Greetings AFS-USA Volunteers!
Following the U.S. Department of State’s decision to cancel the in-person component of the YES and FLEX programs for the spring 2021 semester, AFS-USA will facilitate a second semester of the FLEX & YES Virtual Program for our 120 2020-21 FLEX and YES students from January – May 2021. This virtual program is a program of the U.S. Department of State and aligns with the goals of the FLEX and YES in-person programs, which promote the values of civil society, youth leadership development, and lasting ties between Americans and the people of participating countries. The program is comprised of three components:
- Engagement with an American host family
- Participation in enhancement and cultural activities
- Interaction with an American peer
The FLEX & YES Fall Virtual Program was very successful and proved to be an enriching experience for everyone involved. Throughout the semester, 16 volunteer enhancement activity facilitators, 64 virtual host families, and 37 U.S. peers engaged with the FLEX and YES students through their participation in the program. Click on the photo at the bottom of this article to read about some of the highlights from the fall semester!
We look forward to working with even more members of the AFS community this spring! We would like to invite you to participate in the FLEX & YES Spring 2021 Virtual Program as a virtual host family, U.S. peer, or enhancement activity facilitator. Please review the descriptions in the links below to learn more about each of these ways to become involved and share these opportunities with your local AFS network.
Interested parties are asked to complete the corresponding survey(s) at the links below. The Sponsored Programs team will connect with those who completed the surveys following their corresponding deadlines.
- Virtual Host Family Information and Sign-up Survey
- Virtual Enhancement Activity Facilitator Information and Sign-Up Survey
- Virtual Exchange Peer Information and Sign-Up Survey
Thank you again for all the work you do as AFS volunteers. AFS would not be the enduring, vital organization it is today without each of you.
Kind regards,
The Sponsored Programs Team at AFS-USA
