AFS USA

For this month’s episode of the AFS Exchange podcast, we’re sharing a story from a host family in California whose introduction to AFS began back in the 1970s.

Matt Lewis met a young AFSer from Belgium named Geert back in 1973, sparking a lifelong friendship and a major ripple effect. From road trips in high school to Matt acting as a casual groupie on tour with Geert’s band in the South of France years later, this one connection changed everything. Decades after that initial meeting, it inspired Matt and his wife, Wendy, to open up their own doors as AFS host parents and volunteers in Southern California.

As you'll hear in the episode, hosting gave them a brand-new family on the other side of the planet - and connections that have taught them so much.

🎙️ Listen now at afsusa.org/podcast!

As we continue highlighting incoming AFS participants from around the world, we’re sharing a bit about why you should host an exchange student from China! 🇨🇳

Swipe through this post to learn more about our students from China, as well as the many ways you can enrich your family and community through hosting an AFSer.

🔗 Ready to begin your hosting journey? Visit bit.ly/CHNPax26 to explore the bios of exchange students from China arriving in the U.S. this fall!

What qualities make AFS-USA volunteers special? 💙

Dedication. Reliability. Creativity. Passion. Patience. Persistence.

AFS-USA volunteers are dynamic and different, but they all have one thing in common: they spend precious time and energy making meaningful connections between people.

Help us celebrate volunteers from your area team by nominating them for the AFS-USA Volunteer Awards! 🏆

Nominations will be accepted until July 15, 2026. AFS-USA Volunteers can check out our designated Help & Learning article for more info and to access the nomination forms. Questions can be directed to the AFS-USA Volunteer Recognition Committee at [email protected].

Thanks for helping us recognize the incredible work of our AFS-USA Volunteers!

This week, we’re highlighting incoming AFSers from countries across Europe – starting with Italy! 🇮🇹

Swipe through this post to learn more about Giovanni from Italy and discover the meaningful experiences that can come from welcoming an Italian exchange student into your family.

🔗 Ready to begin your Italian hosting journey? Visit bit.ly/AFSItaly26 to explore the bios of exchange students from Italy arriving in the U.S. this fall!

What comes to mind when you think of France? Perhaps your first thought is of an iconic landmark like the Eiffel Tower, or a famous work of art like the Mona Lisa. 🇫🇷🥐

A lot of people in the U.S. dream of checking France’s well-known sights off their travel checklist - but not all will have the unique opportunity to experience its rich layers of tradition, culture, and history from someone who knows it best.

When you welcome an exchange student from France into your home, you’re experiencing more than just the common cultural snippets you might see on TV or read in a guidebook. Allowing yourself to connect with a French exchange student is an opportunity to get to know the deeper beauty France has to offer!

🏡 Learn more about the French students who will be arriving in the U.S. this fall at https://bit.ly/FRAPax26!

Welcome an International Exchange Student to your Family - AFS-USA 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.

Great news! The application deadline for two of AFS-USA's domestic programs has been extended to June 5, 2026, and scholarships are still available.

🏔️ Lewis and Clark: Immersive learning through history and culture in the Pacific Northwest

🍲 The Table We Share: Culinary exploration and community engagement in Chicago

Apply today for a summer of discovery, cultural connection, and meaningful experiences, no passport required: www.afsusa.org/domestic-programs

Don’t miss your chance to take part in programs that bring students together from all over the country.

For nearly 80 years, AFS-USA has worked to through the power of intercultural exchange. Before AFS became a student exchange organization, AFS volunteers served as ambulance drivers during both World Wars, providing aid to soldiers regardless of nationality or side of the conflict.

Their experiences inspired a mission rooted in building peace and understanding across cultures — a mission that continues today through student exchange, volunteerism, and global citizenship.

This , we honor the legacy of our founders by continuing their work of connecting people and ideas across borders.

🎧 Explore the impact of AFS-USA at afsusa.org/impact and listen to Voices of AFS — a special podcast collection sharing stories from across AFS history: www.afsusa.org/podcast/voices-of-afs

Learn more or get involved at afsusa.org!

Last week, YES Abroad program alumni visited Capitol Hill with AFS-USA staff. These students studied abroad in India, Indonesia, and Thailand and recently returned to the U.S. after their exchanges!

Meeting with U.S. representatives is an important part of advocating for exchange programs. When exchange alumni have the opportunity to share their experiences firsthand, policymakers can better understand how these programs transform lives, strengthen global connections, and equip young people with valuable skills for the future.

Photos:

- Madeline B. and Evelyn E., YES Abroad India

- Grace N., YES Abroad to India, with Representative John Moolenar of Michigan

- Samuel C., YES Abroad to India, with Representative Al Green of Texas

- Aoife C. and Grace N., YES Abroad to India, with Keri Dooley, Executive Vice President of AFS-USA, on the Hill

- Madeline B. and Evelyn E., YES Abroad India, with Representative Betty McCollum of Minnesota, and her assistant Sophia Schilling.

Learn more about our Public Diplomacy Initiatives here: https://www.afsusa.org/about-afs/public-diplomacy-initiatives

The latest edition of the AFS-USA Passport Newsletter is here! 🌍

In this issue, we highlight the life-changing connections and experiences created through AFS-USA—from the impact of our new domestic programs to inspiring alumni stories that remind us why our mission of fostering intercultural understanding remains so vital today.

Read the Spring 2026 issue of The Passport: https://www.flipsnack.com/958A9FD6AED/spring-2026-passport-newsletter

Spring 2026 Passport Newsletter Flipsnack is a digital catalog maker that makes it easy to create, publish and share html5 flipbooks. Upload a PDF or design from scratch flyers, magazines, books and more.