AFS Intercultural Programs

AFS Global You Adventurer is our 5-week virtual exchange program that connects teens from all continents. Participants dive deep into multiple cultures through interactive online sessions, exciting projects, and live discussions with inspiring peers and mentors. Our 2025 cohorts are filling up fast! See all dates below: ?? February 4 – March 14 ?? May 6 – June 13 ?? July 1 – August 8 ?? August 5 – September 12 ?? September 2 – October 10 ?? October 7 – November 15 ?? November 4 – December 12 Find out more! ?? afs.org/adventurer #AFSeffect #VirtualExchange

This #GivingTuesday, we're thrilled to support AFS Intercultural Programs for our 7th year running! Why AFS? They empower the next generation of youth to become active global citizens. Their cultural exchange programs foster understanding, empathy, and collaboration – building blocks for a more just and peaceful world. Make your donation go further! Join us in supporting this world-changing program: https://lnkd.in/eRzhJmq

3,000 students and 120 educators will have joined AFS Global Up Americas by May 2025. This is a fully-funded virtual exchange program for educators and students in Colombia, Mexico, and the United States to develop crucial global competence skills for the 21st century. This program, which is a part of AFS’s growing virtual exchange portfolio, was developed in partnership with and is supported by The Stevens Initiative at the Aspen Institute. A Global Up Americas educator from the United States reflects, “This course helped me listen to people with different perspectives. It helped me understand, empathize, and avoid making generalizations.” A student from Mexico echoes this sentiment, sharing, “This program pushed me out of my comfort zone. It’s helping me become a better communicator and be more reflective of my own growth.” Find out more: https://lnkd.in/dmbfKRGi #AFSeffect #virtualexchange

Giving Tuesday is a time to celebrate generosity and support great causes. We are honored that AFS has the support of Global Gateway Advisors who share the belief in our mission to foster global understanding, knowledge, and experiences. Every donation to AFS International’s Global Impact Fund through December 3 will be matched, up to a total of $5,000 thanks to Global Gateway Advisors! Make your contribution here: afs.org/donate #GivingTuesday #AFSeffect #donate

Virtual exchanges are crucial to developing active global citizens and help expand access to international education. I’m especially proud of "Global Up Americas", a scholarship-based virtual exchange program for educators and students in the Americas to develop global competence skills. By May 2025, AFS Intercultural Programs will have enrolled 3,000 students and 120 educators from Colombia, Mexico, and the United States. Huge thanks to the The Stevens Initiative at the Aspen Institute for the amazing partnership and support. This program is making a real impact by expanding empathy and cross-cultural understanding! Special thanks to the many individuals who make Global Up Americas possible: Christine Shiau, Linda Stuart, Jill Woerner, Carolina Cortés Jiménez, Jennifer Andrea Mendoza Cortés, Claudia Rojas, Maria Acenet Cetina, and Isabel Moctezuma. In the past decade, more than 25,000 professionals, educators and young people have obtained the AFS Global Competence Certificate as a result of participating in a virtual exchange program. Happy International Education Week! #VirtualExchange #IEW #intled #globalcitizenship

Get ready for an AFS virtual celebration: Volunteer Global Meetup is coming up on Sunday, December 1st at 8 am ET! The AFS Volunteer Global Meetup is a unique opportunity to connect with other AFSers, share experiences, and honor the incredible impact that each volunteer makes in advancing the AFS mission. Register here: https://lnkd.in/e2i4x7DC? #AFSeffect #volunteer #AFSvolunteers

Join us for a webinar today at 2 PM ET to explore the transformative impacts of hosting international students on families, presenting key findings and insights from a global survey conducted with 3,000 former host families. Whether you’re a current host, considering hosting, or interested in the dynamics of cultural exchange, this webinar will provide valuable perspectives on the powerful role families play in shaping active global citizens. Register now: https://lnkd.in/dbrB4MDz #AFSeffect

AFS representatives joined discussions during the APEC CEO Summit 2024 in Peru, and convened a Youth Forum for 30 young leaders to showcase their work to change the world. The discussions revealed key issues affecting young people and what they need from policy makers to make progress: equitable access to quality education, an innovation ecosystem, a favorable policy landscape, access to funds, and opportunities to engage and partner with others. Thank you to Larissa Cevallos, who serves on the AFS Youth Assembly Advisory Council and who leads United Peruvian Youth, for your partnership on this Youth Forum. AFS President and CEO, Daniel Obst shared a key reflection of one of the world leaders who joined the APEC event: "Prosperity comes from peace. Peace comes from understanding. And understanding comes from engagement." #AFSeffect

Congratulations to the 2024 Finalists for The Forum on Education Abroad's Award for Advancing the UN SDGs Through Education Abroad: ? AFS Intercultural Programs ? ASU College of Global Futures ? CIS Abroad - Center for International Studies ? Temple University Education Abroad and Overseas Campuses ? University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign IGlobal Program The Forum’s Award for Advancing the UN SDGs through Education Abroad honors member institutions and organizations whose education abroad programs promote economic, environmental, and social sustainability. By recognizing members who have made significant progress towards the SDGs, The Forum hopes to inspire the field as a whole to contribute to a more sustainable future for all. https://lnkd.in/diV9ecqY Thank you to Authentica for sponsoring the 2024 award! #IEW2024 #UNsdgs #sdgs2030 #educationabroad #internationaleducation #advancingSDGsabroad #congrats

Are you curious about education in emergencies, empowering young leaders or intercultural facilitation skills? AFS is organizing webinars on each of these topics today in celebration of International Education Week! Register now to join us: ?? Education in Emergencies & Initiatives for Refugees at 8 AM ET with Mursalina Amin Girls Toward Leadership, Katy Noble Teach For All and Saskia Kaya & Sean Reilly AFS ?? Empowering Global Leaders: How the AFS Youth Assembly Can Transform Your Students at 11:30 AM ET with Hector Palencia MA,LCSW,PPSC UCLA, Wantoe Wantoe and Syed M. Ali Mustafa AFS ?? The Experiential Edge: Fostering Intercultural Competence through Facilitation at 2 PM ET with Darla K. Deardorff UNESCO Story Circles, Heather Harkess Soliya, Claudia Rojas and Pablo Cornejo AFS https://lnkd.in/eDQPcRp4 #AFSeffect #IEW #IEW2024