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Lebanese Alumni Sponsor SOS Child

During one of our first YES alumni meetings, while we were discussing our future projects and what we wanted to bring from the States to Lebanon, most of the students repeated the idea of making a change' in our country," Christina Meguerditchian '05 recalls. "Eventually, we thought that the change we wanted to make could start with one person, a child who needs our material and spiritual support." Motivated to impact a child's life, the Lebanon alumni chapter made the commitment to be a sponsor through SOS Children's Village, a non-profit organization that works with orphaned children to provide a family structure as well as schooling and other developmental needs. The alumni visited a new SOS village in the Bekaa Valley and were charmed by Ali, a ten year-old boy who joined an SOS village with his two younger sisters one year ago. "We all realized how smart Ali is, and we agreed that we wanted to help him," Christina said. "We believe that he will remember our help after he is grown and will say 'a group of exchange students changed my life.'"

As sponsors, the alumni accept the role of godparents. They visit Ali regularly to read books and play sports with him and the other children. As he grows up they will continue to be mentors, helping him with his studies and encouraging him in his career path. Alumni have organized fundraisers to contribute at least 14 USD monthly to help

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Yemen Alumni Volunteer in Community Service Project

As part of their celebration of America's Independence Day, the U.S. Embassy in Sana'a, Yemen, organizes an annual community service project. This year, the Yemen chapter of the YES Alumni Association joined together with the students selected for the YES program this year as well as members from the U.S. Embassy to work on a month-long project to make building improvements for the Challenge Association for Physically Disabled Women in Sana'a.

The toughest task that confronted the alumni and current YES students was building a wheelchair ramp and patio. The volunteers first had to clear away rubble before the space was leveled and tiled. They transported much of the soil and cement for the construction. After installing the wheelchair ramp, the volunteers added finishing touches; a small flower garden and a complete cleaning and painting of the walls and windows.

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The YES Alumni Newsletter for the Near East and Pakistan is produced by AMIDEAST. The YES scholarship program is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs and administered by several organizations. AMIDEAST is part of a consortium that includes AYUSA International, ASSE, ASPECT Foundation, CIEE, iEARN, Nacel Open Door, PIE, and Sister Cities International.