YES Abroad students received their program certificates after completing their exchange experience. Photo: United States
Fajar Nugraha • 13 May 2025 13:34
Jakarta: After a year filled with new friendships, remarkable experiences, and cultural immersion, five American high school students said a heartfelt goodbye to Indonesia at a farewell dinner in Jakarta on May 2.
The students were part of the 2024/2025 cohort of the YES Abroad Program, a U.S government sponsored initiative that brings young Americans to live and study in Indonesia for a year. Hosted by Bina Antarbudaya, the dinner gathered students, host families, and teachers to reflect on the journey they shared.
“I will miss Surabaya and my friends at school so much. Indonesia has truly become my second home,” said Naomi Ifeabata Onyekweli from Little Rock, Arkansas, as she shared her story, stated from U.S Embassy statement.
Like many of her fellow participants, Naomi found herself embraced by the warmth of her host family and the friendships she built at school.
The evening was filled with laughter and bittersweet moments as both students and host families shared memories of their time together. One host family fondly recalled how their student, Nalani, learned to love bubur ayam, a dish she once hesitated to try.
“We’ll always think of her when we eat it,” they said with a smile, reflecting the small but meaningful ways their lives were changed by hosting the American student.
Guests at the dinner expressed appreciation for the host families and schools, whose support helped the students adjust and thrive in a new environment. Schools like SMAN 38 Jakarta and SMAN 5 Bogor welcomed the students into their classrooms, offering not just an education, but a window into Indonesian life. In turn, the schools benefitted from having an international student bring new perspectives to the classroom.
Throughout the evening, it was clear the YES Abroad Program’s impact extended far beyond academics. The students left not just with souvenirs, but with a deeper understanding of Indonesian culture—and a promise to carry those lessons home.
As they prepared to return to the United States, many expressed hope that they would one day come back to Indonesia. Until then, they vowed to serve as cultural ambassadors, sharing their stories and experiences to build bridges between the two countries.
“These students are living examples of how people-to-people connections create mutual understanding and respect,” said U.S. Embassy Jakarta Public Diplomacy Officer Mary Trechock.
“We are proud of the friendships they’ve built and the bridges they’ve formed between the United States and Indonesia,” Trechock.
The YES Abroad Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, provides young Americans with opportunities to live and study in Muslim-majority countries around the world, including Indonesia.
YES Abroad is part of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth and Exchange and Study Program, which began in 2001 as a way to create mutual understanding among young people. It has more than 15,000 alumni globally. Currently 57 Indonesian high school students are studying in the United States as a part of this program.
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