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 had to say about her experience with AFS-USA over the…
Volunteer Articles
Alumni Spotlight: Abby Verrando
In this article, Abby Verrando, a California high school student in her junior year, responds to a series of questions about her experience in the AFS Youth Ambassador Sustainability Program…
2023 AFS Volunteer Awards
Congratulations to the 2023 AFS Volunteer Awardees! The Galatti Award Established in 1983, the Galatti Award, bestowed in memory of Stephen Galatti, the Director General of AFS for more than…
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 and South Bay Chapter who is greatly involved with orientation…
My AFS Experience: Hosting, Studying Abroad, and Volunteering
My name is Tori and I’m a current AFS Volunteer, Returnee from Japan (2010), and past host sister. I’m here to share my experience with AFS for anyone who’s curious…
Women Volunteers and Suffragettes in WWI
The early twentieth century brought forth opportunities for women beyond the home front: work, education, social reform, and political engagement. While many conservative Americans fought against this change in gender roles and believed women needed to be home, World War I served as a catalyst for volunteerism and ultimately, women’s suffrage.
One year later: Local Projects from AFS-USA’s LIFT Workshop
How does AFS-USA, a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization with more than 70 years of experience, continue to improve the ways that it engages with local communities? At one level, the organization…
Congratulations to AFS-USA’s 2019 Volunteer Recognition Awardees!
November 21, 2019—A half dozen volunteers received awards and honors during a Friday evening ceremony at the AFS-USA Volunteer Summit in Minneapolis, MN. The awards, given annually, are meant to…
New Research Report, “Creating Global Citizens: The AFS Effect”
NEW YORK, N.Y., November 6, 2019—AFS released a large-scale research report on Tuesday, focused on the impact that AFS exchanges have on the lives and careers of participants. The full-scale,…
Study Abroad Articles, Host Family Articles, Volunteer Articles, Educators Articles, Alumni Articles
Everyday Ambassadors: Public Diplomacy and Why It Matters
When we think of international diplomacy, we might imagine heads of state at official meetings, but in fact everyone can (and should) engage in diplomacy.
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 on our way to a quilting expo. She’s a consummate…
AFS Volunteer Awards Season is Here!
We are excited to announce the 2016 AFS Volunteer Awards! Once every year, a winner for each award is chosen from the entire AFS global community. This is a great…
5 Ways You Can Practice Hometown Diplomacy
Hometown Diplomacy is the process through which individual citizens facilitate lasting, positive relationships with citizens of other countries through sharing something very close to their hearts: the places they call…
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 her AFS journey began, her work with the AFS Northeast…
Spotlight On: Janne Harrelson and Patti Rounsevell
How did you learn about AFS and what prompted you to get involved? Patti is an AFS returnee (Costa Rica, 1966) and learned about AFS from her high school’s AFS…
Spotlight On: Stephanie Davidson
Meet Stephanie Davidson of Helotes, Texas. She’s an AFS returnee who participated in two AFS Summer Study Abroad programs: A community-service based program in Panama and a Spanish language immersion…
Spotlight On: Danielle Tye
Meet Danielle Tye…This is her 11th year volunteering with AFS! When people ask what her hobbies are, she always says “AFS.” Whether serving on the National Council, planning the National…
Spotlight On: Jill Goldsmith
How did you learn about AFS and what prompted you to get involved? I was involved in the AFS club in my high school in the late 1970s and loved…
Spotlight On: Paula McElroy
Meet Paula McElroy, of Silverwood Michigan. She’s a high school teacher, history buff, wife and parent who has made cultural exchange an essential part of her daily life. Since 2002,…
Spotlight On: Bob Rushing
Meet Bob Rushing of Silverspring, Maryland. He’s a long-time AFSer who has worn numerous hats in the organization, from host brother to host dad to volunteer. Here is his AFS…
Spotlight On: Sandra Caporossi
How did you learn about AFS and what prompted you to get involved? My daughter was in eighth grade and wanted a sister! Unfortunately, I could not have any more…
Spotlight On: Eric Mattlin
Meet Eric Mattlin of Chicago. A relative newcomer to AFS, Eric is an active member of the Greater Chicago team and is amazed how much of an impact AFS has…
Spotlight On: Ann Sweet
Meet Ann Sweet of Williamsville, New York. Her energy for AFS is limitless. She has hosted 16 AFS students, been a Support and Event Coordinator and sits on the Volunteer…
Spotlight On: Kathleen Broda
Meet Kathleen Broda. She first became aware of AFS in 7th grade from her English teacher whose son was studying on an AFS program in France. When asked about her…
Spotlight On: Christy Hedrick
How did you learn about AFS and what prompted you to get involved? In the late summer of 2012 a co-worker shared an email from AFS that nine students needed…
Spotlight On: Carol McCaulley
Meet Carol McCaulley of California’s Silver and Gold Team. In her countless years as an AFS volunteer, she has served in nearly every volunteer role imaginable. When asked what she…
Global Competency in Action: An AFS-USA Volunteer Fights Ebola in West Africa
March 3, 2015 – When Dr. Coleen Cunningham isn’t busy being a mother to her five children, an accomplished infectious disease physician, and a professor at the Duke University School of…
Spotlight On: Hannah Brusewitz
How did you learn about AFS and what prompted you to get involved? I learned about AFS when I was 16 from a co-worker who was preparing to go to…
Spotlight On: Allison Case Barton
Allison was enthralled by the AFS stories of her uncle who spent a year in Spain in the early 60s and in 1976, she too, was able to experience the…
Spotlight On: Alison Colaluca
How did you learn about AFS and what prompted you to get involved? I grew up fifteen minutes away from C.W. Post College and heard through my AFS High School…
True Stories of Outstanding Volunteers
April 16, 2015 – AFS has been a volunteer-driven organization for nearly 70 years. Volunteerism is at the core of our philosophy, and our incredible network of 40,000 volunteers worldwide…
Spotlight On: Lana Davis Boyle
How did you learn about AFS and what prompted you to get involved? I had a friend from Australia with AFS who was attending our school on an AFS program.…
Spotlight On: Michelle Brenner
How did you learn about AFS and what prompted you to get involved? My daughter’s dance teacher is a long time AFS volunteer and host family so I was aware…
Spotlight On: Ruth Blackstock
How did you learn about AFS and what prompted you to get involved? My friend, Agnes Matheson’s daughter, Marina, was on AFS exchange to Switzerland. She knew of my love…
Spotlight On: Kathleen Collins
For the month of March we are proud to feature Kathy Collins of the Lake Superior Team in our Volunteer Spotlight. Kathy has the title of Chair –and a couple…
Spotlight On: Janet Gaudet
Janet Gaudet became involved with the Greater Illinois Team after getting to know the hosted student of a close friend. Over the year she had the opportunity to get to…
How Local Volunteers Solidify New Global Friendships
August 4, 2015 – What does a small American town on the Oregon coast have to do with international diplomacy, anyway? More than you might think… Tillamook, Oregon, is the site…
Spotlight On: Stassa & Jay Phillips
This month we are excited to be spotlighting an AFS COUPLE! Jay and Stassa Phillips of the Ohio River Valley Team have been involved with AFS since 1991 when they…
Spotlight On: Christine McGarvey
Meet Christine McGarvey of the Baltimore Team. She has been a host mom, a liaison, a hosting coordinator and a group leader at orientations. Being a part of AFS has…
Spotlight On: Rio Orticio
Rio Orticio knows first-hand what it is like to come to a different country to study. Because of his experiences as an international student, Rio is dedicated to ensuring that…
Spotlight On: Katherine Weber
This month AFS USA is pleased to spotlight Katherine (Kate) Weber of the Michigan Team. Kate is a relative newcomer to the world of AFS. Registering for the first time…
Spotlight On: Nancy Bridges
How did you learn about AFS and what prompted you to get involved? A daughter of friends had been an AA and they had hosted. They approached us as possible…
Spotlight On: Marie Tonus
How did you learn about AFS and what prompted you to get involved? My son David was an alternate to go abroad with AFS. He was not selected but I…
Spotlight On: Kristin Svec
How did you learn about AFS and what prompted you to get involved? I heard about AFS as a teenager at East Peoria Community High School. I was friends with…
Spotlight On: Marla Gamble
How did you learn about AFS and what prompted you to get involved? I became aware or AFS as a high school teacher in Fairborn, Ohio as I had contact…
Spotlight On: Jean Goecks
How did you learn about AFS and what prompted you to get involved? My daughter was a semi finalist for a CBYX scholarship. When that didn’t happen, she was encouraged…
Spotlight On: Lynn Adams
How did you learn about AFS and what prompted you to get involved? I was a teacher at Washburn High School where the French teacher started the AFS program at…
Spotlight On: Rio Orticio
Rio Orticio knows first-hand what it is like to come to a different country to study. Because of his experiences as an international student, Rio is dedicated to ensuring that…
Spotlight On: Kathleen Birkhimer
How did you learn about AFS and what prompted you to get involved? I was an exchange student on the CBYX program with AFS. What keeps you coming back to…
National Volunteer Week brings worlds together in Charlotte
April 30, 2018 — Charlotte, NC– At the tail end of Charlotte’s Do Good Week (National Volunteer Week), 14 exchange students and host family members of AFS Greater Charlotte joined…
Volunteer Appreciation Month: Rachael (Newer Volunteer)
For Volunteer Appreciation Month, AFS GPS would like to spotlight and thank one of our outstanding volunteers! Rachael is new to volunteering with GPS this year, and does a fabulous…
Announcing the Winners of the 2017-2018 Project: Change Contest
We’re happy to announce the winners of the 2017 AFS Project: Change contest! Five young change-makers will be traveling to Kenya this summer to carry out a volunteer project focusing…
What I learned from volunteering with refugees
Former AFS Study Abroad Specialist Hillary Weinberger shares her experience on her adventures with AFS students in Hungary. I’ve always said that the most important part about traveling is food. I…
The Volunteers: Americans Join World War I, 1914-1919 Curriculum
April 25, 2016 – AFS is proud to announce the launch of The Volunteers: Americans Join World War I, 1914-1919, a unique and relevant curriculum about American volunteers in World War…
6 ways to get your hands dirty volunteering in Costa Rica
It’s easy to see why everyone’s interested in sustainable agriculture these days. By adopting new farming practices that focus on sustainability, we can develop smarter ways to feed our planet…