement Organizations review the logistical tasks in choosing return dates and making initial plans for the students’ return home. Students also begin to focus on their goals and participation as FLEX alumni in the near future. Students and host families are encouraged to register on the Department’s Alumni website either during or soon after this orientation (https://alumni.state.gov).

Return Travel
Dates will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. American Councils will provide assigned dates to your placement organization, which will share them with you.

MIUSA Leadership and Reentry Workshop
Mandatory for all students in the disability category. The purpose is twofold: 1) to prepare them to reenter the less disability-friendly environments of their home countries; 2) to provide them with tools they can use to advocate for disability rights in their home countries.

Global Youth Service Day
This is an annual international event that recognizes and mobilizes the year-round contributions of young people to build their communities through volunteer service. FLEX students are strongly encouraged to participate in events organized in their host communities in celebration of this event (www.gysd.net).