The student, identified as Mehribon, was among around 60 Uzbek participants selected in 2025 for the FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange) program – a fully funded initiative of the United States government that allows high school students to study in American schools for one academic year while living with host families.
Mehribon was placed with a childless family of music teachers in a small town in the state of Indiana. According to her family, the parents had previously communicated with the host family through video calls before the trip. The hosts reportedly said they had previously welcomed exchange students from other countries, which helped build trust.
However, some time after arriving in the United States, the student informed her father that the male member of the host family had begun behaving inappropriately and had suggested that she gain “sexual experience.”
The student reported the incident to the FLEX program coordinator, who subsequently placed her in isolation as part of a protection measure and arranged for her relocation to another host family.
According to the girl’s father, Azizbek Boltaev, the decision to move her to a new family was made without prior consultation with the parents.
“My daughter was immediately transferred to another family, but this was done without our consent. The FLEX office in Tashkent informed me about it only the next day, taking into account the nine-hour time difference. However, they did not tell me where exactly she was staying or with whom,” Boltaev said.
The case was first reported by the media platform Nemolchi.uz, which focuses on gender-based violence issues.
Communication difficulties raise concerns
Boltaev said he initially struggled to contact his daughter after the relocation. Her phone was switched off and messages sent through messaging applications went unanswered.
Later, it emerged that the program coordinator had asked the girl to turn off her phone as a “security precaution.” According to the father, neither the local coordinator in the United States nor the temporary host family contacted him directly.
The girl was also reportedly told that program officials were not obliged to share information with her parents.
Concerned about his daughter’s safety, Boltaev asked a friend who teaches at the University of Michigan to visit her. Program representatives initially refused permission for the visit, citing lack of authorization. Only after the father’s persistent demands was the meeting allowed.
