Program Impact
Since 2007, Faces of America has provided opportunities for over 630 students from low income and/or underrepresented communities to participate on AFS programs across the AFS network. Most recently, in 2011, the Faces of America program exceeded its goal by 25% and sent 146 students abroad to over 17 countries.
Our community partner organizations value the impact that the AFS experience has on their leadership programs’ outcomes. When students return from an AFS exchange, they are more motivated to finish school and go to college. For example, one of AFS-USA’s CBO partners, Summer Search New York City, has, over the last 7 years, helped over 250 low-income youth in NYC to go on life changing summer experiences and most importantly, to continue on to post-secondary education.
Meet the 2011 Class of Faces of America Scholars
Class of 2011 Demographics
- 95% are low-income, defined as eligible for free and reduced price lunch from the federal government
- 82% are Black or Latino
Academics & Civic Engagement
- 99% plan to attend college
- 84% reported that their participation in their AFS experience impacted their future academic plans
- 91% said that it reinforced their commitment to foreign language study
- 87% plan on volunteering in their local communities
Cultural Development
- 91% reported the AFS experience helped them to better understand their cultural values and biases
- 96% stated the experience continues to influence their interactions with people from different cultures
- 97% said that studying abroad influenced them to seek out a greater diversity of friends
Personal Growth
- 87% reported that studying abroad served as a catalyst for increased maturity
- 90% indicated that it increased self confidence
- 91% said studying abroad enabled them to become more flexible and open to new experiences
- 93% reported an increase in self awareness
- 93% said they were more willing to take risks
