As we celebrate this special month, we want to take a moment to truly thank you for everything you do. In late 2024, we asked for your thoughts through an international AFS volunteer survey, and we’re thrilled to share some inspiring insights from those responses, specifically about AFS-USA:

• 90% of volunteers expressed their intention to continue volunteering with AFS.
   
• 62% of respondents participated in a training session in 2024.
   
• 95% of those who attended a training found it to be either relevant or highly relevant to their needs.
   
• 95% of volunteers said that the relationships they’ve built are a key motivator for their continued involvement.

You, our dedicated volunteers, are the heartbeat of AFS, and your commitment is what makes everything possible. We’re so grateful for your unwavering support and your thoughtful feedback on how we can improve. In response to your input, we’re excited to announce two new initiatives:

• Community Summits: These will take place across six locations nationwide between October 2025 and April 2026, replacing the 2025 National Summit. Our goal is to offer more volunteers the opportunity to attend, receive training, and strengthen important relationships with fellow volunteers and staff.
   
• Global Chapter Leadership Summit: We’re offering ten partial scholarships for AFS-USA volunteers to attend this global event in Malaga, Spain, in November 2025. This will be an amazing opportunity to receive training and connect with volunteers from around the world.

We’ll be sharing more details soon about the survey results, the Community Summits, and the Global Chapter Leadership Summit—so stay tuned!

Thank you, once again, for all that you do. Your feedback helps us ensure that the AFS-USA volunteer experience remains exceptional. We are excited to continue this journey with you, working together to make the AFS experience even better for all.

With deep gratitude,

Mary Jo Brock
Vice President, Host Family Experience & Stakeholder Engagement
AFS-USA