Our History

Through advocacy within the State Department and Congress, we established the Global Community Liaison Office, supported the establishment of the Overseas Briefing Center (now known as the Transition Center), Around the World in a Lifetime (AWAL), and the Foreign Service Youth Foundation, among other organizations. We staff a Housing referral office in the State Department, operate a bookstore, and host periodic speakers at programs in the diplomatic reception rooms of the State Department. AAFSW was the original source of many of the publications now commonly updated and in the tool kits of mobile families. Through our unique ability to lobby Congress, we have led the legislative fight for the rights of… Read More

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AAFSW’s 2015 Halloween Party

Join us for the 2015 AAFSW Halloween party on October 30! AAFSW and the Foreign Born Spouses Group cordially invite you and your spouse or friend to a fun and festive Halloween party, so get ready and choose your costumes! Although costumes are optional, we will have prizes for the best, the most original, and the most colorful costumes. As a tradition, the party will be held at an AAFSW member’s home in Falls Church, VA on Friday, October 30 at 7:00 p.m. Let’s all enjoy a fun evening, so come share your knowledge about this holiday, bring a dish for the potluck, wear your best costume to get a prize,… Read More

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2015 Financial Aid Scholarship Recipients

In addition to awarding merit scholarships each year, AAFSW contributes annually to AFSA’s Financial Aid Scholarship Program. The following three students are the 2015 recipients of the AAFSW Financial Aid Scholarships under the American Foreign Service Association’s (AFSA) Scholarship Program. Allison Childers   Allison lived in Ohio until the age of twelve, when her father joined the Foreign Service and was posted to Hermosillo, Mexico. When her father was assigned to Pakistan, she attended boarding school at the Brook Hill School in east Texas, where one of her favorite activities was theater. This past year Allison has been attending The Walworth Barbour American International School in Even Yehuda, Israel, while… Read More

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The Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony Experience

  The cool weather of late September in the lovely natural garden of our hosts’ home was just the place for the Ethiopian coffee ceremony! The guests all arrived with delicious dishes that complemented the Ethiopian dishes and were enjoyed by all. Color, beauty, laughter, joy, and vibrant positive energy flowed through the air, warming the heart and the soul! The Ethiopian coffee ceremony was truly one one of the best ceremonies I have experienced: with warmth and love, we were introduced to the history of the Ethiopian coffee ceremony in all its beauty. We also learned about some of the history and natural wonder that the Ethiopian nation holds.… Read More

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“Challenges and Opportunities Facing Israeli Diplomacy in 2015” with Ambassador Ron Dermer on October 29

  AAFSW cordially invites you to join us on Thursday, October 29, at 10:00 a.m. in the Benjamin Franklin Diplomatic Reception Room on the 8th floor of the State Department in Washington, D.C. for an interesting presentation by His Excellency Ron Dermer of Israel on the “Challenges and Opportunities Facing Israeli Diplomacy in 2015,” followed by a question-and-answer session. In 2004, with Natan Sharansky, Ambassador Dermer co-authored the best-selling book, The Case for Democracy: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror, which has been translated into ten languages. From 2005-2008, He served as Israel’s Minister of Economic Affairs in the United States. From 2009-2013, he served as Senior… Read More

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