The Role of Community Representatives

Ayusa is a non-profit high school student exchange organization headquartered in San Francisco, California, with Community Representatives in communities all over the United States and offices and partners overseas. Each year, Ayusa welcomes students from over 50 countries worldwide. Ayusa is a J-1 visa program and regulated by the U.S. Department of State.

Ayusa students have strong academic records and good English skills. They must demonstrate the personal motivation and maturity necessary to have a successful experience while in America. Students bring their own spending money and health insurance. They attend local public or private high schools across the United States.

Volunteer host families provide safe, supportive stable home environments, three meals per day, and a chance to become a part of an American family.

The CR role is designed to be part-time and involves networking, community outreach, marketing, being a brand ambassador for Ayusa, working with schools, recruiting host families, and matching families with the right student. Those best suited for CR work have the following skills/characteristics:

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• Sales, networking, or community outreach experience
• Knowledge of local school systems
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to work independently and complete tasks with deadlines

• Act as point person for local high schools. Determine space availability and procedures for enrolling exchange students.
• Attend all meetings and complete all paperwork required by your high school systems in order to place students.
• Recruit, screen, and qualify host families. Ayusa provides training on best practices for finding quality host families and materials to use in your recruitment efforts.
• Respond to hosting inquiries, and follow up as needed.
• Conduct host family interviews, visiting all family members and assessing home environments. Maintain contact with host families, before and after the students arrive.
• Participate in student and host family orientations.
• Conduct monthly check-ins with students and host families. Complete monthly progress reports on each student. Conducting one in-person visit to host families and students is required once a semester.
• Provide assistance and support to students, host families, and schools throughout the length of the program. Act as backup host in the case of an emergency.
• Complete all required training.

Up to $1,030 per student placed and supervised as well as travel and financial incentives