Dear Students, Prospective Students, and Families,

We live in challenging times, particularly for those of us involved in programs for American students in the Middle East and North Africa. I recognize that some of you have significant concerns about issues surrounding health, safety and security for American education abroad students in the Middle East and North Africa and specific concerns about your own safety or that of your child who is thinking about participating in one of our programs.

At AMIDEAST, we take these issues very seriously and are doing everything in our power to assure that students on our programs have a healthy, safe and secure environment in which to study and develop their understanding of the peoples and cultures of this important region. AMIDEAST was established in 1951 to build bridges of understanding between Americans and the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa.  This region is the cradle of civilization and birthplace of the three Abrahamic faiths. Today’s conflicts in the region make it critically important that people in other parts of the world learn more about its peoples and cultures as we work to build a more peaceful future. 

AMIDEAST has field offices in 12 countries throughout the region, some of which have operated for more than 50 years, and each of which is headed by an American director. This longstanding physical presence in the region has enabled us to develop an extensive network of contacts with local educational and other institutions, organizations, government offices, and civil society.