Salehuddin is sponsored by the American Field Service and participating in the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study program.

The YES program provides scholarships for high school students ages 15-17 years from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend up to one academic year in the United States.

Students live with host families, attend high school, engage in activities to learn about American society and values, acquire leadership skills, and educate Americans about their countries and cultures. Approximately 900 students travel to the United States each year.

“I am very excited to have Hannan with us this semester,” said Jeff Pageau, the AFS coordinator at Roanoke Rapids High School. “I am hopeful her presence on campus will encourage curiosity about other cultures and foster global understanding among our students.”

Salehuddin is being hosted by RRHS senior Juanita Webb. “I’m most excited for Hannan to be able to share her culture with my classmates because Malaysia is a country we don’t typically hear about,” said Webb.

Webb was a participant in an AFS short-term study abroad program in Costa Rica in 2014. “My experience abroad really got me excited to host a student because I had such a fantastic experience with my host family in Costa Rica,” she said.

Pageau is currently recruiting host families for next school year.

Interested families can visit www.afsusa.org for more information regarding hosting and/or AFS study abroad programs for American high school students.