AFS-USA Volunteers Bring Student Voices to Chicago’s Airwaves
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month in the U.S.! Volunteers are at the heart of AFS-USA, creating impact in their communities…
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AFS-USA Celebrates Youth Talk Program Success
We are proud to share recognition of and gratitude for the Colorado Rockies Area Team volunteers and key community partners…
From One Student to Thirteen: How Hosting Changed Our Family Forever
By Christina Morales Wood, AFS-USA Host Parent and Board Member Being a host family was never on our agenda. But…
What Happens When You Say Yes to Hosting an Exchange Student: Meet the Dolan Family
The Dolan Family, currently living in Pennsylvania, have hosted three students: Hana from Japan, Kika from Slovakia, and Putt from Thailand, who they call ‘lifelong family…
Voices for Exchange: Reflections from My First Advocacy Day
By Jen Cusick, Director of Alumni Relations, AFS-USA Attending Advocacy Day was both exciting and a little nerve-wracking. It was my first…
How studying abroad inspired Haken Anderson to bike across the world
Haken Anderson is an AFS-USA Study Abroad Alum who lived in Thailand during his 2023-24 exchange year with the Kennedy-Lugar…
Geert’s Legacy: How One AFS Exchange Changed My Life Forever
The following was written by AFS-USA volunteer and host parent Matt Lewis. In the summer of 1973, AFS exchange student…
A Short Time, a Big Connection: Our Experience as a Welcome Family
In late summer of 2017, my husband and I felt compelled to bring an AFS Exchange Student to our community…
How YES Students Made Our Family Grow
My husband Ben and I do not have children. We both come from small but loving families, where we are…
Finding My Voice Through YES: A Journey of Music and Friendship
I’m Mert Özer from Türkiye, a YES alumni from 2024. Participating in the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program…
How Hosting Mudy From Tanzania Changed Our Family Forever
We began hosting Mahmoud “Mudy” Hassan Omar from Tanzania in the fall of 2024 through the YES (Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange…
Beyond 10 Months: The Lasting Impact of YES
When I was 15, I left Türkiye to spend a year in Florence, South Carolina, as a YES student. At…
Why the World Still Needs the YES Program
My name is Sharona Raghoebir, and I had the privilege of being a YES exchange student from Suriname to New…
YES Opened My World — An Open Letter on Why Exchange Matters
My name is Songül Düger, and I am a proud alumna of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program (2015–2016,…
A Year That Changed Everything: My KL-YES Experience
My name is Jasmin Kojjeh, a proud alumna of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program. I participated in…
YES Gave Me a Family, a Future, a Voice
I am Janet Sam-Kobba a current YES alumna from Sierra Leone, West Africa. I was part of the YES 2018…
The Lifelong Value of International Student Exchange
The following article was written by Dennis Tierney, support and volunteer coordinator in the AFS-USA Florida Area Team. I was…
From Tanzania to the US: How the YES Program Shaped My Journey of Leadership and Service
It was in August 2016 when I landed in the United States of America as a Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and…
The Year I Ate My Way Back Home
From midnight Oreo runs to durian in the mountains, Hamza Awaisi’s YES Abroad year in Indonesia was a journey from…
From Kenya to Michigan: How the YES Program Changed My Life
Hi! My name is Brian and I am a proud YES alumnus from Kenya. Ever since I was selected for…
AFS-USA New Board Members: Focus on Strategic Priorities
New York, NY, June 23, 2025 AFS-USA, the largest partner in a worldwide network of non-profit, volunteer-based international education organizations, has welcomed four new members…
What We Do Matters – Now More Than Ever
By Tara Hofmann, President & CEO, AFS-USA In a time of growing division and uncertainty, the work of building understanding…
AFS-USA Study Abroad Photo Contest: A Glimpse into Study Abroad Experiences
At the end of the academic school year, we ask current AFS students who are studying abroad to share the…
Our “Why”: First-Time Host Parents Discover the True Meaning of Global Connection
Ashe Purscell is an AFS volunteer and host parent currently living in Des Moines, Iowa. She and her husband Dan…
Journey to Costa Rica: Gwen (Leonard) McNamara’s AFS Story
In this article, Gwen McNamara describes her journey to Costa Rica with AFS in 1974 and a recent reunion with…
Family Forever: A Host Family’s Reunion
August from Norway reunites with his host family in the USA after 10 years.
Challenging Assumptions: One Host Family’s Journey with AFS-USA
Bradley and Lance are an AFS host family currently living in Madison, Wisconsin. As first-time host parents, they welcomed Daniel…
The Lifelong Benefits of Hosting an Exchange Student for Your Children
There are countless benefits to hosting an exchange student in your home when you have children. AFS exchange students form…
Building a Global Family with AFS-USA
AFS-USA host parents come from all walks of life – while some are retirees or seniors who are looking for…
How Do Our Students Get Here?
Introduction Have you ever wondered what the AFS student application and selection process entails? What makes a great candidate for…
Volunteer Spotlight: Sue Fershing
In honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month, we’re highlighting Sue Fershing, a longtime AFS volunteer and host parent. Here’s what she…
Alumni Spotlight: Abby Verrando
In this article, Abby Verrando, a California high school student in her junior year, responds to a series of questions…
Why I Give to AFS-USA: An Interview with William (Bill) R. MacIntosh
Bill MacIntosh, an AFS-USA alumnus who participated in an exchange program to Brazil (Brasil in Portuguese) from 1964-1965, recently sat…
Colorado Student Receives AATF Scholarship
Bella C. from Colorado Receives AATF & AFS-USA French Summer Language Camp Scholarship We’re excited to announce the recipient of…
Janice Mills and an AFS 50th Year Reunion!
In this article, Janice Mills, an AFS-USA Alumna who went to Sweden with AFS in 1972, shares her experience during…
The Love Language of AFS
AFS programs have a magical way of bringing people together; across oceans, borders, languages, and cultures, participants often can’t help…
School Outreach Celebrates 13 Young Educators
Thirteen young educators have earned full scholarships (sponsored by BP) to attend the annual AFS Youth Assembly in New…
Explore the NSLI-Y Alumni Travel Program: Ganges River Cultural Excursion
Due to the the COVID-19 pandemic, exchange students scheduled to participate in a NSLI-Y Scholarship Program were unable to do…
My study abroad story from Italy to the US: an unexpected return
Tommaso Casavecchi is an AFS-USA Marketing Intern, an AFS alumnus (Italy to U.S., 2018) and a volunteer in his hometown…
7 Reasons You Should Host an Exchange Student
Hosting an exchange student with AFS-USA is not only a wonderful experience for a teen from another country – it’s…
Three Generations of Hosting with AFS-USA
The Quandt family first started hosting with AFS-USA in the 1960s when they welcomed Kashu, a student from Afghanistan, into…
Alumni Spotlight: Natalie Rhodes
In this article, Natalie Rhodes, an AFS-USA Alumna who went to Chile for one semester during her junior year of…
8 Career Paths for Students Who Loved Studying Abroad
Studying abroad while in high school or college is an excellent opportunity for your education and your career. It helps…
4 Ways to Continue Being a Global Citizen After Study Abroad
Nearly 16% of all college students will study abroad at some point during their degree program, and through programs like…
How Studying Abroad Improves Your Career Prospects
There are so many reasons studying abroad is beneficial — you’ll make new friends, explore a different culture, learn new…
An AFS Adventure to Austria in 1968!
This article is written by AFS-USA Alumnus Dave Schrader. Dave is currently an AFS Volunteer in the Greater Los Angeles…
Meet Mikea: AFS Host Student and Global Citizen
Mikea R. is an exchange student from Albania on the YES Scholarship Program (yesprograms.org), hosted by AFS-USA in Rockford, Illinois.…
Why Hosting is a Rewarding Experience
This blog features interviews from the Judy family and two students hosted by Dar Fredrickson in Pennsylvania. Both interviews were…
20 Fun Activities for you and your Exchange Student
Whether you’re hosting a high school exchange student or your relatives from abroad are visiting, these quintessential American activities are…
AFS Welcome Families make a world of difference
What is a welcome family? A welcome family provides a home and a warm welcome for a student for a…
How hosting an exchange student kept me sane after study abroad
AFS/YES Abroad exchange student alumna, Carly, shares her family’s experience hosting Fionn from Germany! Hosting an AFS exchange student from…
How to Enrich Your Family by Hosting
After a friend of theirs decided to host an AFS Exchange Student, Margaret and Matthew C. from Michigan were curious…
Movies from Around the World
For the newest installment in our…From Around the World series, we delve into movies recommended by our hosted students from…
TV Shows from Around the World
For the next post in our…From Around the World series, we explore favorite TV shows recommended by our recent hosted…
7 Simple Ways to Pass Peace Forward
You don’t have to spend lots of money or make a grand gesture to have an impact. In fact, small…
How one Florida dad gained another daughter
Of his time with his current exchange student, Adriana from Germany, Chris recalls making "20 million memories, the greatest of which is life."
Bringing the world into your home: The unexpected effects of hosting an exchange student
An AFS Host Mom discusses how she and her family spread peace through understanding.
A host sister’s perspective – Gaining a sister and an open mind
My family's experience hosting a foreign exchange student has helped shape who I am today.
Welcoming a Host Daughter, Gaining a Friend: An Interview with Emily Humphrey
Emily Humphrey shares the heartwarming story of her relationship with her host daughter Lulu, the power of the #AFSEffect, and the value of intercultural learning.
5 things you always wanted to know about hosting an exchange student
Hosting an exchange student is an amazing opportunity to form lasting personal bonds, share your culture and values, and expand…
Global family; lifetime of hosting starts with “Welcome”
We have gotten to know many wonderful young people, families and volunteers through our affiliations with AFS. Looking forward to traveling and visiting a lot of the young people.
An Interview with AFS Alumna, Amanda Sawyer (U.S. to Spain, 2018-19)
When Amanda first decided to study abroad, her main goal was to learn Spanish. What she didn’t realize was how…
“What culture?” – Why rural areas are perfect for cultural exchange
Rural areas are ideal places to experience cultural exchange, from small-town high school spirit to traditional folk cultures, tightknit communities, and more!
Breakfast from Around the World
For the second installment of our …From Around the World series, we dig into food! Or, more specifically, breakfast. We…
Slang from Around the World
Slang reveals much about a culture and its sense of humor, attitude, and values. It’s the words and expressions we use colloquially that are indicative of regional personality and spirit, as well as our intercultural similarities and differences.
Young Alumni Reflections
For more than 75 years, AFSers like you have helped advance international awareness and cultural understanding while at the same…
The Year That Changed My Life
My AFS journey began in the summer of 1996, when I went on an AFS year program in France.
AFS Families create global friendships that last a lifetime
Hosting sounded like an enjoyable experience with many benefits, so Jacque and her family said “yes!” This began an international friendship that would span 55 years.
How Study Abroad Builds Your Skills and Resume
AFS develops active global citizens who help make the world a better place. Our study abroad programs empower young people…
5 Benefits of Hosting an International Exchange Student in Your School
Educators are always looking for ways to expose their students to new cultures and ideas. In particular, world language teacher…
An Open Letter from a Thai AFSer on Hosting
Grace Madthing is an AFSer from Thailand who turned his experience as an exchange student into a passion for diplomacy…
Music from Around the World
We’ve updated this blog to include responses from our hosted students as part of our …From Around the World series!…
Coming Home: An Interview with AFS Alum, Stephen Zhang (China to U.S., ’07-’08)
In high school, Stephen Zhang knew he was ready for something new. He wondered what it would be like to…
How to Become Multilingual
Many of us dream of being able to effortlessly converse in many languages. Let’s face it—multilingualism is a widely desired…
Why Your Family Should Host an Italian Exchange Student
In today’s era of misleading headlines and political divisions, separating fact from fiction can be tricky, especially when it comes…
Jenny & Beth’s Multicultural Family: “Two is better than one”
Jenny O. and Beth R. were very familiar with foreign exchange and travel– Jenny’s family hosted students three separate times…
6 Ways Studying Abroad in Italy Builds College and Career Choices
Italy is one of the most popular destinations for travelers and it’s clear why – stunning landscapes, striking art and…
What to Pack When You Go Abroad
Maybe you’re rushing to pack before your flight tomorrow and need some quick tips on how to fit your life…
6 lessons from the AFS Returnee who went to space
AFS Returnee Samantha Cristoforetti adjusts her Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuit. Photo Credit: NASA For many AFS participants, studying abroad…
Blog, Study Abroad Articles, Host Family Articles, Volunteer Articles, Educators Articles, Impact Articles, Alumni Articles
My Multigenerational AFS Family
It’s 2018 and I’m sitting in my grandmother’s sunny Ohio kitchen. We just went to two estate sales and are…
Top 25 Benefits of Studying Abroad
Our friends at TakeLessons provided us with this great blog post of the Top 25 Benefits of Studying Abroad! Let’s be…
Say “Yes!” to Hosting: The Lounibos Family
The AFS 2018 Reel Life Winners, The Lounibos Family, share their thoughts on how Lison, their host daughter, changed their lives!
6 Resume-Building Reasons to Study Abroad in France
With over seventeen thousand students studying abroad in France each year, it’s no surprise that the country is one of…
Spotlight On: Terri Windsor, AFS-USA Volunteer and Host Parent
Terri Windsor is an AFS-USA Volunteer and host parent in the Youngstown, Ohio area. In this article, she shares how…
Holiday traditions around the world
Exploring holiday traditions around the world with AFS As your exchange students experienced their first American Christmas, we asked them…
What’s the best way to learn Spanish? We looked at 7 options
Spanish is one of the most widely-spoken languages on the planet. Whether you want to study abroad in Buenos Aires…
My study abroad story: People welcomed me with an open heart
Hello! My name is Aqsa and I currently live in the Pacific Northwest as an AFS Exchange Student. I came…
Making the world your home
The following blog post was written by Rebecca A. Eckland, an AFS Returnee who studied abroad in France in 1999. Today,…
6 study abroad photos you can’t go home without
When you go abroad, you have the chance to make new friends, develop unique cultural insights, and see the world…
6 Steps to Promote Intercultural Learning in Your Classroom
Milton Bennet, from the Intercultural Research Development Institute defines intercultural learning as an “area of research, study and application of…
9 study abroad tips for students and parents
When you’re curious about traveling the world, it’s natural to feel excited…and not altogether prepared. Check out these words of…
These 11 things will make you dream of Spain
At some point, we’ve all had our imaginations stirred by Spanish culture. From the intricate patterns of brightly-colored mosaics to…