AFSA NEWS 64 OCTOBER 2023 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Believe in Their Future: Support FS Youth BY ARILÉA FERNANDEZ Ariléa Fernandez is executive director of the Foreign Service Youth Foundation. An FS family member and mother of four, she has lived and worked in Bogotá, Colombia. The Foreign Service Youth Foundation has provided innovative programming and support services to our community for more than 30 years. It is primarily a volunteer organization that relies on the energy, enthusiasm, experience, and ideas of Foreign Service parents to provide direction and people power. We need an influx of dedicated new members for our executive and advisory boards. Our most immediate need is for a grant writer, a social media content writer, and a fundraising team member. As a volunteer, you will find many meaningful ways to contribute as FSYF continues to engage, develop, and inspire youth globally. FSYF is also delighted to work with individuals who cannot make a one- or two-year commitment but are willing to help with any of our ongoing projects. Our core objective is to support Foreign Service youth globally. This requires recognizing the unique obstacles and opportunities our kids face, creating new programs that are in sync with the expectations of today’s kids, and rolling up our sleeves to get the work done. Whether you’re an eligible family member (EFM), senior government employee, or mid-career officer looking for a volunteer opportunity, there is a place for you at the Foreign Service Youth Foundation. We also encourage college-age, postgraduate FS kids, and third culture kids to join us. The Foreign Service Youth Foundation was established in 1989 by what was then the State Department Family Liaison Office (now the Global Community Liaison Office, or GCLO) and the Overseas Briefing Center (OBC). FSYF was born of a need for an outside entity solely focused on Foreign Service youth as they transition from post to post, with special attention to supporting youth as they return to the United States. We host local, in-person events for young people, like holiday parties, climbing activities, splashpad play dates, trainings, welcome home seminars and picnics, and youth leadership opportunities, such as the Youth Leadership Advisory Board and the youth newsletter. We also host virtual events and hold contests with cash prizes. Our website has a digital library full of recorded virtual events on topics such as mental health, successful transitions, security in overseas schools, how to support a good goodbye, and many more. These sessions are for families in transition and can be accessed at any time. The Welcome Home and KidVid videos, created by youth about their host country and the Washington, D.C.–Maryland–Virginia area, are stored on an interactive map. We partner with GCLO, OBC, overseas schools, and Active and Connected Family Therapy to link families to resources. Strong human connections can ease the hardship of transition, so our local and virtual events are intended to foster meaningful relationships. Yet there is still so much work to be done! If you are interested in pitching in or learning more, please email me at fsyf@fsyf.org. Help us make sure our kids have the support and the programming that demonstrate our faith in them. n Ariléa Fernandez
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODIyMDU=