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AFS International Statement on the Conflict in Ukraine

AFS always stands on the side of peace.

We strongly support UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ calls for “restraint, reason, and de-escalation,” as well as for respect for international law and the UN Charter. We are concerned for everyone potentially affected by this conflict, but particularly for the millions of young people living in Russia and Ukraine who deserve to live in a just and peaceful world.

It is in moments like these that the clarity and importance of AFS’s mission are fully revealed. Our organization was founded during the First World War, and for over 100 years, we have worked to build understanding between peoples to prevent future wars.

Our network of 55 AFS partners is committed to continuing the exchange of people and ideas whenever possible, regardless of the political situations that may arise between nations.

This commitment remains more relevant than ever. AFS does not currently have any participants hosted in Ukraine. We are taking all necessary measures to ensure that our participants in the region are safe and well supported by our highly qualified staff and dedicated volunteers.

If you have any questions, please contact the Associate Director of Organizational Development for AFS Intercultural Programs, Nicole Lebenson Angulo – [email protected]

If you have any concerns about how this situation may affect a specific AFS participant, please do not hesitate to contact the AFS Interculture Canada team.

Aline Lauzier receives an international award

Aline Lauzier, a resident of Trois-Rivières and a volunteer with AFS Interculture Canada for 22 years, has achieved international renown.

A Beautiful Story

In 1998, following a television report and an advertisement in a local newspaper, Aline and her husband René decided to volunteer as host families for a young Icelandic student for a year. This experience allowed them to discover the joy of sharing and rediscovering the beauty and richness of their own culture through the eyes of a young foreigner.

Aline and René then welcomed nine other students from Mexico, Sweden, Venezuela, Italy, Finland, and Paraguay. Through a French homework assignment, a shepherd’s pie, and a visit to the Laviolette Bridge, Aline forged close bonds with each of these young people, who would become her children at heart. They would become ambassadors of Quebec values ​​upon their return to their home country. Aline and her husband stay in touch with each of them and attend some of their weddings. They have now become international grandparents!

Building and Opening Up to the World

In 2000, when the Trois-Rivières committee had four host families and was without volunteers, Aline and René decided to revive the committee. After serving as Assistant to the Activity Leader Manager, then Activity Leader Manager, Aline officially became committee president in 2012, a role she still holds today. She built a strong and autonomous team, developing tools and methods that would serve as a source of inspiration for the national office and other volunteer committees across Canada.

Today, the Trois-Rivières committee has approximately sixty volunteers and has welcomed 363 students from around the world since 2000. It has also provided 160 young people from the region with an experience abroad. Recognized as chair of the committee with the best structure for ensuring sustainability at the AFS International Congress held in Montreal in 2019, Aline today receives the Peggy and Art Howe Award from AFS Intercultural Programs, which recognizes host families who volunteer their time and open their hearts.

A woman with a kind heart and an open mind who deserves to be congratulated.

About the Peggy and Art Howe Award

Families are at the heart of AFS. It is common to see several members of the same family actively involved in the organization. With this award, we honor our volunteer families while also paying tribute to Peggy and Art Howe, an exceptional couple who have contributed significantly to the mission and objectives of AFS, both within the organization and in society at large. Recipients will receive a certificate recognizing their outstanding contribution to AFS globally and a $1,000 scholarship to be awarded to a student in financial difficulty within their local committee.