Educational reforms in Uzbekistan have paved the way for many students to pursue higher and secondary education in the world’s most advanced countries. This includes students from remote areas now learning foreign languages in modern educational institutions, a testament to their strong desire for international education.
The Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX) of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, a wing for the creative flight of curious boys and girls, is a beacon of hope. Launched by the Ministry of Public Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan, this program opens doors to opportunities.
The FLEX program is not just about education. It’s about personal growth and cultural exchange. It provides students with a deep understanding of a foreign language and the opportunity to immerse themselves in different countries’ culture, history, and customs. Through peer-to-peer cultural exchange, they become youth ambassadors, inspiring others with their experiences. The program also offers a unique opportunity to live with a host family, which provides a rich cultural experience and a chance to form lifelong friendships.
According to the U.S. Embassy, through the FLEX program launched in 1993, 1,100 young people from Uzbekistan have been able to study in overseas schools. Most of them today contribute to the country’s development in various fields.
For the 2024-2025 academic year, 60 students selected from all regions will live with host families for a year within the program and study at an American high school.
Candidates can apply online using a mobile device or computer. FLEX consists of three test phases. Students with disabilities also have the opportunity to participate in the program. Winners will be reimbursed for all travel, visa, and food expenses in the United States. Marjona Boboyeva from Jizzakh is one of such talented young people.
Marjona’s journey from a young student in Uzbekistan to a global student is a powerful testament to the transformative power of international education. Her broad worldview and knowledge are a direct result of the scientific and creative environment in her family, which she credits for her academic and personal growth. This story is a beacon of hope for all students aspiring to international education.
“My mother was a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant program winner and taught the Uzbek language to American students at a prestigious education institution”, says Marjona Boboyeva. “My grandfather and grandmother always read books to their grandchildren and shared knowledge through lively discussions. The desire and attention to enlightenment in our home encouraged me to learn”.
At 14, Marjona attended the summer program at the University of Texas at Austin twice on a full scholarship. She regularly and actively participated in the events at the American Center Tashkent. She received a 100 percent grant for the U.S. Embassy’s Self-Defense Camp for Women and Girls, Global Virtual School, and American Summer Camp at Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages projects.
Marjona has been volunteering to help the Ibrat School team of the Youth Agency with the practical part of projects. She took 2nd place in the city stage of the 2022 Schoolchildren’s English Language Olympiad. Marjona lives and studies in Lamar, Missouri, as a scholarship recipient of the Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX) of the U.S. Department of State for schoolchildren.
“We live in a host family with my American father, mother, and sister in a beautiful, spacious yard surrounded by beautiful nature”, says our hero. “Living with a host family provides a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in American culture, learn the language faster, and form lifelong friendships. It’s not long since I arrived in the U.S., and my impression is excellent. Together with a group of winners – young Uzbekistan people wearing T-shirts with the image of FLEX – we set off from Tashkent International Airport, accompanied by the American Consulate official, waving the Uzbekistan flag in our hands. Admiring glances of passengers increased our sense of pride. The organizers of the program have paid attention to every aspect. Embassy experts provided detailed information on overseas host families, social and educational situations. My American host family has many relatives. Just like an Uzbek household, we often welcome guests or visit them. We organize trips with friends. For example, we watched bullfighting in Kansas, enjoyed a live concert at Brandon Lake with a large audience, and danced.
The most exciting thing is that in addition to government work, our family members are also engaged in hunting. A decorated deer statue in our house gives the spirit of a museum. Studying and living here is an excellent opportunity for me to observe the life of Americans thoroughly, learn family traditions, participate in cultural events, and master the English language perfectly. In short, I’m trying to make the most of every moment”.
Marjona also spoke in detail about school education in the U.S.:
“As for my academic life at Lamar High School, this is a special period of our journey, full of impressions. In the U.S., a separate building for 400 students has been allocated for the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. With the help of my American mother, even before I came to the United States, the issue of registering for school, joining a club, and ordering sports clothes was organized for me. So, full preparations have been made so that I can start my studies in high spirits. My peers were excited to talk with me and learn more about Uzbekistan. During breaks, at lunchtime, American students ask me questions about my country, language, culture, and geographic location. As a result of such communication, I made many friends. By the way, the school fully provides students with laptops and educational materials for school and home. Subjects are chosen according to our interests. For example, I want to become a doctor in the future. That’s why I’m studying biology and human anatomy as a major. All the conditions have been created to engage in sports I am interested in”.
We admire Marjona’s achievements and her curiosity. This Uzbek girl has many plans. She thinks deeply and has a different worldview.
“I want to tell my peers not to stop learning, to work tirelessly to make dreams come true”, says Marjona. “Our country has provided all the conditions for studying, researching, traveling worldwide, and studying in the strongest foreign education institutions. El-Yurt Umidi Foundation, established by our President’s initiative and through the contests announced by the embassies of different countries, makes it possible to get a referral to the education institution of your choice in any country. Following my speech, I congratulate our compatriots on the 33rd anniversary of Independence. I express special gratitude to our country, our people, and personally to our President for the opportunities created for us, the youth, international education programs, and the privileges given to women in all aspects. Uzbekistan has established relations with the world’s most developed countries thanks to independence. Primarily through international exchange programs, our young people are lucky to study in the most prestigious education institutions in the world”.
Guzal Sattorova, UzA