Hawai‘i State Senators today were joined on the floor of the Senate Chamber by international exchange students who are part of the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program.

As part of this annual program, students are paired with Legislators for an opportunity to increase their knowledge of U.S. government and to share their own cultural heritage. The students’ full day at the Hawai‘i State Senate included shadowing a Senator and a group meeting with the Governor.

The FLEX program provides for high school students from a number of former Soviet Union countries an opportunity to experience the important elements of a civil society. The goal of this program is democracy-building—exposing future leaders to democratic systems and the free market economy. A primary focus of the program is civic responsibility and volunteerism. Funded by U.S. Congress, this program seeks to empower students to develop leadership skills that will be useful in their countries of origin.