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Exchange Student Pledges to Inspire Change

February 10, 2017 AYA 7 Comments

Cultural Exchange at Its Peak | Academic Year in America (AYA)

Nayab is a YES student from Pakistan. She took the time to write the following reflection piece on cultural exchange after attending a mid-year orientation trip to California with a large group of AYA students. Please enjoy Nayab's thoughtful and very moving account of the … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories #weareaya, Academic Year in America, AYA, Exchange Student, exchange students, FLEX, grants program, pakistan, why hosting matters, YES Program, YES student

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

AYA Appreciates FLEX: Katre’s Story

September 27, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

AYA Appreciates FLEX: Katre's Story | Academic Year in America (AYA)

Today is FLEX Appreciation Day! Join us in celebrating with current students, alumni, host families, schools, and all of the spectacular individuals behind the scenes who make the program such a success - including those at Academic Year in America (AYA) who work so hard to … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories, Host Family Stories Academic Year in America, AYA, Exchange Student, exchange year, FLEX, FLEX student, grants program, host family, why hosting matters

Explore the World with AYA Students

May 17, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

moroccan foreign exchange student academic year in america aya cultural exchange

Hosting Academic Year in America (AYA) students is a fantastic way for families, schools and communities to learn about exotic locations outside of America. AYA students are bright, curious and eager to share and explore during their time here. They are wonderful … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories Academic Year in America, AYA, community, cultural exchange, Exchange Student, exchange students, exchange year, FLEX, FLEX student, foreign exchange students, grants program, high school exchange year

Meet LC Dina from South Carolina: 11 Years with AYA

August 12, 2015 AYA Leave a Comment

Academic Year in America Become a volunteer Local Coordinator

AYA is proud to have Local Coordinators who have stayed with our program for more than a decade! Are you curious to learn why our LCs stayed with AYA for so long? Meet LC Dina from South Carolina who gave AYA an insider's look intp what it means to be an AYA Local … [Read more...]

Volunteerism Stories FLEX, grants program, local coordinator, Why volunteer, YES

An Act of Kindness: An AYA Student Alumni Story

July 31, 2015 AYA Leave a Comment

academic year in america why hosting matters host family culture friendship

Lasha, a former AYA exchange student from the Republic of Georgia, is now working to send Georgian students to the United States. He participated in Academic Year in America when he was 15 years old as a high school exchange student. Lasha shared with us his gratitude for the … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories grants program, host family, why host

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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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