AFS International

From AFSWiki

AFS International is located in New York, NY, has a President and a Volunteer Board of Trustees and serves as the umbrella organization to the AFS partner network.

Each of the over 50 individual partners represents a different country and is a separate organization that operates within its own country's context and is incorporated under it own country's laws. In the US, the partner is called AFS-USA. All AFS partners are led by a Volunteer Board of Directors and a Partner Director/President. Staff and volunteers provide a range of administrative functions, support and other services for participants and families who participate in AFS each year.

The Partnership system was first started in 1989 with four AFS organizations operating as full partners while all other AFS organizations were supervised centrally by AFS International. At its 1990 World Congress, AFS organizations worldwide endorsed the Partnership system and directed the International Administration to implement country Partnerships completely by September 1993.

Each partner is responsible for:

• quality program delivery in accordance with the AFS International Quality Standards
• financial operations within the country
• volunteer development
• new program development.

AFS International, as an umbrella over the partners, works to:

• provide leadership to the AFS network
• serve as financial clearinghouse for all AFS partners
• maintain participant and organizational insurance to manage risk effectively
• offer consulting services to partners
• monitor network activity and quality through a collection of program data and a comprehensive system of customer service evaluations
• maintain and promote adherence to the AFS International Quality Standards
• maintain AFS archival records.

The organization consists of:

World Congress

A forum for discussion of issues related to the overall mission, vision, and direction of AFS and for organizational development and information sharing within the AFS world. It meets every three years.

Annual Partner Conference

National staff and Board Chairs review strategic directions of AFS while Partners are provided a forum for formal and informal meetings.

Board of Trustees

Elected by AFS Partners, the members of the Board of Trustees provide governance, oversight, and policy formulation and approval. It is the ultimate decision-making authority for AFS.

The International Administration

Provides coordination of designated functions in programs, finances, fundraising, marketing, etc.

Program Operations Committee

An advisory body of representative Partner countries that identifies systemic problems and opportunities that impact the operation of the AFS network and proposes solutions or courses of action to the international organization.

Through the AFS partnership, AFS has evolved to be one of the world’s largest community-based volunteer organizations. It is dedicated to building a more just and peaceful world through intercultural learning, primarily through international student exchange.