Nov. 30, 2022 -- There are few things that have a greater impact on how a young person sees the world than, well, seeing the world. Whether traveling to other countries or befriending those who have traveled to ours, exchange programs truly have the power to make “the world more just and peaceful,” according to AFS-USA.
Cleveland Heights High School recently received recognition from AFS Intercultural Programs (formerly the American Field Service) for doing just that. AFS recognized just 75 schools across the entire country for the “significant contribution” they have made to promoting AFS’ mission and vision. As a consistent host for more than six decades, Cleveland Heights High School is proud to again have foreign exchange students in the building.
There are only two this semester, one from Spain and one from Kenya which is a far cry from the usual ten-plus but a welcome return after Covid put the program on hold. In fact,
the last batch of exchange students who were in Cleveland were sent home amid the early panic and confusion of the pandemic.
But Heights High does not just welcome students into our community – we also send students overseas. At a recent meeting for the AFS club, French teacher and advisor Melha Hadjabed-Woods was thrilled to welcome nearly 25 students to the group. “Students are very interested in traveling abroad,” she says, especially with the shorter summer programs that are offered. “But the price tag is very intimidating and can scare some of them away.”
She is guiding several students through the process of applying for scholarships as she knows how valuable international travel can be. “It is important for our students to know that the world is not a scary place, to see the sameness and similarities between people.”
The in-depth learning that occurs with intercultural exchange can even benefit the very young. Heights High instructional specialist and mother of Canterbury 1st and 4th graders, Rebecca McDonald is proud to host Abdullahi Omar from Kenya this year. “It’s such a privilege to experience a different culture in our own home. It’s a great experience for our kids. They can really connect with someone from a different place and change their perspective on the world.”
And that is exactly the point. As Amparo Rios, the School Partnerships Coordinator for AFS-USA said in a recent email to Heights High, “Your school is helping us reach our vision that every student and educator can become a global citizen.”
If you are interested in hosting one of two girls from Malaysia who are set to arrive in the United States on January 26 for the second semester, please contact
[email protected].