History
The Foreign Service Youth Foundation (FSYF) was established
in 1989 as a non-profit corporation. It was the brainchild
of the Youth Project Committee, which was sponsored by the
Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide
(AAFSW), the U.S. Department of State Family Liaison Office
(FLO), and the U.S. Department of State Overseas Briefing
Center (OBC). The Youth Project Committee met in January
1989 to examine the special needs and concerns of Foreign
Service youth. In addition to the sponsors, it included
representatives from the U.S. Department of State Office of
Medical Services and Office of Overseas Schools, parents of
Foreign Service youth, and teens from AWAL (Around the World
in a Lifetime)—a Foreign Service youth development program
established in 1983 for teenagers. The committee recommended
the creation of an independent organization to establish and
oversee a comprehensive service program to benefit Foreign
Service youth in the U.S. and worldwide.
Mission
Mission Statement: FSYF indentifies the unique educational,
psychological, and informational needs of American Foreign
Service youth and their families arising from an
internationally mobile lifestyle. FSYF helps them to benefit
fully from their Foreign Service experiences. It develops,
implements, and funds programs to meet these extraordinary
needs.
Funding
FSYF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It has strong
relationships with the U.S. Department of State Family
Liaison Office (FLO), Office of Overseas Schools, and the
Overseas Briefing Center (OBC) but FSYF is not a U.S.
Government entity and does not receive public funding. FSYF
revenue comes from corporate sponsors, individual donors,
membership dues, publications sales, and program fees.
Programs
FSYF organizes a number of events and activities throughout
the year. Many of the programs take place in Washington, DC,
but others are accessible to Foreign Service youth
throughout the world.
Scholarship Merit Award
Art Contest
Essay Contest
Community Service Contest
Kid Vid Contest (in collaboration with the OBC)
Environment Contest
Welcome-Back Picnic
Quarterly Newsletters and Writing Workshops
College and Education Workshops
Re-Entry Workshops
Social Groups and Outings
Membership
FSYF offers membership to all families who are affiliated
with a U.S. foreign affairs agency and eligible for overseas
assignment. Most members are internationally mobile and work
for the U.S. Department of State, USAID, Foreign Commercial
Service, Foreign Agriculture Service, Department of the
Treasury, Peace Corps, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Secret Service or other U.S. Government entity
that sends personnel abroad who report to the Chief of
Mission at post.
Management
FSYF is managed, controlled and directed by a Board of
Directors. It is administered by an Executive Director.
Program Directors plan and implement FSYF programs.