This month AFS-USA is pleased to spotlight Carla Bailey of the Greater Cleveland team. Congratulations Carla!
Pictured Left to Right:
Adja (YES-Senegal), Sneha (Daughter-in-law), Septeswa (YES-Indonesia) Fatoumata (YES-Mali), Miles (Son, AFS Returnee-Japan), Janine (Daughter, AFS Returnee-Thailand), Carla
How did you learn about AFS and what prompted you to get involved?
In 2012, my son Miles came home from school and asked if he could go to Japan with AFS. He had learned about AFS from our AFS Club advisor Adrienne Yelsky. At that time AFS had been in our local high school since the 1950s. The following summer, my son left for Nagoya, Japan.
What keeps you coming back to volunteer each year?
Years ago, I was asked to be the Coordinator of the students from the Sponsored Programs part of AFS. Since that time, I have found my passion, not only have I been the Cluster Coordinator, I have been a welcome family, emergency placement and hosted over 20 students. The years when I tell myself I am going to take a break one of the AFS students needs a place to call home and I welcome them with open arms, year after year.
What have you learned or how have you been personally affected from your experience with AFS?
AFS has changed the way I see myself in the world, and enhanced my cultural competency. Personally, AFS students have allowed me to explore the world in a more up close and personal way. AFS has not only taught me, but my entire family to be more tolerant, understanding and accepting of those from other cultures. I have learned the “use of self” to change the world, one AFS student at a time.
Please share the best thing or funniest thing that’s happened to you while volunteering with AFS:
My relationship with my AFS sons and daughters truly begins to develop and blossom once they arrive back in country. A funny story about hosting with AFS was when my host daughter from Mozambique put Dawn liquid dish soap in the dishwasher, started the dish washer and we left to go get a pizza. Upon returning home, suds were over the entire kitchen and spilling well into the dining room of our house.
What do you want to say to people who might be interested in volunteering with AFS?
Once you volunteer with AFS it will change who you are from the inside out.
What’s one thing AFS volunteers and staff don’t know about you?
AFS volunteers and staff don’t know that every day I work with refugees and immigrants teaching them English and Culture in the USA. Being a host mom has helped me ten fold on my job understanding newcomers to the USA and helping them assimilate, learn English and feel welcome in America.