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Community Engagement

Updated

Community engagement is a vital part of American society. Whether pursued independently or through a high school, host family, community organization, or cluster enrichment activity, community engagement is an important way for students to learn about their host community and increase mutual understanding. It also helps students develop leadership and organizational skills they can bring back to their home communities.

AFS has a long-standing tradition of community engagement and firmly believes in its value and benefits in shaping students’ experiences in the U.S. As a result, some enhancement activities will include opportunities for community engagement. Students may also find community engagement opportunities through their high school.

Program Number of Required Community Engagement Hours
FLEX 25 hours
CBYX 25 hours
FLEX Semester 15 hours
Students can track their hours using the Community Engagement Hours Tracking Sheet. Liaisons and cluster coordinators can guide students in choosing and recording their community engagement activities. Travel time to and from the location is not counted toward the total community engagement hours. Toward the end of the program, FLEX or CBYX Specialists will collect each student’s tracking sheet in the spring.

 
To qualify as community engagement toward the certificate, an activity must be unpaid and provide a benefit to the community beyond the student and their host family. Some examples of qualifying activities are: 

  • Stocking and distributing food at a food bank 
  • Mentoring or tutoring a child 
  • Fundraising for any nonprofit organization or charitable cause 
  • Participating in a community engagement project through a school club (Honor Society, Key Club, etc.) 
  • Assisting a teacher before or after school 
  • Shoveling snow for a neighbor in need 
  • Helping a parent/teacher organization in the school or school district 
  • Selling tickets, working concession stands, or ushering at sporting events, concerts or theater productions (if not required for a class) 
  • Time in service club meetings spent planning or organizing community activities (but not for other club activities)
Examples of activities that do not qualify as community engagement include doing chores for the host family; participating in non–community engagement cluster activities such as visits to local government offices or informal social gatherings; making required country presentations at school; attending classes, workshops, or events; raising funds for the student’s personal benefit (e.g., for trips, field trips, or dances); or participating in clubs, student council, sports teams (including as a team manager), and school plays, as these are considered typical extracurricular activities in American school systems rather than community engagement.

 

Here are some virtual opportunities that may interest students!

 

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) also offers a certificate of appreciation for the completion of 100 or more hours of community engagement. Many students try to make it their goal to receive this additional certificate at the end of their program.

 

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