AFS-USA removes financial barrier for study abroad students
AFS-USA, the largest partner in a worldwide network of nonprofit, volunteer-based international education organizations, announces AFS-USA Global Citizen Scholarship & Aid, offering U.S. high school students over $1 million in scholarships to study abroad with AFS-USA.
AFS-USA is committed to meeting the demonstrated financial need of every accepted applicant, making its study abroad programs more accessible and affordable to high school students from all backgrounds.
“We believe that finances should not be a barrier to studying abroad. At the center of our strategic imperatives are the tenets of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. We seek students from all backgrounds and experiences to represent the diversity of the country and believe that fostering inclusion is essential to fulfilling our mission of creating a more just and peaceful world,” said Tara Hofmann, President and CEO of AFS-USA.
Through the help of generous donors, AFS-USA Global Citizen Scholarship & Aid will provide accepted applicants scholarships based on both merit and need that range from partial to full program fees for summer, semester, and yearlong AFS-USA study abroad programs.
In addition, AFS-USA remains committed to its Faces of America Scholarship program. Established 13 years ago, Faces of America works with community-based organizations across the U.S. The Faces of America Scholarship helps AFS-USA reach and engage with youth from traditionally marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds, working to expand the diversity of its participants and increase access to its programs.
“Our vision is that any student or educator can become a global citizen when schools partner with AFS-USA. By providing a barrier-free opportunity for students to develop global citizenship, even more young people will return to their U.S. classrooms after their AFS experience abroad as active global citizens, bringing experiential learning, global competency and language proficiency to their schools and communities,” Hofmann said.
AFS-USA works with over 1,000 U.S. high schools annually through its hosting and study abroad programs and engages with over 8,000 educators through its virtual and in-person programs, intercultural classroom resources, and professional development experiences. Through offering expanded scholarship opportunities, AFS-USA is working toward its organizational imperative of expanding its support of and relationship with U.S. high schools.
“While we are excited to share our new approach, we know there is still more work to be done in making study abroad more inclusive, diverse, equitable and accessible, and AFS-USA remains committed in this endeavor,” said Hofmann.
For more information on AFS-USA, its physical and virtual exchange programs, educator resources, welcoming or hosting an exchange student in your community or volunteering, visit www.afsusa.org.