Team Overview

Welcome to the Northeast Ohio Area Team website. Our mission is to make the world a smaller place through cultural exchange. AFS-USA exchange student programs not only foster life-long bonds and appreciation for cultural variety, but also provide life-changing experiences for students, host families, and volunteers. Please consider joining us in this worthwhile intercultural mission.

Where are we Located?

AFS-USA’s Northeast Ohio Team serves the following Ohio counties:

  • Ashtabula
  • Trumbull
  • Geauga
  • Columbiana
  • Lake
  • Mahoning
  • Portage
  • Stark
  • Summit

How are we Doing?

The Northeast Ohio Area Team continues to grow in the number of involved volunteers as well as hosting and sending students abroad. Our numbers are approximately as follows:

  • 25 Active AFS Volunteers
  • 20 Students hosted
  • 10 local high school partners
  • U.S. Students who are studying abroad for a year, semester, or summer program
  • 5 Returnees studied abroad last year

Open Volunteer Positions

Interested in Volunteering Opportunities?

Our Northeast Ohio Team offers several opportunities for individuals looking to donate time or resources toward the success of our area and the advancement of our mission. If you have 10 hours a month or 10 hours a year to spare, we have room for you. We are continuously looking for individuals, families or groups that have something to give.

Returnee Coordinator:  Returnee Coordinators are registered AFS-USA Volunteers who are liaisons for recent Returnees in their AFS Team. Returnee Coordinators share local volunteer opportunities with Returnees, organize informal monthly Returnee meet-ups, and coordinate or support Welcome Home Events. Returnee Coordinators develop the skills to communicate effectively with Returnees of all ages.  For additional information on this volunteer opportunity, please select this section heading.

Student/Family Liaison: Liaisons work as a link between the hosted Student, the Host Family and the host school. The Liaison is available for advice (support) on adjusting to various situations that may arise during the exchange experience and as a resource for AFS-USA policy and procedure adherence.  For additional information on this volunteer opportunity, please select this section heading.

Sending Interviewer: We are constantly looking for Volunteers interested in talking with our prospective students and their families to ensure they have the necessary information about the exchange process and to make sure they are the right candidates for an AFS-USA experience.  For additional information on this volunteer opportunity, please select this section heading.

Host Family Interviewer: Similar to that of a Sending Interviewer, the Host Family Interviewer conducts in-home interviews of potential families applying to host our international students. For additional information on this volunteer opportunity, please select this section heading.

Orientation Volunteer: From leading small groups of students and planning orientation sessions, to cooking and cleaning, it takes a small army to run a successful orientation for our Students, Host Families and Volunteers.  For additional information on this volunteer opportunity, please select this section heading.

Liaison:  The AFS-USA Liaison is a volunteer identified as the primary contact for an AFS-USA participant for the duration of their program. As such, the Liaison has a role that is extremely important in maintaining the communication link between the student participant and the AFS-USA organization.

AFS Local & National Scholarships

Contact our Area Team

If you are interested in:

  • HOSTING: If you are interested in hosting one of the students this coming fall, please reach out to Katie Caporossi, our Hosting Coordinator.
  • SENDING: If you are interested in sending a student abroad or going abroad, please contact Marie Bartels, our Sending Coordinator.
  • VOLUNTEERING: The first step in becoming involved as an AFS-USA volunteer is by completing the volunteer registration or contact Debra Bryda, our Volunteer Coordinator.

Calendar of Events

Photos

Northeast Ohio Team