Santa Clarita Valley-based volunteers of AFS Intercultural Programs will host a free informational event about high school foreign exchange student opportunities on Saturday, March 9, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
at the Valencia Branch of the Santa Clarita Community Library.

A non-profit leader in international high school student exchange for 70 years, AFS has been active in the SCV for a decade.

Community members are invited to stop by the library during the two-hour event to learn about AFS’s primary opportunities – studying abroad, hosting an exchange student, and volunteering.

Local exchange students, host families, study abroad returnees, and volunteers will answer questions, provide informational materials, and offer first-hand insight.

The event features a flexible, “open house” format; children are welcome.

The Santa Clarita Community Library’s Valencia Branch is located at 23743 West Valencia Boulevard, Valencia 91355.

Interested individuals also are invited to follow “AFS California Central Coast” on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AFSCCCTeam) or call regional AFS staff at 805-750-1824.

Studying Abroad
Approximately 1,000 U.S. high school students study abroad with AFS each year, taking advantage of AFS’ wide selection of 120 study abroad programs in more than 40 countries. These include year, semester, summer, and two-week “Global Prep” programs.

Each year, AFS-USA awards $4 million in scholarships and financial aid. While most programs are geared toward high school students, some programs are open to junior high students, and “AFS Next” serves adults. In 2018, two Santa Clarita Valley students participated in Global Prep programs to Ghana and Spain.

Hosting
Each year, AFS-USA welcomes 2,200 high school students from 90 countries to towns across the United States, including Santa Clarita. Students attend a local high school, live with a host family, and discover what America is all about. Host families provide a bed and meals, share their daily lives with students, and guide students as they would their own children. Families and students receive ongoing support from AFS staff and local volunteers.

Right now, five AFS students from Spain, Norway, Germany, Gaza Strip, and South Africa live with SCV families and attend William S. Hart District schools. AFS is seeking interested host families for students coming to the SCV in the fall.

Volunteering
More than 4,000 volunteers make the work of AFS-USA possible, including five volunteers in the Santa Clarita Valley. AFS volunteer positions are flexible, and training is provided.

Whether through studying abroad, hosting, or volunteering, AFS offers a unique opportunity to be a part of a 70-year global mission to help build a more peaceful world by promoting understanding among cultures.

In an address to AFS students in 1963, President John F. Kennedy said, “…when you go home you will not be a friend of the United States but rather a friend of peace, a friend of all people; that you will desire to see good-will among all nations, and that you will stand in your community, in your state, and in your country for those principles which motivate us all, all around the globe: a chance for everyone, a fair chance for everyone, and also for a world in which we have some hope for peace.”

The SCV is part of the AFS California Central Coast Area Team, which also includes Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties. AFS-USA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.