From the AFS-USA President & CEO, Tara Boyce-Hofmann

Those of us in the global education community continuously strive to prepare students for a rapidly evolving world, giving them concrete opportunities to develop global competence and intercultural understanding. To support this endeavor, AFS-USA is once again offering Global Citizen Scholarships and Aid (GCSA), our world class scholarship program that aims to make our life-changing study abroad programs accessible to students from all financial backgrounds.

This aid package, made possible by the generosity of our donors, offers more than $1 million in merit and need-based awards to support students in summer, semester, and year programs. Scholarships range from partial to full program funding, ensuring that as many students as possible can access these transformative experiences.

I invite you to share this opportunity with your students and their families so that they can explore new cultures, learn new languages, and expand their global perspectives – even if they’ve previously seen study abroad as financially out-of-reach. For more information, visit our study abroad scholarships webpage where your students can find details on how to apply and take their first steps toward a global education journey.

As always, all of us at AFS-USA thank you for your ongoing dedication to fostering global awareness in our youth. Together, we can help them become the global citizens our world so urgently needs.

Scholarships Galore!

​​​​Start the school year off the right way by sharing numerous scholarships to help your students and colleagues grow into active global citizens! Keep reading for information about FOUR scholarships for students, ONE for young teachers to build a global network in New York and THREE for you to connect with colleagues around the world!

For Students

The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) program provides scholarships for eligible American high school students and recent graduates to spend an academic year of study and cultural immersion in Germany. Scholarship recipients will serve as “youth ambassadors” as they gain a new perspective on global current affairs and German social, economic, and political life, all while learning the German language through language lessons, day-to-day life, attending a local high school, and living with a host family. The deadline is November 1, 2024. Share this program announcement and digital flyer!

The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program provides scholarships for eligible American high school students and recent graduates to learn critical languages in overseas programs. The program focuses on language instruction, while providing participants with cultural experiences in the host community and sparking a lifetime interest in languages and cultures. Summer and academic year programs are available for Indonesian, Persian (Tajiki), Turkish, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean, and Russian. The deadline is November 4, 2024. Hang up this poster to share the opportunity with your students!

NSLI for Youth Logo and Scholarships to Study Language Abroad

The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad program provides scholarships for eligible American high school students and recent graduates to live with host families and attend a local high school for an academic year in Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Türkiye and more. Through the YES Abroad program students develop leadership skills, international competence, and an understanding of global interests and values shared across cultures. The deadline is December 4, 2024. Share this program announcement and digital flyer!

The American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) and AFS-USA have partnered to provide a $7,500 scholarship for eligible U.S. high school students studying French to experience the beauty of the French language and culture in July 2025 in France. The program focuses on language learning, while students have cultural experiences in the host community sparking a lifetime interest in France and the Francophone culture. AATF Members may nominate up to 3 students. Merit and financial need are taken into consideration for this scholarship. Nominations are due on November 24, 2024. Share this digital flyer with your students!

Want your students to learn more about these programs from someone who’s been there and done that? Sign up by Sept. 16th to have scholarship alumni or AFS staff to give a virtual presentation to your students during your club or class time!

Teacher Scholarships & Opportunities

Have any new colleagues that are thinking globally? We just wrapped up the 2024 AFS Youth Assembly where 13 rockstar U.S. educators joined 35 educators from around the globe to learn, network, and explore the possibilities of intercultural and global learning along with infusing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into their instruction. If you have a colleague who will be 32 years old or younger next August, sign up here to be notified when the nominations open so you can help them attend the 2025 AFS Youth Assembly in New York from August 7-10 with a scholarship!

Do you want to learn alongside educators from around the world? AFS Effect+ for the Classroom is a full-scholarship virtual capacity-building program for secondary teachers who want to learn about key concepts and principles of global citizenship education, and how to foster it with their students. Apply before October 13th for the AFS Effect+ for the Classroom scholarship so you can build your skills and your global network this fall.

Are your students eager to connect with students abroad? Give them an authentic audience for their work by participating in a fully grant-funded virtual exchange with a classroom in Mexico or Colombia. Students can engage in English, Spanish, or a combination. The global competence learning to support the live discussions is provided along with the teacher training and logistical support. The next teacher training begins in October so fill out the interest form to be part of the AFS Global Up Americas program today!

If you have less time, but still want a partner abroad, consider a Meet & Greet. Join educators in France at a virtual Meet & Greet event. Come for as much of the hour as your schedule allows (since we know you have class that day) and meet teachers who are eager to connect with teachers in the U.S. You can make a new friend, build a project together, or establish a connection for a physical class-to-class exchange. The possibilities are endless! Choose between October 15 and 16 and register today!

AFS Intercultural Club Toolkit

Save time this year with a toolkit to run any sort of international or intercultural club! The AFS Intercultural Club Toolkit is filled with activities and resources for up to two club meetings per month. Plus, you’ll find more than a dozen supplemental activity ideas and resources for extra meetings or events throughout the year.

If you don’t yet have an intercultural or international club at your school, this guide will help you start one with chartering resources, flyers, and helpful tips.

Do you have an AFS or International club at your school?
If so, we want to celebrate you. Tell us more about it HERE!

Nominations Are Open – AFS Global Awards

It’s that time of year when we want to celebrate educators and schools and their global engagement! Please think about your colleagues and your school and consider nominating one of them for the AFS Global Awards. Each year we have national finalists and a winner for both awards. Both winners travel to Northern Virginia where they receive their awards in person, attend a cultural conference with individuals from around the world, and meet members of the U.S. Department of State! Consider nominating, yourself, a colleague, or your school today!

Everyone at AFS-USA is thrilled to welcome you back to a new school year. We know that comes with responsibility and a lot of investment of time. We’re always working on new intercultural activities and ideas for you and your classroom, so if there’s something you are looking for, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! Have a great school year ahead!

Stay tuned in our next edition of this newsletter for even more opportunities for you and your students!

Jill Woerner
Sr. Director of Education and Outreach to Schools

AFS-USA, Inc.

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