What better way to connect with young people than their mobile phones? In fall 2012, The State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) entered into a unique partnership with the aim of leveraging mobile technology to empower and connect alumni of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange Study (YES) network, as well as expand recruitment for the YES program.

ECA worked with grantee iEARN and Souktel (a cell phone-based service that uses SMS technology to link young people with jobs) to reach young people in four select pilot countries: Bangladesh, India, Lebanon, and Pakistan. In each of these countries, mobile technology is more ubiquitous than web access.

Early results from the YES initiative-- called “YESMS”-- show an increase in access and communication between the YES program staff, potential applicants, selected students, and alumni.

“Given that over 90% of Bangladeshis don’t have good web access, SMS-based networking is an ideal solution,” explains Dalia Othman, Souktel’s Project Manager for the new service. “And the option of having ‘closed’ messaging groups means that youth can have more meaningful interactions, because they’re with people they know and trust. If you’re a youth leader who’s planning a community event in your village, you want your peers to give you advice that you can rely on”.

YESMS partners—a critical step that will help to further expand the network and stay in touch with the 6,800 students who have participated in the program since its inception in 2002.