Photo: To kick off International Education Week (IEW), YES 2015-2016 students Ahmad Alex El-Hajj from Lebanon and Nugraheni “Tizzy” Pratitis from Indonesia visited a local elementary school.

By Rebecca Seymour, Lake Country Now

During World War I and II, Americans volunteered to serve overseas as ambulance drivers in the American Field Services, evacuating the wounded from battlefields. When they returned home, they founded a program to promote peace and international service through international high school student exchange, now known as AFS.

A worldwide, nonprofit organization, AFS has been leading international high school student exchange for more than more than 65 years. Each year, AFS-USA sends approximately 1,500 American students to more than 40 countries and welcomes 2,500 international high school students to the U.S. to study in local high schools, live with host families and actively participate in their communities.

With the recent events in Paris and increased tensions and violence stemming from an intolerance of differing ideologies, values and cultural traditions throughout the world, international education and understanding is more important than ever, AFS supporters said.

International education

This year, six international exchange students are attending Oconomowoc High School through AFS: Zyl Stavropolis of Germany, Paolo Olivier of Italy, Famai "Sam" Sridang of Thailand, Nugraheni "Tizzy" Pratitis of Indonesia, Nicole Lev of Argentina and Saori Tanaka of Japan.

The AFS students are encouraged to get out into the community and do presentations about their countries throughout the year, especially during International Education Week (IEW), which was observed last month.

A joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education, IEW is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide.

Last month, Nugraheni "Tizzy" Pratitis of Indonesia and Ahmad "Alex" El-Hajj of Lebanon visited with the first- and third-grade students at Meadow View Elementary School. Other school visits included Tizzy and Saori Tanaka from Japan at Silver Lake Intermediate School and Tizzy and Zyl Stravropolis from Germany at Greenland Elementary School.

Tizzy is a Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) scholar and is attending Oconomowoc High School on a full merit scholarship from the U.S. Department of State.

"I want the students to know about other countries and to learn what it's like to be an international student. I also want people to know what it's like to be Muslim and not to be scared," said Tizzy.

Alex is a YES scholar attending Waukesha West High School.

"It's important for kids to learn what happens in different countries and to be more open minded about how things work in different cultures," he said. "This has been such a great experience for me. At first, I had a little culture shock, but I'm learning a lot of stuff. I'm growing as an individual and I know I'm more independent and a stronger person."

Meadow View third-grade teacher, Julie Palm was a host mom last year to AFS student Victor Segard of France.

"Our students are fascinated that life can be different in other countries, she said. "Kids have a hard time looking beyond themselves, and it's important to show them that there are other cultures and different ways of thinking."

Opening doors and minds

Last year, Oconomowoc High School received the "2014 Top AFS School" Award from AFS-USA, an educational leader in international high school student exchange. The 79 high schools selected from around the country for the award have partnered with the nonprofit organization to promote global citizenship through intercultural learning.

The Oconomowoc AFS Chapter is part of the Waukesha and West Team, which is made up of 13 local high schools. A group of 50 registered volunteers work closely with the schools, students and families to ensure a successful experience.

"We have a really great network of volunteers in Oconomowoc. OHS is moving toward a globally focused education and AFS is part of that. IEW is all about the importance of having a world view and for students to have that opportunity to meet and know people from other places in the world," said Oconomowoc AFS volunteer Stephany Freedman.

"I know I can go back to Indonesia after this experience and be more open minded in my own country," explained Tizzy. "Even when it's hard, I appreciate this opportunity because I believe that life begins at the end of your comfort zone. My biggest message to this community is to host an international exchange student – they're cool."

For information about the Global Prep program and other AFS study abroad programs, visit www.afsusa.org/study-abroad. For information about the scholarship and to obtain application materials, contact Deb Bursinger at (262) 490-7902 or [email protected].

This article was originally published in Lake Country Now