Real Stories

"No matter how much you believe in exchange, without support you won’t keep doing it. From our very first meeting with EF Foundation we felt valued, trusted and respected. That support has been reinforced at every level."

Steve & Jan
South Dakota

Network of Support

As a member of the EF Foundation family, you are part of a nationwide exchange network. We are the only high school exchange organization that offers multiple levels of support: local, regional and national.

Three levels of support

Our unique system means that someone is always available to give help or ideas.

• International Exchange Coordinators (IECs). IECs are the heart and soul of EF Foundation in local communities. They find and screen host families, maintain relationships with local high schools, and support families and students during the exchange year.
  
  So that our IECs can run successful exchange programs in their communities, EF Foundation offers both local and national trainings on subjects ranging from cultural differences to US State Department regulations. IECs also have 24/7 access to emergency support from Regional Coordinators and the national office.
• Regional Coordinators (RCs). RCs are the EF Foundation difference. Often former IECs themselves, RCs provide the vital link between the IECs and staff at our national headquarters. They provide an extra layer of local support for students, host families and IECs.
  
  RCs provide local trainings for new IECs, giving new coordinators an opportunity to meet other IECs along with learning the fundamentals of international exchange. They also act as back-up local coordinators for host families, should the IEC be away or otherwise unavailable.
  
  Lastly, RCs provide continual feedback to the national office about exchange in their communities. With their help, EF Foundation can constantly improve upon the quality of its exchange program.
• EF Foundation Staff. Located in our national headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, our full-time staff is dedicated to creating positive exchange experiences for students, families, and coordinators. We handle a wide range of administrative and logistical details. Recruitment/Placement Managers and Program Support Managers work with IECs and RCs to select host families, provide guidance and support over the phone throughout the exchange year, and handle administrative tasks.
  
  Our national office staff is available toll-free throughout the year to speak with families, students and coordinators on any issues that arise. In addition, a staff member is on call 24-hours a day, 365 days a year in case of emergency.