When I was growing up, one of the most exciting programs we had in our high school was the foreign exchange program (AFS). A reciprocal program to encourage American students to study for a semester or for a year overseas and to allow foreign students to come to America to do the same.
It was an exchange of cultures and ideas and it wove colorful threads into the tapestry of not only the high school itself, but through each and every student that attended and had a chance to exchange ideas and cultures.
Here in Platte County we currently have four foreign exchange students who have brought a lot of joy and so much information about what it’s like on the other side of our world. With the resurgence of renewed communications with our young people, AFS
“AFS-USA invites families and individuals from the area and surrounding communities to become hosts for international students for 12 weeks, a semester, or an academic year,” Emily Kowalenko of AFS-USA said. “Exchange students represent nearly 80 countries and cultures, including Kenya, Ukraine, Egypt, Türkiye, Italy, Germany, Chile, Thailand and more.
“Hosting provides individuals, families, high schools, and communities with opportunities to learn about the unfamiliar by exploring a diversity of cultures, all while sharing their own culture with a young person from a different country.”
Kowalenko goes on to say that In an age when international relations are often tenuous, AFS-USA, a leader in international high school student exchange for 75 years, is focused on providing opportunities for intercultural exchange that can help lead to a more just and peaceful world.
“Hosting provides individuals, families, high schools, and communities with opportunities to learn about the unfamiliar by exploring a diversity of cultures, all while sharing their own culture with a young person from a different country,” Kowalenko said.
“AFS-USA nurtures active global citizens who make the world a better place,” AFS-USA President and CEO Tara Hofmann said. “Every new AFS student is another global citizen in progress—an individual primed to help build a more just world that reflects peace and fellowship. The impact doesn’t stop with the students. Host families’ lives are transformed by students from across the globe and host communities gain greater cultural diversity.”
According to AFS information, once students and host families are matched, they receive ongoing support from trained staff and are welcomed into their local chapter of dedicated volunteers, alumni, and fellow host families. One thing that sets AFS-USA apart is the network of almost 3,000 volunteers throughout the U.S. Many volunteers have hosted international exchange students or studied abroad with AFS and will support families, students, and schools in gaining the most from their hosting experience.
“These students attend local high schools, participate in local community life, and are encouraged to share aspects of their culture,” Hofmann said. “They also discover first-hand what it’s like to live in America and form lasting friendships that create enduring links between the U.S. and other countries. In many cases, the bonds that form between AFS students and their host families last a lifetime.”
“AFS-USA is the largest organization within the international AFS network that includes 54 partners around the globe,” Kowalenko said. “Those interested in hosting an AFS Exchange Student are encouraged to contact 1-800-AFS-INFO or visit www.afsusa.org for more information. For those interested in studying abroad please browse our programs and apply now to start your journey. You can also get involved as an AFS-USA Volunteer. Visit www.afsusa.org/volunteer to get started or learn more about opportunities to make a difference.”
