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3 Important Ways AYA Participants Advocate for Cultural Exchange in the USA

April 4, 2017 AYA Leave a Comment

AYA Exchange students

Academic Year in America is celebrating 35 years of helping to connect American families and communities with international high school students from around the world. We are proud to be an initiative that supports grassroots opportunities for cultural exchange and … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories Academic Year in America, cultural exchange, department of state, Exchange Student, exchange students, international exchange, international exchange program, j-1 visa

Grant Students Share Special Experience in California

February 8, 2017 AYA Leave a Comment

Grant Students Share Special Experience in California | Academic Year in America

As a placing organization for the U.S. Department of State’s YES and FLEX programs, AYA is lucky enough to work with amazing students who have earned merit-based scholarships for international exchange. For decades, these programs have been successfully building bridges and … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories #weareaya, Academic Year in America, AYA, cultural exchange, department of state, exchange students, exchange year, FLEX, grants program, YES, YES Program

Lessons and Advice from a Father Ten Times Over

October 19, 2016 AYA 1 Comment

Lessons and Advice from a Father Ten Times Over | Academic Year in America (AYA)

John and his host daughter, Yingyu, pose during some quality outdoor time together. The following was contributed by John R., an Academic Year in America (AYA) host father who has been hosting international exchange students for eight years and counting.  In life … [Read more...]

Host Family Stories #dadsanddaughters, Academic Year in America, AYA, department of state, Exchange Student, exchange year, host family, host father, j-1 visa, why hosting matters

Share Your Father/Daughter Stories for an Important Cause

October 14, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

Share Your Father/Daughter Stories for an Important Cause | Academic Year in America (AYA)

The State Department wants you to help improve the global conversation about dads, daughters, and gender equality! If you have a great father-daughter or host father-host daughter relationship, here's how you can get involved: Submit a story (250-500 words) or photos paired … [Read more...]

Host Family Stories Academic Year in America, cultural exchange, department of state, Exchange Student, exchange year, host daughter, host father, j-1 visa

#FlashbackFriday: YES Student Shares Poem

October 7, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

#FlashbackFriday: YES Student Shares Poem

Our YES students are so often full of vision and talent. This is certainly the case of Aasif Bulbulia, a former YES student from South Africa. Aasif shared the following poem about his identity as a South African in the aftermath of Apartheid. I Am South African I am a … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories Academic Year in America, AYA, department of state, Exchange Student, exchange year, poetry, south africa, YES

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About AYA

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Academic Year in America (AYA) is sponsored by the AIFS Foundation, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1967. Its mission is to promote worldwide understanding through cultural exchange.

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Recent Posts

  • Student of the Month: Roman from Ukraine, Hosted in Maine
  • What 45 Years of Cultural Exchange Has Taught Us
  • Student of the Month: Fateen from Bangladesh, Hosted in Oregon
  • J-1 vs F-1 High School Exchange Programs: What’s the Difference?
  • Student of the Month: Lina from Tunisia, Hosted in Indiana

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