COTABATO CITY— The latest batch of grantees of the American Field Service (AFS) Intercultural Program paid a courtesy call Tuesday to the office of the regional governor Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) after successfully completing a year of schooling and cultural immersion in the United States.

The batch composed of 14 students and 4 educators are fresh from their return from the US last July 04. All of them are eager to share their experience and what they have learned from the program.

AFS is an international, voluntary, non-governmental, non-profit organization that provides intercultural learning opportunities to help people develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world.

The organization provides programs such as Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program to the USA and the Japan–East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS).

Under its YES program, students and educators are welcomed into host families in the US and attend classes in their host schools for a year, a semester or two weeks. Grantees will enjoy the free-tuition, free-board-and-lodging arrangement with their host families and host schools.

AFS grantees are also entitled to receive free international travel benefits

Exchange students are expected to gain a real understanding of another country’s culture and tradition in a fresh perspective, learn new language and feel confident and comfortable with people from other countries.

“This is the time for us to make a difference, not everyone gets a chance at this kind of opportunity.This is really a good way of bridging people from different cultural backgrounds.” Said Fariz Abdullah Udasan, an exchange student who studied for a year in Texas.

ARMM Executive Secretary Oscar Sampulna said this AFS Intercultural Program will give a wonderful opportunity to these students to become ambassadors of goodwill to the country.
The following are the criteria for the study grant: Filipino Citizen, 15-17 years old, in good health and should be enrolled as a third year high school student in a Department of Education accredited school. Scholastic performance is also part of the criteria, with the applicant being part of the top 10 percent of the third year level, should demonstrate leadership potential and proficient in English language. The student should be willing to return to the nominating school to finish secondary education upon completion of the scholarship program. (bpi-armm)