Attention ALL AFS VOLUNTEERS!
Are you interested in learning more about the Sponsored Programs department and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affair’s administered by AFS, meeting with volunteers from around the country, as well as with international staff and alumni? If so, we invite you to complete the 2025 ECA Programs Workshop Application Form!
From Friday, March 7 through Monday, March 10, the 2025 ECA Programs Workshop will be held in Tysons Corner, Virginia.
What is the ECA Programs Workshop?
The goal of the annual ECA Programs Workshop is to train volunteers, staff, and partners on the intricacies of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) programs that AFS administers. You will be joined by other AFS staff members, volunteers with a variety of affiliations, international partners, and ECA program alumni.
The workshop features country-specific presentations, sessions on CBYX, FLEX, YES, YES Abroad, NSLI-Y, and guest speakers. It also offers a chance to connect with and learn from our overseas partners, enhancing our daily work.
Regardless of your role—placing students, supporting them, developing cultural materials, or processing applications—the workshop provides valuable insights into our partners’ countries and cultures. Additionally, it allows you to meet volunteers from across the U.S. and understand their day-to-day experiences.
On Monday, March 10, attendees will go to Capitol Hill to meet with State representatives to share their AFS stories and the impact ECA programs have had on their communities. These visits are an opportunity to promote AFS and garner continued support of foreign exchange student programs in the U.S.
Who is eligible to attend?
AFS-USA is excited to open this year’s conference to all current volunteers (age 21+) and to host parents from the 2022-2023 and 2023-24 program years (with the invitation to register as volunteers). We hope by extending the opportunity to a broader audience that more people can benefit from the experience and more AFS-USA volunteers will be exposed to the ideas discussed at the Workshop. If you are interested in possibly attending this year’s ECA Workshop, we invite you to complete the 2025 ECA Programs Workshop Application Form by January 4, 2025.
We hope we can welcome everyone who is interested in attending the Workshop, but space is limited. We will prioritize selection on the following criteria:
- Those attending their first ECA Workshop
- Those who haven’t attended the ECA Workshop since 2021 or prior
- Ensuring as much geographical diversity as possible among invited volunteers
Invitations and registration information will be emailed to Workshop invitees by mid-January.