AFS USA

10/15/2026

“Now, when I think of home, it’s not a single place on the map, it’s a patchwork of faces, voices, and memories from around the globe and for this gift given to me by this program I will carry gratitude in my heart forever.” - Ioric from Mozambique, YES Program Alum, hosted in Ohio

Happy YES Appreciation Day! ❤️🎉

Today we’re celebrating our YES Program community: our exchange students, their host families, and the hardworking volunteers that help make their experiences possible.

Whether you’re a YES alum or a longtime host parent, we encourage you to join us in honoring our YES community by...

💙 Connecting with your exchange student, host family, friends, teachers, local coordinator, or anyone else who made your exchange experience special, and letting them know how much you appreciate them

🌍 Holding an in-person or virtual YES reunion

💬 Sharing the impact YES has had on your life or career using

📸 Wearing your YES t-shirt with pride and snapping some then-and-now throwback photos

📱 Revisiting your YES exchange year memories on social media and tagging us

🏡 Sharing the opportunity to host a YES student for the 2027 Spring Semester. For more info, contact [email protected]

To all who make the YES Program such an incredible experience and change lives across the globe – thank you!

10/14/2026

10/14/2026

“I think my collaboration with other people improved significantly as a result of this trip. When you work together, you can achieve so much more.”

Alex Winkels, an AFS-USA participant in Pathfinder: NextGen Careers, one of our pilot U.S.-based programs offered in summer 2026, recently shared his experience in our latest blog post! 💬

Hosted at Miami University of Ohio, Alex explored fields such as quantum physics, artificial intelligence, technology, and entrepreneurship alongside fellow students from across the U.S. 🤖 🧬

Through workshops, presentations, and hands-on exploration, participants connected their interests to real-world career pathways while strengthening skills that are essential for success in an interconnected world, such as collaboration and problem-solving.

🔗 Read more about this program and Alex’s experience: www.afsusa.org/blog/discovering-new-possibilities-through-pathfinder!

10/13/2026

Over the next month, we’ll be spotlighting AFS volunteers across the U.S. and sharing the many reasons they choose to .

Meet Paul, an AFS volunteer from Colorado. For him, one of the most meaningful ways to build understanding is by helping create intercultural experiences for the next generation.

As a volunteer with your local AFS Area Team, you’ll connect with like-minded people, build relationships in your community, and put your values into action.

Find your people. Find your purpose. Find your AFS.

Ready to get involved? Learn more and start your journey at afsusa.org/volunteer.

Shape the lives of tomorrow’s international leaders by joining our network of volunteers worldwide as an AFS volunteer today!

10/12/2026

10/09/2026

Every year, AFS-USA invites study abroad participants and recent alumni to share the beauty, culture, and unforgettable moments of their host countries through our AFS-USA Study Abroad Calendar Contest.

In our recent blog post, we highlight some of our favorite submissions - some of which will be featured in the 2027 calendar! From breathtaking landscapes to everyday moments of connection, each photo offers a glimpse into the unique perspectives and memories created through an AFS experience.

Check out the blog and experience the world through the eyes of our AFS students and alumni: https://www.afsusa.org/blog/2026-study-abroad-calendar-contest-entries

10/08/2026

Alumni, you showed up. 🌎💙 Over 150 AFS-USA alumni came together in San Francisco and Los Angeles for two Alumni Meet-Ups to reconnect, share stories, and meet fellow alumni from across generations.

Some highlights:

📓 Returnees represented every decade of programs from the 1950s through today

🎤 Alumni speakers Calista Huang (U.S. to Ghana, 2019) and Zach Davidson (U.S. to Italy, 2019) shared their stories

🌎 AFS-USA President Tara Hofmann reflected on the power of intercultural exchange and the important role alumni play in carrying that work forward today

📸 Alumni shared photos, newspaper articles, and even some traditional clothing from their experiences abroad

🤝 New connections were formed among alumni who may have never crossed paths before, yet are united by a common AFS story

Whether you went abroad last year or decades ago, your AFS experience is part of a much bigger alumni community. These regional Alumni Meet-Ups are a part of a series designed to bring alumni back together to swap stories, make new connections, and keep the AFS Effect going.

Want to stay connected? Update your contact info so we can keep you in the loop about alumni events, opportunities, and our new alumni newsletter, Unpacked: https://www.afsusa.org/alumni/ -nav-keep-in-touch

10/07/2026

There is still time left to apply for the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) program!

Applications for the 27-28 program close on November 3! If you are a U.S. high school student, this fully funded scholarship gives you the chance to:

🏡 Live with a host family in Germany
🏫 Attend a local high school
🌍 Serve as a citizen ambassador

No German language experience needed! Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity - apply before Nov. 3 at www.USAGermanyScholarship.org

10/05/2026

Happy World Teacher’s Day! 🍎

As an organization rooted in education and peacebuilding, we know the next generation is shaped in large part by their teachers – which is why they deserve to be celebrated!

Through their work to foster understanding, essential skills, and community, teachers play an invaluable role for young people, including our exchange students, every day. We’re incredibly grateful for their dedication to building bridges of peace through the power of knowledge.

We encourage you to show the teachers in your life some extra appreciation today!

📸 Tag us in a photo with your favorite teacher or send us your photos at bit.ly/AFSUSAUpload.