AAFSW annual awards ceremony celebrated SOSA, Tragen, CCE-EFM, and Dorman winners. (Photo courtesy of Mark Stewart, DOS Photographer.) The annual AAFSW volunteer awards program took place Tuesday, November, 10, 2015 in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the State Department. The ceremony was a success highlighting the volunteer work of nine outstanding individuals. It recognized winners of the Secretary of State Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad (SOSA), the Tragen Award, the Champions of Career Enhancement for EFMs (CCE-EFM) Award, and the Lesley Dorman Award. We were privileged to have Deputy Secretary of State Heather Higginbottom speak and present the awards. Even though Secretary Kerry was traveling, he sent recorded remarks where… Read More
Continue Reading2015 Eleanor Dodson Tragen Award Recipient: Sheila Switzer
While challenging, returning to the U.S. for an assignment for those born and raised here is an opportunity to spend more time with friends and family, to familiarize children with their home culture, and become reacquainted with the latest trends and styles. For foreign born spouses, however, a domestic tour is not “coming home” since many of them have never lived in the U.S. before, may have limited knowledge of American cultural norms, and may experience difficulty using the English language. They arrive in a location with no CLO or GSO and no built-in network. In short, coming to Washington is truly the toughest assignment of all. Fortunately, they have Sheila… Read More
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