Live without borders

Join a Global Community of over 500,000

Exchange your perspective

  1. Study Abroad

  2. Host a Student

  3. Volunteer in the U.S.

  4. Schools and Educators

Situation in Ukraine

AFS-USA is carefully monitoring the tragic invasion in Ukraine. While we do not currently have participants in Ukraine or Russia, our global network of staff and volunteers, both in Europe and in the United States, continues to provide support to our students and families who may have questions or concerns. The safety and well-being of our participants, staff, and volunteers is always our top priority.

It is at times like this that the clarity and importance of the AFS mission is on full display. The AFS Network is dedicated to continuing the exchange of people and ideas whenever and wherever it is possible to do so. This was true, for example, during the Cold War, when AFS was one of the few organizations in the world still exchanging future leaders between the USA and the former USSR. And this commitment is still strong today.

NBC Chief Foreign Correspondent and AFS Alumnus Richard Engel Addresses the AFS-USA Family

Information for our Partner Schools

We understand that education has taken on a new look and feel over the past year and some of that may continue in the 2021-2022 academic year. Students, families, the U.S. Department of State, and AFS-USA will continue with their goals of intercultural learning and global citizenship while keeping safety as a top priority.

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Our Mission and Impact

100 years of volunteerism. 70 years of exchange.

AFS-USA honors the legacy of its founders—volunteer WWI and WWII American Field Service ambulance drivers—who emerged from the wars with a bold mission: to help prevent future conflict through cultural exchange and understanding.

As a partner in the global AFS network, AFS-USA offers international exchange and education opportunities in over 45 countries and hosts exchange students from 90 countries. True to the spirit of our founders, these intercultural programs are made possible by the dedicated work of AFS Volunteers—more than 4,400 in the U.S. and over 50,000 worldwide.

Our diverse study abroad programs vary in length from a year to a few weeks and cover timely and timeless topics such as sustainability and language learning. What every program has in common is a commitment to fostering intercultural and global competence in our students, host families, schools, and communities. This cultural exchange helps us come together, across typical divides, to make a more peaceful and just world. That’s the #AFSEffect.

Read our Mission & Values

AFS-USA in Action:
Our Response to COVID-19

AFSers are made for times like these—helping us adapt to our biggest challenge in 70 years and enabling us to become an even stronger organization! We continue to navigate the pandemic and while we still have many challenges, right now we have 1,100 students who are either studying here in the US or are US students studying abroad. We are well-poised for increasing success due to the continued interest of students who want to study abroad, and with strong support from host families, volunteers, and people like you.

Embrace Diversity

Embrace Diversity

AFS-USA embraces diversity at every level of our organization.

We are committed to creating safe and supportive intercultural learning opportunities for all high school study abroad participants, including persons with disabilities and people of all gender identities, ethnicities, races, religions, and sexual orientations.

Our Initiatives

The AFS Effect

AFS-USA provides opportunities for intercultural exchange that develop the global competence needed to create a more just and peaceful world. As we’ve consistently demonstrated, AFS nurtures active global citizens who make the world a better place.

Our Impact