Here is your chance to get in on the ground floor! The Volunteer Onboarding department is working on a new leadership program for our young volunteers.

The Youth Ambassador program is a new look at how to engage 14-21 year old volunteers, building their interpersonal skill sets and self-confidence to become better citizens of the world.  The participants will go through a 2-3 month leadership program, followed by implementing a project of their design in the local community.

Did you know that we have around 135 registered volunteers under the age of 21? They come to us from many angles, returnees, classroom presentations, meeting an AFS student, host siblings… but what do we do with them? They are not allowed to drive on official AFS business, or be a liaison. We often intend to include them at orientations but often forget about them until it’s too late.

That’s where you come in! We are looking for a small group of experienced, enthusiastic, creative, and inclusive AFS volunteers to join this workgroup. To help create the program, be a team lead on certain aspects of the program, and mentor ambassadors through the completion of the their project.

We have broken the project down to several phases, in case volunteers are interested in some but not all of the phases or time commitment.

Phase I: Building out content (now through August)

Phase II: Delivery of program materials (September through November)

Phase III: Mentor participants throughout their project (September through completion)

Please look to the volunteers in your team and see who may be a good fit for a great project like this. Of course, you are welcome to apply as well!

Here is a link to the interest form to sign up now for more information. Sign up will be open until COB June 11.

If you would like to talk more about this new opportunity please reach out to us at AskAFS@afsusa.org .

Looking forward to working with you on this exciting new AFS opportunity,

Volunteer Onboarding Team

Audrey, Michelle and Annelise