Two city teenagers from modest backgrounds will fly to the US tomorrow to spend a year there under a youth exchange programme. While Malad’s Azeem Shaikh, 17, will get to live with a family from Maryland, Goregaon girl Riya Yadav, 16, will be heading to Texas. The two are among 40 youngsters selected from 900 applications across 28 cities in the country. They all had to clear a rigorous five-stage selection process.

To be eligible for the Youth Exchange Scholarship (YES) organised by AFS and the US Embassy in New Delhi, Azeem and Riya passed a test that included a written exam, interview, English speaking test and group discussion. They will continue their education in America for a year.