My name is Mads, and I am an exchange student from Moldova, currently placed in Sylvania, Ohio. I am a proud recipient of the Future Leaders Exchange Program Scholarship. FLEX is a highly competitive, merit-based scholarship program funded by the U.S. Department of State. FLEX was created after the Cold War, from the belief of former Senator Bill Bradley that the best way to ensure long-lasting peace and mutual understanding between the U.S. and the countries of Eurasia is to enable young people to learn about the U.S. and Americans firsthand, and to teach Americans about their countries.

This program has given me the opportunity to broaden my horizons, learn about the culture and customs of a new country and make an impact on the community. However, with an executive order passed on February 12th, "One Voice for America's Foreign Relations", a pause was put on federal funding for such exchange programs. 

Exchange programs are crucial pipelines for cultural exchange and diplomacy. They are instrumental in fostering understanding and friendship among nations and create opportunities for students to acquire skills and perspectives that are paramount in today’s global society. Yet, these invaluable programs are now threatened by the recent funding cuts. 

According to the U.S. Department of State, exchange programs have been shown to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and the people of other countries.(source: US Department of State).

Let's not deny future generations the opportunity to learn from each other, break down cultural barriers and become global citizens. We need your support to communicate to our legislators the importance of maintaining funding for these life-changing programs.

Please, sign this petition in support of continuing federal funding for exchange programs. Let us ensure that we are not the last generation to benefit from this enriching experience. Together, we can make a change. Sign today.