On September 12th, the AFS Community in Washington, D.C. gathered to honor several distinguished AFS Changemakers—individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of international education and the AFS Mission of building a more just and peaceful world. The honorees included: Congressman Jim Himes (D-CT) Co-Chair of the bipartisan International Exchange and Study Caucus; […]
Dear AFS Volunteers, Last January, over 2,000 young people across the globe began dreaming of coming to the U.S. They put their faith in the volunteers and staff of AFS-USA, and we answered accordingly. We’ve worked incredibly hard. We have shown what volunteers can do, and what U.S. citizens are truly made of. And we […]
Families decide to host an AFS Exchange Student for lots of reasons, from learning about another country to building bridges of understanding between cultures. This new video shows some of the many reasons given by host families who have opened their hearts and their homes to high schoolers from around the world. Share this Facebook […]
The international students arriving this fall have a wide variety of interests, hobbies, and passions. To show off some of their unique personalities, we’ve put together fun “emoji bios” for social media. Share the Facebook album to help amazing students like these find host families to welcome them in September! Share on Facebook: Highlight and […]
Exchange Students Reunite After 51 Years Fifty one years ago, Regina Tommasi, an AFS Student from Brazil, and Satu Valkama, a Youth for Understanding (YFU) Student from Finland, formed a friendship as the only exchange students at New Castle High School in Indiana. Last month, Tommasi and Valkama reunited in Helsinki thanks to a New […]
The following stories are great examples of AFS-USA programs, students and families featured in the media. You can use these pieces to promote AFS in your area and as inspiration for pitching stories to your own local media outlets! AFS Exchange Students in Minnesota Reflect on Study Abroad From learning how to be more independent to […]
Becoming a “welcome” host family for an AFS student offers the chance to discover a new perspective and create a life-long connection with someone from around the world. Plus, welcome families can help make an international high schooler’s first few weeks in the U.S. absolutely unforgettable! Share this opportunity with anyone you know who is […]
Did you know that we offer year, semester and short-term opportunities for families to host an exchange student? We want to make sure everyone knows, especially so we can find placements for all of our “semester” students coming this fall! Share post on Facebook: Highlight and copy one of the sample captions below, then click […]
Today marks the start of Champion’s Month, a nationwide initiative to assist in host family recruitment for select groups of AFS students arriving this August. This initiative will run for approximately six weeks. Resources tailored for these select groups will be sent weekly to all Area Team Chairs and Hosting Volunteers. If you would like […]
The following articles are great examples of AFS-USA programs, students and families featured in the Media. Use these pieces to promote AFS in your area and as inspiration for pitching stories to your own local media outlets! You can find press release templates and pitching tips on the Field Hub, under the Downloads section of […]