AFS Greater Los Angeles is part of AFS-USA (afsusa.org)…an international, non-profit organization, which focuses on international study abroad programs. Each year, AFS provides thousands of American high school students the opportunity to live and study in a foreign land. Just as important, each year thousands of American families share their homes by hosting a high school-age student from another country around the world for a school year or semester. But a number of programs now exist for post-high school folks. With tens of thousands of volunteers worldwide, AFS is the leading international exchange program in the world! (AFS Fact Sheet)
At AFS…here in the U.S. and around the world…we strongly believe in building bridges between people and other cultures, NOT in building walls between people and their culture or by instilling hatred towards others.
We Are NOT Born to Hate…We Are TAUGHT to Hate
The only way to get to know and understand our fellow human beings is to be willing to accept the differences of others and to be willing to communicate with them in a reasonable and non-combative way.
- Study Abroad programs
- Hosting a student from another country
- Volunteering in our community
Questions about AFS Greater Los Angeles area? Contact Us
Young Volunteers Spark Enthusiasm with New Series of Events
Now that pandemic restrictions are being eased a bit, we are starting to reengage more with each other and renewing our sense of purpose in the Greater Los Angeles Area Team!
Towards that end, some of our younger volunteers have embarked on an ambitious program of regular events to bring volunteers together. The first such event will be a potluck supper on Saturday, March 26th, from 4 to 7 PM, at a gorgeous high-rise condo in Downtown LA.
To sign up for this GLA volunteers-only event, please fill out the RSVP Form found HERE.
For more information, please contact events@afsla.org.
AFS GLA Embraces Exciting New Communication Strategy!
Discord is a fast-growing, flexible “Swiss Army knife of communications for you and your team,” according to Tee Morris, author of Discord for Dummies. Using Discord, all AFS GLA volunteers can stay on top of events for the team, identify (and sign up to help with) tasks that need doing, and communicate easily with one another in a variety of modes, all in one easy to access yet secure and private platform. You can text, have a multi-person phone call, a video conference, and have a private sidebar conversation all using the same system. This invitation to join is only open to AFS GLA volunteers, so please contact volunteering@afsla.org for more information and your link to connect!
Host With AFS Greater Los Angeles
Interested in hosting an international high school student? Or, perhaps you know someone who is? Become a Global Family with AFS Greater Los Angeles. Open your home to the world and make a global connection: Host an AFS Exchange Student!
Each year, more than 2,300 exchange students from 50+ countries can come to the US on AFS programs to study in high schools and live with host families. By hosting an AFS Exchange Student in your home, you will start seeing the world differently.
We are currently recruiting host families for the 2019-20 school year. Below is a short bio of students that that will be coming to our area. Clicking on their name will provide you with a description of the student including their “Letter to the Host Family”.
You can find out more about hosting with AFS by visiting afsusa.org/host-family.
We can search for available students based on your and your family’s interests. Single adults are also welcome to host. So, contact us at hosting@afsla.org for more information.
NOTE: AFS does not provide any monetary compensation to the host family nor to the school which the student attends.
Amazing AFS Stories
Returnee Reconnect and Outbound Orientation – Aug 6 ’23
On August 6, 2023, AFS GLA held a double orientation event and beach party in Hermosa Beach.
In the morning, counselors did a Pre-Departure Orientation followed by a Welcome Home Orientation for our recent returnees.
You can read more about the event HERE.
Pre-Departure Orientation – May 21 ’22
On Saturday, May 21, 2022, we held a combined Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) at the Hermosa Beach home of Dave Schrader, our Orientations Coordinator, for both our currently 6 hosted students AND
Read more of Jimmy’s report HERE.
Mackenzie B’s France Adventure
Mackenzie is as an AFS student from the AFS Greater Los Angeles area to France for the school year 2021-2022. Her blog posts will describe her amazing adventure throughout the school year there.
You can read all of Mackenzie enjoyable blogs posts HERE.
Richard Engel’s AFS Story
NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel shares the impact AFS has had on his life and career choices. Mr. Engel was an AFS student in Italy and, today, is a member of the President’s Council at AFS-USA. Hear him speak to the importance of AFS, the immense value of AFS-USA’s Volunteers, and his hope that we will soon be able to resume AFS’ in-person exchanges.
See the World from a New Perspective. Be an AFS Exchange Student!
Study Abroad with AFS
The YES Abroad Experience
Make The World A Better Place! Host An AFS Exchange Student!
Host a high school exchange student with AFS Greater Los Angeles for a full school year or just a semester. Go to https://www.afsusa.org/host-family/ then enter your zip code (down the page) to see available students!
Open Your Home to an AFS Exchange Student!
Ella from Indonesia ('10-'11)'s Wonderful Year in L.A.
GLA's Own Hashir from Pakistan ('16-'17) Changing the World
Watch this inspiring video made of AFS Greater Los Angeles hosted student Haishr from Pakistan (’16-’17) during his presentation as he reflects on his time in the U.S. while on his YES scholarship, sharing his experience with the prejudice that Muslims face and how he dealt with it. He shares the positive outcomes of his actions to convey to his audience an important lesson: In order to change the world, you must first change yourself. We are so proud of him!
Local Scholarships Available
We have need-based and merit-based scholarships available to local Los Angeles high school students wanting to study abroad. To learn more about our scholarship program and how to apply, visit our Scholarships page.