The California Central Coast Area Team of AFS Intercultural Programs has announced that Justine Tuncan, a Valencia High School Junior, has become the team’s newest registered volunteer.

“I was already involved with AFS so I thought it would be good to take it to the next level,” said Tuncan. “I look forward to connecting with other Valencia High School students who also are interested in intercultural learning.”

AFS (American Field Service) is a nonprofit international exchange student organization based in New York City and has been a leader in international education for more than 70 years, according to the organization.

As an official volunteer, Tuncan’s duties consist of helping Valencia High School students learn more about studying abroad with AFS, or hosting an AFS exchange student, and providing support to AFS exchange students from other countries who call Valencia High School “home” for a semester or academic year, according to AFS officials.

She has been involved with AFS since 2017 where she attended the AFS Global Prep intercultural learning program at the University of California at San Diego.

Tuncan has spent two weeks in Ghana, West Africa, and has also been a host sibling to three AFS students from Italy, Latvia, and South Africa, according to officials.

Currently, Valencia High School is home to four AFS students from Norway, Germany, South Africa, and Gaza.  

The organization is currently seeking students from these local communities between the ages of 13-18 who are interested in going abroad for durations between two weeks to 10 months.

New AFS students are expected to arrive in August 2019. Families who are interested in hosting an exchange student for an academic semester, or year, must complete an online application, provide references, participate in an interview, and complete an online volunteer orientation.

To become a volunteer with AFS, interested individuals over the age of 18 must also pass a background check. There is no minimum age limit to become an AFS volunteer, but all volunteers must be registered.

For more information about becoming a volunteer visit the AFS website here.

Ed. Note: This information was provided to KHTS by AFS Cultural Programs USA.

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