Revitalized AFS welcomes newcomers

The Mahoning County Chapter of American Field Service Intercultural Programs is sponsoring five foreign students this year:

Valentin Wett from Austria and Catalina Rojas Rodriguez from Chile, both attending New Springfield High School. Valentin is staying with his host mother, Terri Windsor, and host grandmother, Kay Windsor, in Poland. He is here on the AFS semester program and will return to Austria in January. Catalina is staying with Bob and Chris Gabrick of New Springfield and their children, Sarah, with whom she attends school, and Josh, a student at Crestview High School. She will return to Chile next June.

Paticha “Pie” Areepipatkul from Thailand, and Dario Scanferlato from Italy, both attending Boardman High. Pie and Dario are staying with Brad Smith of Boardman. Both will return to their home countries next June.

Nicolas Saldivia Heinz from Chile, attending Heartland Christian School. He is staying with Marney Broderick and her son, Michael, in Canfield. He is here on the AFS semester program and will return to Chile in January.

The students arrived from their home countries in August and are involved in a host of activities besides participating as regular family members in activities with their host families.

AFS is always looking for families interested in hosting students, as well as local high school students interested in studying abroad. AFS offers scholarships to those who are chosen.

All families and students must go through a strict application and background process. Double placements are possible. Host families can have small or teenage children, be empty-nesters with adult children, couples with no children, single adults or single parents.

The Mahoning County, Trumbull and Columbiana County Chapter is part of the AFS Northeast Ohio Area Team and abides by guidelines that comply with U.S. State Department regulations governing high school foreign exchange programs.

AFS offers international exchange programs in more than 40 countries around the world through independent, nonprofilt AFS chapters. Although its presence in the Mahoning Valley has waned in recent years, it has begun rebuilding a strong presence in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties and throughout Northeast Ohio.

For more information, contact Terri Windsor, AFS Northeast Ohio Area Team coordinator and AFS alumna, at 330-531-3070.