What does it take to transform conflict into lasting peace? The 2026 issue of AFS Janus explores the humanitarian legacy of AFS forged on World War I battlefields and our programs that shape global citizens and peacebuilders today. From historical battlefields in France to active exchange programs around the world, this issue demonstrates that intercultural connection remains our most powerful tool for peace.
Peacebuilding in Action
In this issue’s cover feature, Lisa Ann Britton (University of Pennsylvania) takes us back to World War I France to examine the origins of AFS as a volunteer ambulance corps driven by a humanitarian mission. Britton highlights James “Jim” Wilson Gailey and Perley Raymond Hamilton, two young AFS drivers killed by an artillery strike in Vassogne in July 1917 while rescuing wounded soldiers. Penn undergraduates explore this history through archival study before retracing these drivers’ footsteps in France, learning how early AFS bravery informs modern global engagement.
The spirit of those early drivers thrives in AFS’s modern crisis responses:
- The Ukraine Project: Intercultura (AFS Italy), alongside school principal associations in Italy and Ukraine, created high school scholarships for Ukrainian youth, giving students like Volodymyr and Arina safety, education, and hope. This builds on Intercultura’s early war response donating a full medical convoy to Odessa.
- Rebuilding Peace in Liechtenstein: Spearheaded by alumnus Max Marxer and AFS Switzerland, this initiative enabled Aizen (from Gaza) and Yahli (from Israel) to live and study together, proving cross-cultural dialogue can bridge deep historical divisions.
- Expanding the PEACE Programme: Having empowered over 3,900 young people in Europe, the PEACE Programme (Peace through Exchange and Active Citizenship Education) prepares for its global launch in Asia in summer 2027.
Global Alumni Leadership & Volunteer Honors
AFS programs cultivate leaders across every sector. Highlights from our global alumni network include:
- Harini Nireka Amarasuriya (Sri Lanka to USA ’88) – Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.
- Bernadette Meehan (USA to Argentina ’91) – CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation.
- Catherine Fournier (Canada to USA ’10) – Mayor of Longueuil.
- Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (Norway to Brazil ’06) – Oscar-nominated actress.
- Paul Hegge (Belgium to USA ’85) – General Representative of Flanders to the USA.
We also celebrate our AFS Volunteer Award Winners: Nelly Salazar de Gasia (Galatti Award), the Torp Rivas Family (Peggy and Art Howe Award), Priya Jadav (Young AFS Volunteer Award), and the Popayán Chapter (Community Impact Award).
Support the Future of AFS
As the AFS Class of 2026 completes their exchange year, we celebrate the host families and volunteers who made their journeys possible. With over 40% of participants receiving scholarship support, donor contributions ensure these life-changing opportunities remain accessible to all. Empower future peacebuilders at afs.org/donate.
Read the full AFS Janus 2026 issue now.