We are calling an emergency meeting for all AFS-USA volunteers this Saturday, August 23rd, at 4:00 PM Eastern. Tara Hofmann, AFS-USA President, will lead this short but critical session.

As you know, the U.S. Government has announced its intention to suspend funding for the Kennedy-Lugar YES Program beginning in 2026–27. At the same time, we are facing one of the most challenging placement seasons in our history. These two realities together put the future of AFS-USA—and our ability to demonstrate America’s commitment to welcoming students from around the world into our communities —at a crossroads.

The actions we take in the next 30 days will show whether AFS-USA has the resilience to rise to this moment. This is not “business as usual.” This is a turning point.

Please make every effort to join us. This meeting will last for only 30 minutes, but its impact could shape the future of our work.