There are many outstanding examples of strong leaders across the world: Presidents, Prime Ministers, community activists, teachers, engaged citizens, etc. Rather than simply giving you examples of such leaders, we prefered to solicit your opinions concerning the specific characteristics that you think constitute a good leader, as well as who in your home countries and host communities exemplify these characteristics. Here is what you had to say!

1. What qualities does a good leader possess?

Danil Glumov, FLEX Russia to Caedarpines Park, CA (Southern California Mountain & Desert Area Team)
In my opinion real leader must be courageous and he must know how to make convincing speeches. Also he may have a good sense of humor, if he has this feature it will help him a lot. He must be an excellent communicator; he shall know what to say, how to say and where to say. He should be a good listener, because if he listens to his advisors and to the public he will gain popularity and he will know more. In both Russian and American cultures there is a saying: “Two heads are better than one!”

Noemi Booc, YES Philippines to Columbia, MD (Baltimore Area Team)
For me, anybody can be a leader, be it young or old. As long as you're ready to take the risk and try everything, you're a good leader. You willingly work well with the people around you and know how to accept other's opinions. You learn how to accept failures and easily think of ideas on how to cope with your hindrances. And lastly, it just takes confidence, then you'll succeed!

Sarah Birnbach, CB Germany to Weston, MA (Massachusetts Bay Area Team)
A good leader. This is a really hard question, because there are different types of leaders. Someone who leads a workgroup should be open for new ideas but in the end, he or she should give the final order how to design the project and stand behind the decision and the entire group. If you are looking for a leader in you life, then I think everybody has to find his or her own way. This does not mean you have to handle everything on your own, but you should not copy a person, because you are you and no one else. That is why you should live your own life and no one else’s. A good leader could be an idol, who inspires you how to design your life and how to make the best out of it. A good leader is someone to look up to, but no one to look down on you.

Vaishnavi Ravi, YES India to Napa, CA (Bay Area Team)
I have taken the leadership class in my school here, and have learnt that leadership is about working together and getting everybody involved. A good leader practices what he or she preaches.

Aida Zhurgenbayeva, FLEX Kazakhstan to Batavia, IL (Northern Illinois Area Team)
I think that effective leader has to have these abilities: getting along with people (effective listening, follow up with others, giving encouragement and praise for work well done, etc), participating (organizing meetings, group discussions, debating, etc) and respect for others. Also people who are stubborn, nice, cheerful, always active, social are good to be leaders.

Andy Kopp, CB Germany to Rio Rancho, NM (New Mexico Area Team)
In my opinion, a leader is somebody who motivates others, gets along with others, gives tips to others, but also criticizes others and corrects them. A leader is a person who takes responsibility, but is also connecting with other people. A leader is an individual who knows what to do, but also lets others do their work. A leader is a person who decides, but also lets others tell their ideas. A leader is somebody who has powers and keeps discipline, but also gives awards. A leader is somebody who wants to accomplish something, but is also tolerant. A leader is a person who thinks about himself, but also cares about others. A leader is somebody who is respected, but can also be one's friend.

Anja Grotheer, CB Germany to Gorham, ME (Downeast Maine Area Team)
I have to say that in my opinion, a good leader is somebody who is voluntary active, for example, by helping in the soup kitchen, or just by talking to people and giving them the feeling that they are not alone. This special person should be responsible, smart, kind, trustful, confident and caring.



Ayun Erwina Arifianti, YES Indonesia to Cave Creek, AZ (Grand Canyon Area Team)
For me, a good leader is a good follower. He/she doesn’t only give order to his member but also understand what their want. He can unite different interests and skills of his members into reaching one goal together. He helps others to become stronger and more independent. He is empathy, compassionate, persuasive, active listener and has a vision. He is professional who can divide personal and group issues in his mind.

Dayu Dara Permata, YES Indonesia to Elizabeth, IL (Northern Illinois Area Team)
In my opinion, a good leader is someone who his or her followers count on and give their admiration to. He or she must have a charismatic personality, compelling character, and influential quality. A person not only has to have an ability to inform and guide his or her followers, but also gives them motivation and moral support against the opposition they encounter.

Dmitrij Ziles, CB Germany to Houston, TX (Texas Gulf Coast Area Team)
In my opinion, a good leader has to be able to quickly make wise decisions and he also sometimes has to be dominant. At the same time, he or she must be able to communicate with the people he leads in order to get along with them, so the group can develop the most important base for a successful leadership: The followers' respect for the leader that comes a natural way, without being threatened etc.

Fatimah Jasmeen Alih, YES Philippines to Raytown, MO (Kansas City Area Team)
Leaders are important in every aspect of society to maintain peace and order, to help and to care for its people. There are a lot of good qualities that a leader should possess. However a leader doesn't have to be perfect. He should be God fearing in order to be a genuine leader despite the imperfection.

Some of the things that a leader should obtain is his wide and sincere understanding and things he has to sustain are his compassion, determination and patience. These things will help him become a true and successful leader. Before a leader could become a leader of a group, he must first be a member of the group. He has to embrace where he came from, cherish his people and love what they own altogether.

The responsibilities of a leader is not easy, but through determination and loyalty, he could handle them. A leader should have faith in his people and most of all work for and with them. A leader should be able to serve as a role model to the youth and his fellowmen.

Ferry Samadhi, YES Indonesia to Abbotsford, WI (North Central Wisconsin Area Team)
The good leader always has a spirit to do a salvation to everybody even to his enemy. If he can do salvation to his enemy I’m sure he could make his followers happy and no one will be his enemy anymore. Just salvation isn’t enough yet, he should know what his follower’s needs, the good leader doesn’t has to follow what his followers want, but what they need, also fulfill what they need. Those things should be done on the right track too, because the leader has to be wise enough to lead them not into the chaos but into glory.

Jean Marie Baldado, YES Philippines to Cooperstown, ND (Pine to Prairie Area Team)
Different people have different views about leadership. Some people think that leaders are born, not made. This is a powerful statement that continues to dominate our perception about leadership. For me, a good leader molds himself to become a better individual of this world through applying his past experiences, respecting and understanding the different views of others. Above all, a good leader sets himself to be a good example to everyone, and inspires his members to become aware of themselves.

Kseniya Burmeyster, FLEX Russia to Parkersburg, WV (Ohio River Valley Area Team)
When you hear the word leaders, usually you start thinking about a famous people, dictators, who have a power, like a president. But you can meet leaders everywhere, it can be your family member, it can be your teacher, or friend. I think that a good leader needs to possess such qualities, as: spirit, strength, knowledge. Person, who has open mind, like to learn, and to share his knowledge with others; who is experienced by life, who can rule and lead people; person, who is bright, and have passion, patience to change things on better side, can be a good leader. I think good leader, also, is a person, who has knowledge. Good leader is a person, who never gives up. Person, who can be a decision maker, and not afraid of difficulties, who know what he want, and move toward his purposes-that is a good leader in my mind.

Mariya Dushenko, FLEX Ukraine to Corona,CA (Desert Valleys Area Team)
In my point of view, the leader is a person, who leads people to the changes; and in addition to the character's qualities: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, caring, citizenship, fairness, has to have courage, loyalty and integrity. He has to set an example and to give good reasoning to follow him. And, simply, you will notice a leader among the whole bunch of people!

Muhammad Fadhun, YES Indonesia to Brawley, CA (Desert Valleys Area Team)
A good leader has an exemplary character. A good leader is enthusiastic about their work or cause and also about their role as a leader. A good leader is confident. A good leader as well as keeping the main goal in focus is able to think analytically. Also a good leader is committed to excellence and should have an idea than they would to make change in their community.

Patrick Sephira Taum, YES Indonesia to Watertown, WI (Waukesha and West Area Team)
In my opinion, a good leader is a person who can make people unified and lead them toward a better condition or whatever their goal is.



Preethi Thomas, YES India to Walla Walla, WA (Inland Empire Area Team)
A good leader is very patient with his colleagues, he is proactive that is, takes initiative to establish good relationships or in any task he takes up and is a great listener. A leader should be flexible and should be ready to accept ideas from his fellow workers.

Ralf Kaffei, CB Germany to Nashville, TN (Miss Tennky Area Team)
A leader is for me almost like a hero, I respect him and support him in most of his decisions, what doesn't mean he must not make any mistakes but he has to take criticism seriously and maybe change the decision!

Ruben Rehr, CB Germany to Port Clinton, OH (Northwest Ohio Area Team)
I think a leader should posses the ability to convince people without force for his or her ideas and visions. And he or she should have enough backbone to defend her ideas with good arguments.

Sebastian Unger, CB Germany to Cincinnati, OH (Greater Cincinnati Area Team)
I think that a good leader has to be able to make decisions, and even more importantly to be able to take full responsibility for these decisions. Still more important might be the ability to listen to other people’s opinions. Nobody is perfect and in listening to other people’s point of views you can learn a lot! People who realize that, are in my eyes the best leaders because they can always improve and don’t have one set opinion. They consider every aspect and respect the people they are representing.

2. Describe someone from your home country who is a great leader. They can be a family member, community member, or even at the national level etc. In your own words, could you share with us why you feel that person is a leader?

Danil Glumov, FLEX Russia to Caedarpines Park, CA (Southern California Mountain & Desert Area Team)
I want to tell you a little bit about my favorite leader. He may be typical, but he is the president of Russia Vladimir Putin. I think he is an ambitious and smart leader, who leads our country to prosperity and stability. For me he is the shape of order, patience and intelligence. He just does his job, but he does it remarkably well! Believe me, most of Russians really like him and want him to be our leader.

Sarah Birnbach, CB Germany to Weston, MA (Massachusetts Bay Area Team)
I think a very good leader is my best friend Celina. She has something in her personality that inspires you. She is always smiling and joking, and sometimes she has the craziest ideas. The way she talks about them, really makes you want to do it. When working on school projects she expedites the work so we get it done, but she also tells some fun stories, so it does not feel like work. She also baby-sits, and whenever the children argue she comes up with a game, and she describes it so interesting that the kids stop arguing to play this fantastic game.

Vaishnavi Ravi, YES India to Napa, CA (Bay Area Team)
My mother is an excellent leader. With a career in teaching, she invariably has good leading skills! She can work with people in a well coordinated manner to get things done with ease.

Aida Zhurgenbayeva, FLEX Kazakhstan to Batavia, IL (Northern Illinois Area Team)
I had a friend in my speech class, her name is Rashawn, and she is a great leader. She has most of leader characteristics and she inspired me a lot all the time we’ve been together in the same class. Sometimes I admired her and her actions, her potential, her leadership character made me feel better at my speech class. She became my good friend and she helped me a lot with my first speeches. She is really nice and easy going, I think that’s one of the main characteristics of leaders.

Anja Grotheer, CB Germany to Gorham, ME (Downeast Maine Area Team)
For me, my grandfather has all of these qualities. Whenever somebody asks for his help, he will help them, if he can. He is the kindest person I have ever met. I have a special relationship to him and he is the person I would tell everything. He helps me by talking to me and saying: "Anja, the world is not perfect. But everybody can do their little part for trying to make it a bit better. Good and bad things are happening for you, but from each experience, you learn and your personality grows." My grandfather is a hero, not just for me but also for all the other people he helped.

Ayun Erwina Arifianti, YES Indonesia to Cave Creek, AZ (Grand Canyon Area Team)
My great leader in Indonesia is my mother. She is caring to me. She understands what I want without spoiling me. She teaches me to be independent and responsible. She wants me to be a good person. She supports me to join many activities that will be good for me in the future like joining AFS. Being an exchange student, it has broadened my horizon and perspective about the world.

Dayu Dara Permata, YES Indonesia to Elizabeth, IL (Northern Illinois Area Team)
As I try to think about a person who is qualified to be a great leader from my country, Indonesia, the first figure that comes to my mind is the former president of my country, Ir. Soekarno. For me he was not only the first President of the Indonesian Republic but also the greatest one. He was an intelligent, courteous, and charismatic leader for his nation. He was the person that gave an initiative and courage to proclaim independence to our nation. He had what it took to be a great leader; the audacity, the charisma, and the personality.

Dmitrij Ziles, CB Germany to Houston, TX (Texas Gulf Coast Area Team)
I want to take my father as an example. Why? Just because he demonstrates amazing proficiency in all the skills I've mentioned above.

Fatimah Jasmeen Alih, YES Philippines to Raytown, MO (Kansas City Area Team)
Talking about a good example, I consider Eddie Alih a good leader who happened to be my uncle. He is the chancellor of the Mindanao State University in Tawi- Tawi, Philippines. I have seen how he cares for the students and the employees. Living in an island with different tribes and still be fair despite your own ethnicity is quite what a leader should possess. He is willing to help people with all his might.

Ferry Samadhi, YES Indonesia to Abbotsford, WI (North Central Wisconsin Area Team)
A great leader from my country is Gajah Mada, he was a great war chief of the Majapahit emperor. He is a great guy. He united many island in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei, and Singapore. He took an oath to unite Nusantara (Indonesian archipelago) called “Sumpah Palapa” or Palapa oath, he said he won’t eat a spiced food until he unite the nusantara, can you imagine this is like you eat Hotdogs without ketchup or mustard or chili. That was a hard oath, but finally he made it, that’s awesome. He made it even more than he expected. He made his dream, a huge dream, unite the big nation which divided by many seas. I imagine he must be doing a lot of strategy, leadership and campaign to achieve that. His leadership must be his major factor.

Jean Marie Baldado, YES Philippines to Cooperstown, ND (Pine to Prairie Area Team)
You don’t need to be the smartest nor the most industrious one to be the leader of the group. A good leader has the heart to serve his fellow no matter what the consequences he has to face. I found these characteristics to lady named Ninay Ordonio, a simple and a loving woman in a nearby community. Ninay is poor and unemployed, yet never refuses someone who seeks for her help. I remember one day when a poor lady entered her house and seek for financial help, she never refused to help her even tough they both have the same predicament.

Kseniya Burmeyster, FLEX Russia to Parkersburg, WV (Ohio River Valley Area Team)
The great leader from my home community for me is my father, Alexander Burmeyster. I feel that this person is a leader, because he has a lot of knowledge, and life experience, which he shares with his children, and people around him. He gives an excellent example for everyone. My father led me and my siblings in life, a lot of people come to him for advice. My dad established a League of Baikal Ice Captains; they provide safety for people on the ice of the greatest lake. Also, he make films about Baikal, he show us, that you can do everything you like, and become professional in it. He has a lot of friends all over the world. My father knows that there are different cultures, traditions that we need to understand, to know about world, and its rules.

Mariya Dushenko, FLEX Ukraine to Corona, CA (Desert Valleys Area Team)
I would pick my Godfather as my example of the leader in the Ukraine. He had every single and one of the qualities from the above. His opinion was very valuable and respectful, following his commands and instructions you do not feel like you're being pressed, but you feel big authority behind those instructions. He reached the careers tops and never quitted! This person will stand for what is right, even if he is standing alone, and people do follow him because he has the strength, courage, loyal, integrity!

Muhammad Fadhun, YES Indonesia to Brawley, CA (Desert Valleys Area Team)
My friend Julia Novrita. She is a founder of Aceh Youth Council (AYC) Initiative, because of it she get scholarship of Ford Foundation. With AYC she tries to help Aceh and to build Aceh in the future. And AYC also Focus for youth and education in Aceh.

Noemi Booc, YES Philippines to Columbia, MD (Baltimore Area Team)
I say my mom back in the Philippines is a great leader especially in my family. She has not just helped my family but also a lot of people. When they need help, she's always there. She is an elementary teacher and she serves as a great leader to the whole class and being a role model to little kids. I'm so proud that my mom is a teacher and helps younger people to learn and have knowledge about the world. I love you mom!

Patrick Sephira Taum, YES Indonesia to Watertown, WI (Waukesha and West Area Team)
The 1st president of Indonesia Ir. Soekarno. I respect him a lot, he is the 1st person who unified Indonesia, which at first as you know Indonesia is not one but lots of kingdoms, and can lead Indonesia to reach our independence - he's the man!

Preethi Thomas, YES India to Walla Walla, WA (Inland Empire Area Team)
According to me, the present President of India Dr, A.P.J Abdul Kalam is a great leader. He is hard working and inspiring. He is been taking initiative in improving the educational facilities in India and also he likes to talk to students and genuinely considers them to be the future of the nation. He is always willing to accept the criticism made about the government and comes out with new ideas to alleviate the maladies present in the country. He believes in mutual understanding and stands for world peace.

Ralf Kaffei, CB Germany to Nashville, TN (Miss Tennky Area Team)
In my Community I would say that my "Commander" from the German Red Cross is a leader! I took an EMT- class taught by him and find my dream job: To be a doctor!

Ruben Rehr, CB Germany to Port Clinton, OH (Northwest Ohio Area Team)
I would say that Willy Brand a chancellor in the past was a great leader. He possessed the ability to convince people for his ideas of a more peaceful world, of peace talks with the eastern hemisphere, and a more fair society. And he not only talked about his ideas, he worked constantly for fulfillment of his ideas and promises and led the way for a more peaceful world in those dangerous times between both super powers. This is why I think he was a great leader.

3. Give an example of an outstanding leader in your local US community. Describe the reasons behind your choice.

Danil Glumov, FLEX Russia to Caedarpines Park, CA (Southern California Mountain & Desert Area Team)
In my local community I can mark out my US History teacher Mr. Ross. He is a very admirable person and I guess all of his students like him. He has a great sense of humor, his lessons are always funny and interesting and he is also a very good teacher. Actually Mr. Ross is my favorite teacher in the school.

Sarah Birnbach, CB Germany to Weston, MA (Massachusetts Bay Area Team)
I think my host mum is a good leader. When I have a problem she asks so many questions, I would have never thought about. When I think to find an answer to her questions, most of my problems solve themselves. By posing certain questions, she looks for the roots of the problem and by further questioning she reveals what I really want and what I can do to solve the problem. She does not have any prejudices and does not look for what pleases her best; she looks what the best thing is for me.

Vaishnavi Ravi, YES India to Napa, CA (Bay Area Team)
I think that my host father is a great leader. He listens to people patiently and provides practical, thoughtful solutions with everyone's best interests in mind.

Anja Grotheer, CB Germany to Gorham, ME (Downeast Maine Area Team)
In my opinion, here in the United States is 'Betsy Nortrup, an AFS volunteer, a great leader. She took me over Christmas vacation, when I couldn't stay at my temporary family, because their daughters were coming home from college. She did it without long hesitating. We had a wonderful time together and a lot of serious talks. She is the one who places all the AFS students in southern Maine. She helped me during the time, I needed help. I didn't know that it would be possible, but in this one week, I felt totally integrated and home. She made my American Christmas a good holiday. I know many other exchange students, who think very positive of her. I trust her and I can call her whenever I want to. She is a local leader for me.

Ayun Erwina Arifianti, YES Indonesia to Cave Creek, AZ (Grand Canyon Area Team)
I think Bud Bennet, my Student Council’s Leader and my school’s President, is an outstanding leader in my community. He is good in making people comfortable around him although you don’t know him. He is very good speaker and very persuasive. He can manage his members. He is also funny.



Dayu Dara Permata, YES Indonesia to Elizabeth, IL (Northern Illinois Area Team)
In my view, a person that portrays a trait of an outstanding leader in my local US Community is the Senator of Illinois State, Mr. Barrack Obama. I adore him because of his eligible leadership ability along with his honest and down-to-earth personality. I love how he can magnetize everybody’s attention when he comes into the crowd without being bold. He is a type of person every people can put their hopes to on account of his courage to make a difference.

Fatimah Jasmeen Alih, YES Philippines to Raytown, MO (Kansas City Area Team) In our local community here in Raytown, I would say that Jeff Nevinski is a good example of a leader for youth. He is a Math teacher who sponsored Key Club International at Raytown High School. He wanted youth to exercise their rights as leaders through this student led community service club. We performed a couple of voluntary works and it was really great helping other people in our own simple way. He encourages us to help others even in the least way we can, because this small things could actually turn out to be something money can't buy. A lot of things could be done for other people and make our place a better habitat.

Ferry Samadhi, YES Indonesia to Abbotsford, WI (North Central Wisconsin Area Team)
An outstanding leader from my US community is Mrs. Mary Kusiak, she is a chapter coordinator in North Central Wisconsin area. She lead the chapter, AFS students, volunteers, host parents and many more. She always does a great job, managing her time with family and AFS. She always makes an AFS event enjoyable, fun and warm. She is a great leader, she has been proving it.

Jean Marie Baldado, YES Philippines to Cooperstown, ND (Pine to Prairie Area Team)
Mr. Wade Faul, our School Superintendent sets an outstanding leader for the students in Griggs County. He worked hard to make our school a better institution for the students to improve their learning by implementing various community-service activities.



Mariya Dushenko, FLEX Ukraine to Corona, CA (Desert Valleys Area Team)
My perfect example of the leader in my local U.S. community is the principal in my high school. He has all the qualities, that the leader have to have! I do admire of his priorities and life path!!! This person started his career with reaching the master degree in Computer Science, but not feeling like doing that, he realized himself as a successful firefighter. He was growing as a person and as a professional, and reached chief's point; but unfortunately during the service he got injured and was retired. Never the less, Chief Dickinson did not give up and started the school program - the school of character. He organized and led the unique program in the U.S.A. which gives opportunity for the teens to build their career and character from the young age. And this man has something to share with, he has his doctor degree in leadership, but is that the most important? He has huge experience of life, but does not stop even for a minute: he is an active in community service, respectful principal, loved father. Organizing the S.A.V.E (Students Against Violence Everywhere) march, "fill the boot" (financial help for the families of fallen firefighters) he introduce the cadets to the life, lead them to future. And does he have courage? Yes! Loyalty? Integrity? I bet he does!!!

Muhammad Fadhun, YES Indonesia to Brawley, CA (Desert Valleys Area Team)
My host family. They are kids doctor in my city so, almost all people know them, when someone asking me, with who I am staying, I said Dr. Baig, then they said, “oh that my doctor when I was kid” or “that my son’s doctor”. For me is so interesting, my host mom who work in hospital and also she active in organization for health care or even for community, especially here in the border.

Patrick Sephira Taum, YES Indonesia to Watertown, WI (Waukesha and West Area Team)
Coach Harms (my wrestling coach). He makes wrestling sweet. And when that time there's issues in the team he can take it wisely and the team somehow respects him, and he is not really a dictator, he's a funny guy too.

Preethi Thomas, YES India to Walla Walla, WA (Inland Empire Area Team)
Interestingly I consider my Host father Mr. Louis Gonzales to be an outstanding leader in the Walla Walla community. He carries out important events like the 'Neighbourhood' where the residents of the area look after the inefficient infrastructures of the community. He goes around with his colleagues and makes sure that every house in the block is in proper condition, the creeks are well kept and discusses with the residents what necessary steps can be taken to make the community even better. He stands for the social causes in the community-for example he played a critical role in the gathering meant to express their dissatisfaction for the actions taken by the authority of the Veteran Administration to close some departments which were 'economically inefficient'. My host father is a responsible citizen and cares for people around him.

Ralf Kaffei, CB Germany to Nashville, TN (Miss Tennky Area Team)
The best leader I have seen here in my US- Community is my CC-Track Coach, because he is serious with running by himself and gives us good advise from his 40 years of running but, doesn't to much pressure!

Ruben Rehr, CB Germany to Port Clinton, OH (Northwest Ohio Area Team)
I think that my local drama teacher Mr. Paul Anderson is a great leader, as every year he is organizing our school play. The most amazing thing is that he works with the students in the play as well as during a normal school day and achieves his goals without putting pressure on the students, without being strict, or without losing his confidence in students if something doesn't quite work out. He impresses me with his attitude towards every student.

Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) is the largest annual celebration of young volunteers, where millions of young people in countries everywhere highlight and carry out thousands of community improvement projects.

*The goals of National & Global Youth Service Day are:

~ To mobilize youth to identify and address the needs of their communities through service.
~ To support youth on a life-long path of service and civic engagement.
~ To educate the public, the media, and policymakers about the year-round contributions of young people as community leaders.

There are many ways through which you may celebrate Global Youth Service Day; here are just a few project ideas for your consideration, but please feel free to develop a creative volunteer project on your own! As always, please send us written updates and photos of your activities!

In January 1970, the Environmental Teach-in decided to call their one-off event held on April 22, Earth Day. The day's success led to it becoming a regular event. Senator Gaylord Nelson, an environmental activist in the U.S. Senate, took a leading role in organizing the celebration, to demonstrate popular political support for an environmental agenda. He modeled it on the highly effective Vietnam War protests of the time. Senator Nelson staffed the office with college students and selected Denis Hayes (a Harvard student and Stanford graduate) as the National Coordinator of activities. It was the era of student political activism and outdoor protests that attracted news cameras. The nationwide event included opposition to the Vietnam War on the agenda. Pete Seeger was a keynote speaker and performer at the event held in Washington DC. Paul Newman and Ali McGraw attended the event held in New York City.

According to Santa Barbara Community Environmental Council:
"The story goes that Earth Day was conceived by Senator Gaylord Nelson after a trip he took to Santa Barbara right after that horrific oil spill off our coast in 1969. He was so outraged by what he saw that he went back to Washington and passed a bill designating April 22 as a national day to celebrate the earth."

Senator Nelson stated that Earth Day "worked" because of the spontaneous response at the grassroots level. Though he felt his committee had neither the time nor resources to organize the 20 million demonstrators and the thousands of schools and local communities that participated, these things did happen. According to the Senator, "It organized itself."

The "holiday" proved extremely popular in the United States. The first Earth Day, in 1970, had participants and celebrants in two thousand colleges and universities, roughly ten thousand primary and secondary schools, and hundreds of communities across the United States. More importantly, it "brought 20 million Americans out into the spring sunshine for peaceful demonstrations in favor of environmental reform."

Senator Nelson directly credited the first Earth Day with persuading U.S. politicians that environmental legislation had a substantial, lasting constituency. Many important laws were passed by the Congress in the wake of the 1970 Earth Day, including the Clean Air Act, laws to protect drinking water, wild lands and the ocean. The EPA was created within three years of the first Earth Day. In 1971 Senator Gaylord Nelson announced an 'Earth Week' — for the third week of April — as a yearly event.

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month was enacted by Public Law 102-450 on October 28, 1992. The purpose of the law was to honor the achievements of Asian/Pacific Americans and to recognize their contributions to the United States. This recognition was the culmination of Jeanie Jew's efforts in the 1970's to establish Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. Following the United States bicentennial in 1976, Jew realized that Asian Pacific Americans were "were excluded from those stories during celebrations of the country's bicentennial. We were literally ignored even though we were part of building this country."

A year later, Jew enlisted the support of Rep. Frank Horton (R-NY) who, along with Rep. Norman Mineta, (D-CA), introduced House Resolution 540. This resolution proclaimed the first ten days of May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga introduced similar legislation into the Senate.

May was selected for the recognition because two significant events in history took place in that month: Japanese immigrants first arrived in the United States on May 7, 1843, and the transcontinental railroad was completed on May 10, 1869 (Golden Spike Day). Furthermore, since school is still in session during May, educators could capitalize on the opportunity to include APA history into the curriculum.

On Oct. 2, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed the Joint Resolution and the first Asian Pacific American Heritage Week was celebrated in May 1979. In 1992, the week was expanded to a month-long recognition when President George Bush signed the law permanently designating May of each year as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The law was unanimously supported by both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Cinco de Mayo ("The Fifth of May" in Spanish) is a national holiday in Mexico which is also widely celebrated in the United States. It commemorates the victory of a Mexican force of 4,500 men, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, over Napoleon III’s French occupational forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

In the United States, much like St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo is observed by many Americans regardless of ethnic origins, particularly along the border states where there is a large hispanic population. The largest of these celebrations are found in the larger cities such as Denver, Colorado; Los Angeles, California; Dallas, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; Houston, Texas; and Phoenix, Arizona. Although it is no more an officially recognized holiday than St. Patrick's Day in the United States, many cities display Cinco de Mayo banners while school districts hold special events to educate students about its historical significance, especially in the Spanish language classes. Commercial interests in the United States have capitalized on the celebration with advertising for products and services with an emphasis on foods, beverages, and music. To balance that, however, many multi-ethnic communities hold special events and celebrations which highlight the Mexican-hispanic culture, especially in its music and regional dancing.

Mother’s Day is a day honoring mothers which is celebrated on different days throughout the world. Most honor mothers by giving them gifts, both simple and elaborate, and giving them a day to relax while everyone else takes care of the home.

The origins of the holiday vary, as people celebrate it at different times of the year. One school of thought claims this day emerged from a custom of mother worship in ancient Greece. Mother worship — which kept a festival to Cybele, a great mother of gods, and Rhea, the wife of Cronus — was held around the Vernal Equinox around Asia Minor and eventually in Rome itself from the Ides of March (March 15) to March 18. The romans also had another holiday,Matronalia, that was dedicated to Juno, though mothers were usually given gifts on this day. In the United States, Mother's Day was originally conceived by social activist Julia Ward Howe during the American Civil War with a call to unite women against war. She wrote the Mother's Day Proclamation. In Ireland and the British Isles, the day now simply celebrates motherhood and thanking mothers. According to the National Restaurant Association, Mother's Day is now the most popular day of the year to dine out at a restaurant in the United States.

Howe failed in her attempt to get formal recognition of a Mother's Day for Peace. Her idea was influenced by Ann Jarvis, a young Appalachian homemaker who, starting in 1858, had attempted to improve sanitation through what she called Mothers' Work Days. She organized women throughout the Civil War to work for better sanitary conditions for both sides, and in 1868 she began work to reconcile Union and Confederate neighbors. In parts of the United States it is customary to plant tomatoes outdoors after mother's day (and not before.) When Jarvis died, her daughter, named Anna Jarvis, started the crusade to found a memorial day for women. The first such Mother's Day was celebrated in Grafton, West Virginia, on May 10, 1908, in the church where the elder Ann Jarvis had taught Sunday School. Grafton is the home to the International Mother's Day Shrine. From there, the custom caught on — spreading eventually to 45 states. The holiday was declared officially by somes states beginning in 1912. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother's Day.

Mother’s Day in the US will be celebrated on May 13 of this year. Remember to celebrate your mother (host mothers included)!
For more information on Mother’s Day and to see when Mother’s Day occurs in different countries:

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead.” While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war).

Moina Michael conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co- workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need.

Over the years, many have forgotten the original meaning of Memorial Day and many traditions have since diminished. To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps."

The history of Father's Day is very interesting. The thought for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. The idea of having the Father's Day came to the mind of Sonora Smart while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909.

After the death of her mother, she along with her siblings was raised by her father, William Jackson Smart. Sonora wanted to tell her father how special he was. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.

The National Father's Day Committee was formed in New York City in 1926. A Joint Resolution of Congress recognized the Father's day in 1956 and in 1966 President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. Thus, the Father's Day was born in memory and appreciation by a daughter who believed that her father and all other fathers should be honored with a special day.

Spring Break is HERE! (or maybe some of you have already experienced Spring Break!) As you know, Spring Break means a school vacation and, in some cases, an exciting trip! Here is what a few of your counterparts have planned:

Sarah Birnbach, CB Germany to Weston, MA (Massachusetts Bay Area Team)
For spring break in April I will go down to Louisiana and help build up houses that were destroyed by Katrina a couple summers ago. I am going with my church and I think it will be a lot of fun.

Vaishnavi Ravi, YES India to Napa, CA (Bay Area Team)
This spring break, I will be going with my family to Arizona to attend my host mom's brother's wedding- this will be my 1st Christian wedding. We'll be driving through the desert and I'll get to see the Grand Canyon too! I am really excited!

Aida Zhurgenbayeva, FLEX Kazakhstan to Batavia, IL (Northern Illinois Area Team)
Me and my family are planning to go to Las Vegas, but also we have several options. We may be going to South Carolina or New York, but anyway it’ll be a big trip and I am looking forward to it!




Andy Kopp, CB Germany to Rio Rancho, NM (New Mexico Area Team)
For spring break my mom, my brother and me made already plans. We have 9 days and we are planning on going to the East. From here, Rio Rancho/Albuquerque we want to go to San Antonio in Texas. From there we are planning to go to South Padre Island, the very South tip of the United States. Then we want to go to New Orleans. We want to stay there a couple days and then we are coming back through Dallas. Maybe we can even met some friends, but we are definitely going to see a lot and I say a big 'thank you' to my mom!!!

Anja Grotheer, CB Germany to Gorham, ME (Downeast Maine Area Team)
My plans for spring break are going with my host family to Florida, Disney World. I am soooooo excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ayun Erwina Arifianti, YES Indonesia to Cave Creek, AZ (Grand Canyon Area Team)
My host family and I will go to our house in Flagstaff, AZ. We will relax there. We will watch movie, go shopping, etc as long as we still stay together. If I am lucky, I can go snowboarding. That will be so much fun. I am excited. I can hardly wait for it.

Dayu Dara Permata, YES Indonesia to Elizabeth, IL (Northern Illinois Area Team)
In this upcoming spring break, I along with my Host Parents will go to San Antonio, Texas for visiting one of my Host Dad’s old friends. There, we are going to stay at the hotel near the Alamo historical site. It is going to be a week or so by the time we come back to Elizabeth, a town of 700 people, where I live. I am so excited and looking forward to this upcoming event.

Dmitrij Ziles, CB Germany to Houston, TX (Texas Gulf Coast Area Team)
I'm going to visit relatives and friends who live in Washington and New York by myself, without my host family. I'm really looking forward to visiting those two cities and to meeting those people again, since I haven't seen them for 11 years.

Fatimah Jasmeen Alih, YES Philippines to Raytown, MO (Kansas City Area Team)
I am also excited for spring break and my family might go visit South Missouri.




Jean Marie Baldado, YES Philippines to Cooperstown, ND (Pine to Prairie Area Team)
I’d really like to do some fun stuff this coming spring break, but it all depends upon my host family’s plan. I would be so delighted to go somewhere else, but I’d rather choose to spend quality time with them.

Kseniya Burmeyster, FLEX Russia to Parkersburg, WV (Ohio River Valley Area Team)
For upcoming spring break, I really want to go somewhere, visit different places, cities in America, to know USA from different sides, because I live now in a small town, people say, that it is a lot different from big cities. I would like to visit some interesting places, that America famous for, like New-York with its Statue of Liberty. Or visit the Capitol, Washington DC.

Mariya Dushenko, FLEX Ukraine to Corona, CA (Desert Valleys Area Team)
My spring break is going to be from April 1st till April 7th and I'm going to the camp with my friends from school. We already planned it, and the camp is going to be in Camp Pendleton. This is school event and to participate in it is a big pleasure. We will have fun!!!

Muhammad Fadhun, YES Indonesia to Brawley, CA (Desert Valleys Area Team)
For upcoming spring break, because of my host family too busy with work, so I am going to northern California with my friends (other exchange student from Indonesia).




Noemi Booc, YES Philippines to Columbia, MD (Baltimore Area Team)
For this coming Spring Break, my host family and I are planning to go and visit the Statue of Liberty in New York. But first thing is I am going to travel by myself from Columbia, MD to Philadelphia, PA and visit my host family's close friend Michelle. She is a college professor who majors in US/World History. She will be touring me around and visit museums. Then, she'll take me to meet my host parents at Ellis Island. I am really looking forward for that event.

Patrick Sephira Taum, YES Indonesia to Watertown, WI (Waukesha and West Area Team)
I still have no plan for spring break, maybe I'll just chill out with friends and family, or I think my friends ask me to go swimming with them, whatever it is, it'll be fun.

Preethi Thomas, YES India to Walla Walla, WA (Inland Empire Area Team)
I have been selected in the high school drama for the spring. So some of the Break time, I would be having rehearsals for the play. I am also looking forward to do more volunteer work during the break. As a YES student, I am also going to Tamasklit to see the Native American culture.

Ralf Kaffei, CB Germany to Nashville, TN (Miss Tennky Area Team)
For spring break my new host family wants to go to Alabama to the beach!

Ruben Rehr, CB Germany to Port Clinton, OH (Northwest Ohio Area Team)
I will go with our drama club to New York for three days, with emphasize on Broadway!

Sebastian Unger, CB Germany to Cincinnati, OH (Greater Cincinnati Area Team)
I’m already excited about spring break! Our plans are to go to Florida and visit my great grandma. She is my host moms grandma and already 96 years old. She lives in a senior citizen home very close to the Gulf of Mexico. We will be able to swim in the ocean and have some nice vacation time at the beach. I heard that we will be able to find shark teeth on the beach and maybe see some alligators. I think that would be a lot of fun! We would drive down there all the way from Cincinnati in our car. It’s going to be a long trip of 16 hours! But I think it’ll be worth it.

Now that winter is coming to a close, we wanted to be sure to capture some of your favorite winter experiences, especially those which concerned all of those winter activities you tried! We hope that you had a lot of fun, even if that meant slipping and falling more often than not!

Tell us about your first time sledding/skiing/ice skating/etc.

Sarah Birnbach, CB Germany to Weston, MA (Massachusetts Bay Area Team)
Over December break we went up to Vermont and for the first time in my life I went downhill skiing and snowboarding. It was a lot of fun, even though I did not do very well.

Vaishnavi Ravi, YES India to Napa, CA (Bay Area Team)
I went skiing for the first time this winter with 3 other AFSers and my liaison. It was fun, though I did not know to ski at all. I kept falling hard on my back several times in the beginning, hurting myself. But towards the end, I got better because I kept trying. And by the end I fell only once every few minutes or so!

Aida Zhurgenbayeva, FLEX Kazakhstan to Batavia, IL (Northern Illinois Area Team)
2 weeks past out mid-year orientation exchange students of my area team and their families along with their friends went to ski trip. It was really good to see each other again, also to get to know more people. And skiing was so much fun to me! I’ve always been doing cross-country skiing, so I thought that skiing down from the hill will be no difficult. But it turned out that it’s not that easy as it seems. First time I went down the hill I fell down 6 times. At that time I didn’t know how to control my speed and it was hard to make turns. But I didn’t give up, I mastered the techniques and even though I had bruises all over my legs, I felt proud of myself!

Andy Kopp, CB Germany to Rio Ranch, NM (New Mexico Area Team)
For me the snow wasn't anything new. But it was still different. My host mom told me when I arrived here, that we might get an inch or two during the winter. Well, I believed her, since I figured that New Mexico is not the coldest place to stay. But it came differently: We got about 2 feet in the first week of January. It was so cool! We had so much fun! My host brother here is from Brazil and also an AFS student and he never saw snow before. Since we had snow days and no school, we had snowball fights, built snowmen and went ice skating. It was fun, because I didn't expect so much snow here. But I loved it, even it was very cold!

Anja Grotheer, CB Germany to Gorham, ME (Downeast Maine Area Team)
In Germany, we also have snow, so ice skating and skiing was not new for me. But what new for me was, was snowboarding and snowmobiling. I had never seen a snowmobile in my life before, so that was something very special for me. Riding the first time on a snowmobile was just amazing. I enjoyed it really much. An exchange student from Australia showed me how to snowboard. It was a great experience. Oh, and I have never done snow tubing in Germany either. So, that was a special experience, too.

Ayun Erwina Arifianti, YES Indonesia to Cave Creek, AZ (Grand Canyon Area Team)
My first time seeing snow is amazing. I didn’t have time to do all activities like sledding, skiing, etc. But I followed my friend suggestion. She said if you see snow, you have to do 5 things. First, making snowball. Second, making snowman. Third, making angel wings. Fourth, eating the snow. Fifth, just ENJOY it. I did all of them but my snowman was so small because the snow was still powder.

Dayu Dara Permata, YES Indonesia to Elizabeth, IL (Northern Illinois Area Team)
I always laugh every time I try to recall my first time skiing, skating, and sliding experiences. I remember my first time sledding. It was two months ago. I just went sliding in the small hill behind my school building, but I was scared to death. My skating experience was even worse. Even though it was not my first time skating- I have skated before when I was 7 years old- but still, skating in United States is different. After all, my first time skiing was my most favorite first time experience ever. Although I was on my butt, more often than I was on my feet, I was still excited. Moreover, after I got my Season Pass for skiing in one of nearest Mountain Resort in my area I was even more excited. Now, I could tell myself that I am professional, at least not as bad as I used to be.

Fatimah Jasmeen Alih, YES Philippines to Raytown, MO (Kansas City Area Team)
Now, I would like to tell about my first time seeing snow. The first time it happened, I could still remember the feeling of disbelief and joy. But somehow, it touched me knowing that I'm actually far from home. I went outside that day and went sledding which was really really fun. I made a couple of snow angels already.

Ferry Samadhi, YES Indonesia to Abbotsford, WI (North Central Wisconsin Area Team)
The first time, I feel scary to do tubing because I never do that before. But, after few times I think wow its fun, so I try, try and try again and again. My host Dad was there too, so we do tubing over, over and over again, maybe more than 40 times. Try to get further and faster when we get down.

Jean Marie Baldado, YES Philippines to Cooperstown, ND (Pine to Prairie Area Team)
Winter has begun, and so many things had happened and are about to happen. Anxious and thrilled, I packed up my things to fly to Walhalla for a ski trip. Indeed, it was another fascinating experience for me even tough I toppled over so badly. I don’t blame myself for it was just my first time to ski and my legs are not strong enough. Lately, I’m keeping myself busy doing some fun winter things like sledding, snowmobiling, and curling. My host family owns snowmobiles so I am fortunate enough go for a snowmobile ride quite often. Last February 2, all of the exchange students in Pine to Prairie Area went to curl at Fargo. That was a blast!!!

Kseniya Burmeyster, FLEX Russia to Parkersburg, WV (Ohio River Valley Area Team)
I was waiting for snow from the Thanksgiving Day, but it starts snowing only in January, 2007. I opened my eyes, and looked on the window, everything was white! I took my little host brother, (he is almost three years old), and we went to the park, to make a snow men, snow angels, play snowballs. It was a lot of fun! We made little snowmen (because there was not much of snow) with carrot nose, and came home with red noses, but happy faces, to drink hot chocolate.

Mariya Dushenko, FLEX Ukraine to Corona, CA (Desert Valleys Area Team)
Well, there is not that bad winter in Southern California. It has not been snowing yet, but nobody is surprised! So, looking for the winter, we went up in the mountains, to the Idyllwild, 2000 feet upper you can feel the difference in the temperature, closer to the 5000 feet we noticed the snow. And up to the top it was like different country: snow, pine forest, belki. And the style of the buildings is different. Like in the fairy tale!!! We were keep on stopping to take the pictures and to play snowballs!!! We had so much fun visiting winter in the mountains, even thou she does not want to come over visit us.

Muhammad Fadhun, YES Indonesia to Brawley, CA (Desert Valleys Area Team)
Actually because I stay in desert valley, so I never see snow since I am here in US, I really want to see snow, but yeah here is desert, but I have a experience that was I really love, it was Sand Dunes (glamis). I went to sand dunes with other student from North Carolina when they had trip to come here, and also with other exchange student. We used buggy and that’s so cool, I love it. And in winter break, in December I have wonderful time with my host sister wedding, my host family is Pakistani so its interesting for me.

Noemi Booc, YES Philippines to Columbia, MD (Baltimore Area Team)
Snow activities are so much fun! It was my first time experiencing snow and I just had a blast. My favorite was the snow tubing. At first, I was really scared to do it because I saw myself at the top of the hill and I have to sled down. It took me a while to continue but then I went on tried my guts. My gosh, it was totally an amazing experience! I can't control myself of doing it a lot of times. We took lots of pictures and videos. Another was the cross-country skiing. It was good too especially when you ski from a hill going down. I fell couple of times but it's part of my learning. The same thing with ice skating, the first time I did it was last August. We went to an ice skating rink with friends. I got too excited and I thought it would be easy. I never did it before so I don't know how to do it but my friends taught me how. It was a little bit hard for me and I was trying to balance myself and I have to hold on to my friends' hands while ice skating. It was funny though because I saw lot of little kids who were really good at it and I was so jealous of them. But then, I was really determined to be good in it. Of course, the most important thing was I enjoyed and had a lot of fun with these while on my AFS year.

Patrick Sephira Taum, YES Indonesia to Watertown, WI (Waukesha and West Area Team)
My first time sledding was really FUN!! I sled a lot that time, when my friends are tired already, I'm still sledding down the hill all night, but the worst thing I don't like is the 'face wash' I was really mad when they did that to me, I thought I was going to die. And skating is as fun as sledding too, but I hurt my ankle really bad after a while.

Preethi Thomas, YES India to Walla Walla, WA (Inland Empire Area Team)
In one word it was INCREDIBLE ! Coming from the plains it was my first time experience sledding, skiing and ice skating. I went for sledding with my host father and host sister. We had lots of fun and enjoyment. I took skiing lessons during the AFS (Inland Empire Area Team) winter camp in Chewelah (49 degree North). Recently I also went for ice skating at YWCA. All the winter activities were really enjoyable and now I have some special memories to cherish for rest of my life.

Ralf Kaffei, CB Germany to Nashville, TN (Miss Tennky Area Team)
Here in Nashville/TN we had just on a few days a couple of inches of snow and of course snow days!!!! This was a really new situation for me because in Middle Germany if we have a snow day the whole city is under 5 feet of snow (in the city!) and nobody is driving except like almost military vehicle or fire trucks! (In Germany there are no SUVs! Except for people who really need them and they are working in the forest, etc.!!!)

Ruben Rehr, CB Germany to Port Clinton, OH (Northwest Ohio Area Team)
I built the first time an American/German snowman with my host family here. It was much fun and the result is impressive.




Sebastian Unger, CB Germany to Cincinnati, OH (Greater Cincinnati Area Team)
Since I come from Germany I can’t really say that I went sledding here for the first time. However, I still had a lot of fun in the snow and the first snow days in my life! When we had this big snow storm, our school got cancelled for two days in a row. That was of course just great! I thought we would have school and got up at 7am in the morning. I couldn’t believe that the weather conditions were bad enough to cancel school, since I had seen worse in Germany. But then I only found my mom awake in the kitchen and she told me that we had a day off. It was fantastic! Getting up, anticipating a day at school, and then realizing that you’ll have all day to do whatever you want to do. We ended up having a very relaxing and fun day. But it wasn’t over after that one day! The next day got cancelled too because of icy-rain. By noon it had long stopped raining and it had turned into a wonderful day. We went outside and had a lot of fun in the snow. I have had great experiences with snow during this winter!


Congratulations to the winners of our "Coldest and Warmest Weather" contest! Take a peek at some of the weather your fellow AFSers have had over the course of the year:

Here are a few stories containing insights into the ways in which our alumni are becoming leaders upon their return to their home communities.

FLEX Alumni Bring Modern Technology to Students in Georgia
Shota Gvaramadze (’04), Keti Khukhunashvili (’04), and Giorgi Dvali (’04) from Georgia, all leaders from the Alumni Advisory Council in Georgia brainstormed and carried out a project last summer that collected second-hand computers from the United States and transported them to Georgia. 20 computers were distributed to four different schools and have allowed the children access to modern technology. This coming summer, they plan to collect and distribute more computer equipment throughout Georgia, but hope to also expand this to medical equipment as well.
(From the U.S. Department of State Alumni Website)

Ukrainian Alumni Host Environmental Awareness Party On December 15, FLEX Alumni in Ukraine, in conjunction with the International Eco-ethics International Union, an international non- governmental organization, created an Environmental Awareness Party at one of Sevastopol’s largest nightclubs. They organized the event to promote awareness of environmental problems and to teach people how to live in an environmentally friendly lifestyle. Volodymyr Bilay ’03, Valeria Fedosova ’06, Ekaterina Masohina ’06, Evgeniya Musatova ’06, Andrey Poteryakhin ’02, Iryna Ogay ’04, and Dmitriy Savchenko ’03 played a substantial role in organizing the event.
(From the U.S. Department of State Alumni Website)

FLEX Alumni Bring Christmas Cheer
FLEX Alumni in Belarus in Ukraine organized the annual Miraculous Christmas Tree Project, introduced to all FLEX alumni coordinators in 2005 by Focus- Media Project Manager and Trainer Yulia Molodtsova (’98). Participants decorate trees, located in a store, with pictures of children from local orphanages with their Christmas wishes. Customers are then asked to donate the items on the lists. Monetary donations are sometimes also accepted in lieu of gifts in order to provide larger gifts for the entire orphanage. All together, more than 400 presents were donated, making Christmas a little brighter for these youngsters.
(From the U.S. Department of State Alumni Website)

Georgian Alumni Volunteer at the Shardeni Street Action
On December 24, approximately 30 Georgian FLEX alumni helped the “Shardeni Group” with their annual Shardeni Street charity drive action in Tbilisi, Georgia. The money raised from the items went to three Orphanage Houses to aid with any problems the orphanages had and to help the children learn labor skills and learn to use the resources they had. Over $1,500 was raised by the street action and with donations from other organizations, the total reached over $7,000. After the Shardeni Street Action, over 100 FLEX alumni, along with UGRAD and Muskie alumni, attended the Alumni 14th Anniversary Christmas Reunion at the Sheraton Metekhi Palace Night Club. Alumni had the opportunity to reconnect with former friends as well as create new friendships. It wasn’t just an annual reunion, but also a charity party: the money raised will support future charity events organized by the Georgian FLEX alumni.
(From the U.S. Department of State Alumni Website)

Russian Alumna Enhances Students’ Web Design Skills
FLEX Alumna Tatyana Dyachuk (’05) trained three students at her school in Novosibirsk, Russia in informational technology. As a result, these three students now have skills in web design and have created a website for their teacher, who uses this as an enhancement to her lesson plans. Though it may seem like a small feat, many other teachers can use this as a tool for their own classrooms and students will learn the benefits of using the Internet to enhance their resources.
(From the U.S. Department of State Alumni Website)

Armenian Alumni Perform in The Matchmaker
Sixteen amateur actors performed in the English language production of Thorton Wilder’s The Matchmaker. Of these sixteen, nine were FLEX alumni. Proceeds from ticket sales were used to support the children’s playroom at the Fanarjyan National Oncology Center and the American University in Armenia’s Department of English Programs Experimental English Classes. Other FLEX alumni played supportive roles by creating posters, creating costume and set designs, becoming ushers, and doing everything they could to ensure a successful production. Almost 300 tickets were sold on the two evenings that the show ran, with high government officials, representatives of NGOs and other FLEX alumni in attendance, just to name a few.
(From the U.S. Department of State Alumni Website)

FLEX Alumni in Ukraine Bike for Safety
Eight FLEX Alumni joined 200 other cyclists in a bicycle parade in Sevastopol, Ukraine in October. The FLEX Alumni collected signatures to petition the City Administration to create safer conditions for bicycle riders, including bike paths and parking spots. This demonstration was to raise awareness about the dangers that bicycle riders face.
(From the U.S. Department of State Alumni Website)

YES Alum Beautifies India
2005-06 Alum, Shreyansh Kankaria along with eleven high school students and friends collected trash from the Sinhgad Mountain in Pune, India on December 17 and 24. After a few more weeks, the group plans to move on to another area. The cleanup is an inspiration to those around him who may not have been able to participate in the program, by showing them what a difference they can make in their community.

Here is a snapshot of what your Cluster Coordinators and host families have to say about you and all of the amazing things you are accomplishing!

Katharine Mayne, Host Mother
Florian Adam is earning a varsity letter in Wrestling. He never wrestled before coming to this country! Today he wrestles in District competition. Starting Feb 26 he plans to try Baseball!

Carol Reitz, Cluster Coordinator (Pine to Prairie Area Team)
Winter Orientation for the Pine to Prairie Area Team was a time for our Cluster students as well as the other AFS students to showcase their homelands. One of our host moms is on the Girl Scout staff, so she was delighted to combine the Girl Scout World Thinking Day with a volunteer project for our students. About 60 Girl Scouts gathered to learn how cultures differ and how they are similar. We sang songs from Bolivia and the Philippines and we learned a traditional Filipino dance and a Japanese game. The Thai students delighted in sharing some spicy noodles with everyone, and a Tunisian student displayed her prayer rug and her prayer clothing. We saw some beautiful costumes from Japan, Thailand, Kazakhstan, and the Philippines. Students from Germany and Italy and Russia gave well prepared talks and a large flag of France was not to be missed! The presentations ranged from power point to informal and lots of questions were asked. We began the afternoon with an informal flag ceremony where all the country flags were displayed and described, and we ended our time together playing pool and bowling together. It was a wonderful afternoon of thinking globally by two different organizations with the same regional name.

Robin Frank, Host Mother
My German student, Elisabeth Vietz, has volunteered at a Thrift Shop at McConnell AFB with me. She has made presentations at two churches and will be helping with a special presentation of countries to sixth graders in one week.

Jackie O’Conner, Cluster Coordinator (Miss Tennky Area Team)
I took 4 sponsored students (and several non sponsored students joined our group) to attend a Kurdish Refugee banquet held in Nashville on Friday night, October 27, 2006.

This was a fund raiser and dinner for the very large Kurdish refugee population in Nashville, TN. I arranged for Tahir Hussein, president of the Nashville Kurdish Forum and Nashville New American Coalition, to spend time speaking with the students regarding the plight of the Kurds in Turkey and surrounding countries, as well as how they have traveled to America to settle here and start a new life.

Students had a dinner of Iranian & Kurdish food, belly dancing and then Tahir had a Q&A session after he spoke with the students for approximately 45 minutes.

The students in attendance were: Ralf Kaffei (CB Germany); Nisrin Saqib (YES India); Melis Kesgin (YES Turkey); and Lusi Murti (YES Indonesia).

Catrina, Host Mother
Julia Kiefaber, our host daughter, participated in several public speaking presentations in the last several months. She spoke to the 6th graders at St. Wendelin Elementary school, discussing her AFS experience and telling them about Germany. A great discussion took place between her and the students and the teacher was very pleased.

Julia also spoke to the local Fostoria Rotary Club. She spoke about her experience in the U.S thus far. She also spoke about Germany, the economy and industries there as well as the politics. She did an excellent job and was praised by all members who attended the meeting. She was especially surprised at the number and variety of questions she was asked. Doing these presentations helped to develop not only her public presentation skills but also helped to develop her leadership role at the school.