An AFS Team is a designated geographic area based on zip codes and includes the volunteers that fall within the boundaries of the area. AFS Teams vary in size- one team could be a city or several counties and another team could cover one state or more. AFS Teams can be structured to include volunteer units such as chapters or districts, or not. How a team is organized is determined by the local volunteer leadership with support from the staff Regional Director (RD) and Regional Field Specialists (RFS).
Responsibilities of AFS Teams
- Nurture a climate within the team that strives for inclusion, a sense of fun, collegiality, social engagement, openness to trying new ideas, and collaboration
- Monitor the use and reporting of co-support funds
- Ensure compliance of policies and regulations in accordance with AFS, CSIET and the U.S Department of State
- Ensure team's achievement of program goals in hosting, sending, and non-traditional AFS programs
- Deliver quality orientations for our volunteers and our hosting and sending programs that are in accordance with our regulations and learning objectives
- Develop and implement a plan for volunteer recognition
- Identify and determine opportunities where AFS can grow its program and educational impact in local communities within the team
Team Leadership
Teams are only required to have two volunteer leadership positions filled by separate individuals who do not live in the same household. Those positions are:
- Chair
- Treasurer
Beyond these two positions, teams can organize volunteers and/or volunteer leaders in whatever manner that best enables the team to achieve their program and team goals. How a team organizes its leadership and its volunteers is done in consultation with their Regional Director (RD) and other members of the Field staff.
Co-Support Funds
Teams receive co-support funding based on the actual number of participants hosted and sent from their team. Co-support funds can be used to cover the following team expenses:
- Hosting program expenses
- Orientations
- Local events for AFS host students (social and/or educational activities)
- Sending program expenses
- Orientations
- Returnee activities
- Team expenses
- PR/Marketing of AFS programs locally
- Volunteer training
- Attendance at regional or national training or meetings
- Volunteer recognition
- Reimbursement of volunteer expenses for AFS activities
Who Supports Our AFS Teams
Here you will find a helpful cheat sheet for volunteers to better understand the role of each of their staff people.