The American Councils for International Education, a non-profit organization committed to international education and exchange, is looking for interested families and coordinators to facilitate and host foreign exchange students in the U.S. for the 2006-07 school year. Funded by the U.S. Department of State to encourage learning and understanding between Americans and the people from Eurasia, Russia and Afghanistan, these programs bring hundreds of bright students to study in high schools in the U.S. The students have a very high proficiency in English, are eager to learn about American culture and have undergone a very competitive process to earn the right to represent their countries in the U.S. While in the U.S. they receive a monthly stipend, enrichment activity opportunities and medical insurance. The three academic year programs include:

• - Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX) for students from Russia and Eurasia
• - Youth Exchange and Study Program (YES) for students from Afghanistan
• - American Serbia and Montenegro Leadership Exchange (A-SMYLE)

Coordinators facilitate the student's stay in the host family, helping them adapt to the American schools, as well as maintaining contact with the American Councils about the progress of the student.

Host families provide students with a loving and supportive environment, a place to sleep (sharing a room is okay), meals and snacks, and a quiet place to study. All types of families, in which English is the primary language used at home, are welcomed including those with teenagers or younger children at home, retirees, "empty nesters," and single parent families.

You benefit by partaking in historic programs sponsored by our government.
Sharing our culture with people from other countries.
Breaking stereotypes and creating positive impressions about America.
Learning about cultures of the world on a personal level.

If interested, please contact Tatyana at taratynova@americancouncils.org or by phone at 1-800-621-9559. American Council's website is www.americancouncils.org

AFSA's Elderhostel Program seeks Foreign Service retirees as formal coordinators for Texas and Arizona. Please contact Janice Bay at bay@afsa.org or 1-800-704-2372.

The program has been successful in educating a broad range of participants about the Department of State, the Foreign Service and U.S. foreign policy. Participants are mostly retired civilian professionals over 55 years old. Elderhostel's 5-day programs provide briefings on important foreign policy issues from both retired and active-duty Foreign Service Officers. Information on the program can be found on the Elderhostel page http://www.afsa.org/elderhostel/.

The Vermont Council on World Affairs (VCWA) seeks retired Foreign Service officers currently living in Vermont to participate in the VCWA as speakers on current global issues, in the Great Decisions discussion groups (which have been initiated in connection with the World Affairs Council of America), in the International Visitor Leadership Program when delegations from countries in which they served visit Vermont, and in other VCWA activities. VCWA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1952 by former U.S. Senator Warren Austin and other distinguished Vermonters. Contact VCWA at vcwa@earthlink.net, by telephone at 802-654-2482, or by mail at 123 Ethan Allen Avenue, Suite 315,Colchester, VT 05446. The website is www.vcwa.org.