Thank you for continuing to promote AFS programs and opportunities in your communities year-round, especially in these challenging times. As we move forward and look towards a brighter future, we hope you will continue to actively support the AFS mission of creating a more just and peaceful world.

As you promote AFS in your area, please make sure that you are aware of the media policies and guidelines that all AFS Volunteers and Staff must follow. Due to COVID and the work we do, the media may contact you for your opinion and especially about how the pandemic is affecting international travel, student exchange, AFS in general or in your community. Please follow the media policies and guidelines that can be found in MyAFS Help & Learning, in the Training, Guides, Policies, and Forms category.

As a reminder, the only person who is the official spokesperson for AFS-USA and can speak on behalf of the organization is President and CEO Tara Hofmann and those whom she designates as such. However, volunteers in the community represent AFS-USA to whomever they speak in their communities. Please review the articles below as a reminder of what all AFS Volunteers should know:

Media policies as they relate to promoting AFS

Social Media Policy for AFS Volunteers

Using AFS-USA Media Release Forms

AFS Volunteers can respond to media questions that are ‘local’ in nature and do not involve topics that are controversial or sensitive. In most cases, the pandemic is a topic that is national and international in scope, as well as being sensitive and even controversial. Please be aware of AFS-USA’s media policies and guidelines when working with the media, including and especially when posting about AFS on social media, and when recruiting host families, volunteers, and students. If you have questions regarding these policies and guidelines, please contact communications@afsusa.org.

Thank you,

AFS-USA Corporate Communications & Marketing