Volunteer Since: 2013
28 years old
—
Anushka Anbhule began her AFS journey as one of the 20 scholarship recipients for the Asia Kakehashi Program in Japan in 2021-22. Inspired by her experiences there, she returned to her rural hometown of Nanded, India, eager to engage her community. Despite being the only active AFS alumna in her area and lacking a local chapter, Anushka took the initiative to organize activities and collaborate with AFS alumni nationwide.
After completing the AFS Student Learning Journey and the Global Competence Certificate, she launched Project GloRal (Global + Rural), focusing on education for underprivileged children. This initiative was part of the KL-YES Alumni project, where Anushka served as a co-facilitator for workshops promoting the SLJ and GCC courses. Project GloRal’s success led to her invitation to present at the AFS Youth Assembly’s Youth at the Frontlines: Action and Impact Hub, representing India as the youngest member of the Global Educators’ cohort.
Anushka became a vital link between her rural community and the AFS National Office, ensuring that underserved areas received attention and support. By connecting with neighboring chapters, she fostered relationships that facilitated the exchange of ideas and resources, significantly impacting volunteerism and education in her region.
Her innovative approach in Project GloRal engaged 150 students through workshops aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, covering topics such as self-awareness, health and hygiene, and mental well-being. Currently studying in Japan, Anushka is working on a research paper on global education in rural areas and plans to expand Project GloRal to Japanese communities.
“Anushka truly exemplifies the spirit of the AFS Young Volunteer Award. Her dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to fostering global awareness and educational opportunities make her the standout candidate for this recognition.”—Diya Badgel, Partner Director, AFS India
Young AFS Volunteer Award
Volunteerism has an important role to play in harnessing the potential of young people, and in AFS, young volunteers make fundamental contributions to promote intercultural understanding. Established in 2015, the Young AFS Volunteer Award for Outstanding Service recognizes AFS volunteers under the age of 30 whose exceptional contributions to the organization have made a difference in advancing the mission and goals of AFS.
In 2023, winners of the Young AFS Volunteer Award winners were Mohammad Shadab, AFS India and Juan Sebastián Porras Chaves, AFS Colombia.