AFS USA

04/30/2026

As we wrap up Volunteer Appreciation Month, we’re spotlighting AFS Exchange podcast episodes that share the many stories of our incredible volunteer network. From local activism to building community, these episodes highlight the many ways AFS volunteers make an impact on countless lives every day!

🎧 Listen now: https://www.afsusa.org/podcast/volunteer-experience-stories-from-the-afs-exchange

04/29/2026

As we wrap up Volunteer Appreciation Month, we are proud to share recognition of and gratitude for the Colorado Rockies Area Team volunteers and key community partners whose dedication made the Youth Talk Program a reality! 🇯🇵🤝

Thanks to the efforts of the Colorado Rockies Area Team and their staff support, this program has brought new people into the AFS community, fostered unforgettable memories for our youth participants, increased visibility for our mission, and laid the foundation for lasting educational experiences.

🔗 Read our blog post to learn more about the positive impact of Youth Talk: https://www.afsusa.org/blog/youth-talk-program-success

AFS Colorado Rockies

We are proud to share recognition of and gratitude for the Colorado Rockies Area Team volunteers and key community partners…

04/28/2026

Chicago is one of the most culturally rich places in the U.S. – the fabric of the city is woven with food, music, and traditions that draw from every corner of the world. This summer, high school students in the U.S. can join us for a unique homestay-based program, examining the legacy of food in Chicago and how our stories around food impact the way we learn and connect with each other as active global citizens.

Through culinary exploration, community engagement, and guided dialogue, you’ll discover the cultural traditions that shape neighborhoods and experiences – recognizing how shared meals and stories can build understanding and common ground.

The Table We Share: Food and Culture program runs from July 26 to August 2, 2026, and scholarships are available!

🔗 Learn more and start your application today: https://www.afsusa.org/domestic-programs/the-table-we-share

About The Table We Share: Food and Culture This one-week, homestay-based program will immerse students in Chicago’s neighborhoods, cultural centers,…

04/27/2026

Whether through martial arts traditions, beloved dishes like sushi and ramen, or the globally celebrated animated films of Studio Ghibli, Japanese culture has had a meaningful influence on life in the United States. It’s no wonder that millions of Americans visit Japan each year! 🇯🇵🌏

While these experiences offer a glimpse into Japanese culture, the best way to truly understand it is by getting to know someone who lives it every day.

By hosting an exchange student from Japan, you can bring countless moments of joy and connection into your home, all while learning about Japanese culture through a new, exciting lens.

🔗 Learn more about the Japanese students who will be arriving in the U.S. this fall at https://bit.ly/JapanPAX26!

Expand your Family's Horizons. Host an International Exchange Student. 2,000+ Students come to the U.S. every year from 90+ countries with AFS-USA.

04/25/2026

Once an AFSer, always an AFSer...and today we’re celebrating you!

In honor of National Alumni Day, we are taking a moment to recognize the global community that makes AFS so special.

📸 Join us in celebrating today by sharing your AFS story! Post a favorite photo or memory from your AFS experience and tag us – share where/when you went, what it meant to you, or how it continues to shape your life today.

Thank you to all our alumni for being a part of our AFS community. You are part of a lifelong network built on connection, curiosity, and cultural understanding.

📧 If you’re an AFS-USA alum, check your email for a special discount on AFS merch! Didn’t get the email? Contact us at [email protected] or visit www.afsusa.org/alumni/ -nav-keep-in-touch - we'll follow up!

04/24/2026

This weekend we're celebrating Global Youth Service Day - where we recognize the positive impact our exchange students have on communities across the U.S. through volunteering! In this video created by Amr from Egypt, who's currently hosted in Chicago, he highlights his fellow Egyptian students and how they've committed to making a difference during their exchange experience.

For AFS exchange students, volunteering not only provides a service to their host communities, but allows them to develop essential leadership skills through civic action such as communication, generosity, and responsibility.

How have you served your community as an AFS exchange student or alum? Post your own stories and tag us so we can reshare! You can also share your experiences with us at bit.ly/AFSUSAUpload.

04/22/2026

Sarah Schnuelle is an AFS-USA host parent, volunteer, and sending parent whose dedication to intercultural exchange spans many chapters of her life. She’s currently hosting an exchange student from Kenya, and her son is currently studying abroad in Latvia!

In this video created by the AFS Chicago Area Team, she discusses her past as a young person with a host sibling from Thailand, and how that inspired her to give her children the same kinds of intercultural experiences through AFS-USA.

By getting involved with AFS-USA, whether that’s through hosting, volunteering, or sending your teen abroad, you can reap the incredible benefits that Sarah highlights through her experience. Visit afsusa.org to learn how you can become part of the !

🎥 Watch this video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tRLAcFelNMg?si=nXaWgC36l_HEfWBt

04/21/2026

For nearly 80 years, AFS-USA has believed that when people truly know one another, they can shape a more peaceful world.

Now, that mission is coming even closer to home.

Our new domestic exchange programs bring students together from across the United States for immersive intercultural experiences - no passport required.

Through shared daily life, reflection, and dialogue, participants build understanding across regions, backgrounds, and beliefs.

Because meaningful exchange isn’t just about crossing borders - it’s about connecting with people who see the world differently.

Learn more: afsusa.org/domestic-programs

🎥 Watch this video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kWk_Acu4zng

04/20/2026

"Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve...You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Happy Volunteer Recognition Day! Our organization is founded in the spirit of volunteerism. We cherish our volunteers for their passion, dedication, and creativity as they make the world a better place through the power of intercultural exchange. From all of us at AFS-USA, thank you to all of the volunteers out there who in their communities and beyond.

04/18/2026

Congratulations to the Youth Assembly Scholarship winners from the U.S.! Awarded by AFS International, two volunteers from AFS-USA Area Teams will be headed to the AFS Youth Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland this summer:

🎓 Federico (Capital Area Team), has been an AFS volunteer in both Italy and the U.S. After studying abroad in Wisconsin during his exchange year, he continued to volunteer with AFS Italy before attending Dartmouth here in the U.S. Now, as a volunteer living in Washington D.C., he’s represented AFS at local events and shared his love of intercultural exchange through student orientations and other team activities.

🎓 Marie (Baltimore Area Team), is a YES Abroad Alumna who spent her exchange year in Malaysia from 2015-16. After returning to the U.S., Marie stayed involved with AFS and YES Abroad (as well as other U.S. Department of State student exchange programs.) Using her personal and professional experiences in the exchange world, Marie has been a liaison for host families in her area and supported both inbound and outbound exchange students.

We wish Federico and Marie a wonderful time in Geneva this year as they continue to through their work with AFS!

04/17/2026

This weekend, we’ll be featuring a takeover from hosted student Marina. This weekend is special for her, as she’s attending her high school prom here in the U.S!

Marina is a hosted student from Spain who’s currently hosted in Hartland, Wisconsin by the Guc family. She has three host siblings – two that are older and out of the house, and one that is a senior at the high school she attends. Her host family also has two dogs! Here’s what she has to say about her host family and her AFS experience so far:

“They are the best family; they welcomed me since the first day as a family member and I never felt that they treated me different than any of their daughters. My exchange year has been great (right now feeling a bit too short), but I've had lots of fun with my family and friends. I love animals, books, shopping and spending time with my friends and family. I'm so excited to do an Instagram takeover, because I want all the kids that are not sure to come to be able to see what a beautiful experience this is.”

Stay tuned this weekend to hear more about Marina’s experience as an exchange student in Wisconsin!

Interested in hosting an exchange student with us? Visit afsusa.org/host to read student profiles!

04/17/2026

Congratulations to the winners of our AFS Growing Together Video contest: The Raca Family, currently hosting Javkhlan from Mongolia and Anatole from France! 🇫🇷 🇲🇳

During our Host Family Appreciation Month celebration, we asked exchange students and their host families to create videos encapsulating the spirit of their AFS experience. The Raca family understood the assignment, submitting this creative video that showcases the joy and connection they’ve found through their time together.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to share with us what being part of a host family means for you. 💙

It’s never too late to send us photos, videos, and stories – visit bit.ly/AFSUSAUpload to share with us today!

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9QtSWghQGH4