Join AAFSW!

Why Should YOU become a Member of AAFSW?

If you are a Foreign Service employee or family member, a retired employee or the spouse of a retired employee, you will find a community of like-minded people in AAFSW. Connecting to people and to programs and events of interest are the reasons most of our members joined AAFSW. Our motto is “AAFSW, Where the Foreign Service Becomes a Community.”

Who are we?

AAFSW is a non-profit organization dedicated to bettering the quality of life of Foreign Service families everywhere.

For fifty years we have served as an advocacy and support group for Foreign Service employees and family members. AAFSW began pushing the Department in the 1970’s to expand support, and as a result, today there are more services in place to assist employees and their family members with quality of life issues.

Two key offices, the Family Liaison Office and the Overseas Briefing Center exist as a direct result of AAFSW advocacy. As a private organization operating independently of the government, AAFSW steps up to help the Foreign Service community whenever and wherever a need presents itself.

Here are just some of the current services offered by AAFSW to the Foreign Service community:

• The Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Overseas (SOSA) is an annual award recognizing outstanding volunteers worldwide.
• The annual Art&BookFair selling “previously owned” treasures from around the world funds AAFSW programs for graduating Foreign Service high school seniors including merit and need-based scholarships.
• The Evacuee Support Network, assists FLO with meeting and assisting Foreign Service evacuees.
• The Washington, DC area playgroup offers support and networking for Foreign Service parents of young children.
• The Foreign-Born Spouses group is a community for those who are “foreign at home and abroad.”
• Foreign-language conversation groups in the Washington, DC area.
• The Housing Office in the Department of State, co-located with the Employee Services Center run by volunteers and serving the entire Foreign Service.
• Liaison with FSYF, ADST, DACOR, AFSA, FLO, OBC, FSI, and other related organizations.

Learn more about AAFSW by reading what current AAFSW members have to say!