About AYA Local Coordinators

AYA Local Coordinators are women and men who enjoy working with young people, are open-minded and believe deeply in the value of cross-cultural exchange. They are located throughout the United States and act as a program liaison for AYA at a local level.

AYA Local Coordinators are responsible for finding host families, making placement arrangements with the high school and supervising the foreign exchange students throughout the year. Supervising requires checking regularly with the student, host family and high school; submitting reports to the AYA national office; and being available to the student, host family and high school in the event that questions or concerns arise.

The Role of an AYA Local Coordinator

AYA Local Coordinators share a deep belief in the value of cross-cultural exchange. They enjoy working with foreign exchange students and are key to the success of the AYA program. Every one of the responsibilities listed below is an important function of the Local Coordinator position:

• Serving as a spokesperson for intercultural exchange and actively marketing the AYA program in his or her community.
• Establishing relationships with high school administrators and understanding each school's policy on foreign exchange students.
• Identifying, screening and selecting families who are appropriate host families for AYA students.
• Making at least one placement (of an AYA student in a host family and school) per calendar year.
• Conducting orientations for host families prior to the arrival of the foreign exchange students, meeting the students at the airport and introducing them to their host families.
• Conducting orientations for students who elect to travel directly to their host community.
• Providing support and supervision for students and host families throughout the AYA program year or semester.