Welcome back to The AFS Exchange! We are continuing our series highlighting the people who keep the AFS engine running: our dedicated volunteers.

In this episode, we’re following up on our conversation about the Chapter Leadership Summit in Spain- but this time, from an extra international perspective. We’re joined by Alessandro, a volunteer leader from Italy who speaks the exact same AFS language as our volunteers here at home.

We’ll hear about Alessandro's journey from an exchange student in the fjords of Norway to his current role as a Chapter President in Sicily. This conversation is a reminder that whether you are in Palermo or Pasadena, the goals, the struggles, and the mission of building a more peaceful world remain the same.

Meet the Guest:

• Alessandro: An Italian AFS volunteer whose AFS journey began as an exchange student in Norway in the late 2010s. Today, he serves as the President of his local volunteer chapter in Palermo, Sicily.

In this episode, we explore:

• The structure of AFS Italy (or Intercultura) and how it compares to AFS-USA.
• Why volunteer "mobility" and retention in your early 20s is a universal challenge across any AFS partner countries.
• Alessandro’s key takeaways from the gathering in Spain and how he’s implementing those lessons in Sicily.
• How AFS leadership and exchange programs serve as a vital tool to fight the fear of communities and cultures different from our own.

How to get involved:

• Volunteer Nationally: Current volunteers can learn about national leadership roles via Help & Learning for Volunteers or by emailing [email protected].
• Not a volunteer yet? Head to afsusa.org/volunteer to get started.

More from AFS-USA: 🏠Host a Student | ✈️Study Abroad | 🤝Volunteer | 🏫For Educators | 📧Contact the Show | 🎧Collections