Volunteer Positions
- Liaison: Volunteer directly with hosted students and families! The AFS Liaison is a volunteer identified as the primary contact for an AFS participant for the duration of their program. Liaisons providing ongoing support for AFS students and their host families and as such, are key to the AFS support network. The Liaison serves as the “first responder” in the communication network connecting with the local AFS volunteer leadership and staff as needed to provide participant support.
- Liaison Coordinator: Help build a strong team of liaisons in your area! A Liaison Coordinator (LC) oversees all AFS liaison activity within their designated area or group.
Please contact your Regional Service Center at 1-800-876-2377 and ask for the Support department if interested in the above the positions.
- Early Return Transit Assistance Volunteer:
Help students throughout the year checking in for their international flights. If you live close to one of the following airports (LAX, SEA, JFK, IAH, or ORD) and don’t mind being on-call, please contact your Regional Service Center at 1-800-876-2377 and ask to speak to the regional travel coordinator.
Current Volunteer Opportunities-Spring/Summer 2009
- Sending Gateway Orientation Group Leader: Interact directly with AFS students getting ready to depart by facilitating small group activities that are required as part of their outbound orientation. This involves 4-6 hours of training as well as approximately 36 hours to set-up, lead, and evaluate the orientation. Please contact Floyd Van Weelden at fvanweelden@afs.org if interested.
- Airport Volunteers:
- -June 29, 2009 (LAX & SEA) and June 30th, 2009 (JFK, IAH, ORD): Help departing AFS students. Volunteer duties include helping students check-in at the airport and putting students on buses bound for the airport or hotels from the departure event site.
- -August 12-14, 2009: Help during new student arrivals. Volunteer duties include greeting students as they come off the planes, helping them make connecting flights or transfer to buses. Volunteers also needed to stay overnight at the airport hotel and assist those students.
Please contact your Regional Service Center at 1-800-876-2377 and ask to speak to the regional travel coordinator.
- Administrative Office Support (May 2009):
Volunteers needed to help the Regional Support Department in the Portland, Oregon AFS Office with mailings. Please contact Marla McLeod.
Intercultural Opportunities for Volunteers
As a learning-focused organization, AFS-USA recognizes the need for ongoing learning opportunities for our volunteers. Most opportunities involve an application and selection process for volunteers who have been with AFS for a minimum of one year.
- EFIL Summer Summit: EFIL brings together around 250 AFS volunteers from around the world to share best practices and create a spirit of international unity. Location and summit objectives vary annually.
- Flight Chaperone: Serve as a flight chaperone for either returning or departing AFS students. Flights available vary year to year.
- Program Leader: Each year AFS-USA offers several sending programs that require one or more adult Program Leaders. While the Leader’s role varies somewhat according to the program, each offers a unique opportunity to develop an understanding of a different culture while improving personal leadership and group management skills.
- National Volunteer Assembly (NVA): The NVA brings together all leadership bodies of AFS-USA annually to ensure they have the information they need on organization priorities. Volunteer delegates make decisions on relevant issues regarding governance, operations and program strategy.
- Volunteer Workgroups and exchanges: AFS often has opportunities to be involved in various workgroups including, but not limited to organizational improvements, policies & procedures and events. Exchanges vary as well and have included for example, an exchange between Germany and the USA to improve student orientations.
- Train the Trainer: This is a four day annual workshop dedicated to learning the skills needed to become an AFS trainer.
- SIIC: AFS-USA has the opportunity each year to send a couple of volunteers to The Summer Institute for Intercultural Communication. The various workshops and sessions provide training in intercultural competence. Academic and continuing education credits available.
